[2024 Wanrong Attraction] Travel Guide for Feiyun Building (Updated Oct)
Historical Architectures
Address:
Wanrong, Yuncheng, Shanxi, China
Recommended sightseeing time:
1-2 hours
China's No. 1 Wooden Building - Feiyun Tower.
When the light shines on China's most beautiful wooden building, any words are pale.
Everyone knows that China's No. 1 wooden tower, Yingxian Wooden Tower, is in Dongyue Temple, Wanrong, Shanxi - Feiyun Tower, but few people know that China's No. 1 wooden building, which is called "North Tower and South Building" with Yingxian Wooden Tower, is also in Shanxi. She is Feiyun Tower in Wanrong, Yuncheng, Shanxi. It and Qiufeng Tower in Wanrong are both famous buildings in Shanxi. However, the former is like a versatile lady, and the latter is like a bloody man guarding the border.
Everyone who has been to Feiyun Tower will sigh that there are such beautiful buildings in the world, with overlapping eaves and corners, like flying, carved beams and painted buildings, shining on the moon and reflecting the stars, embracing the layers of buildings, and the complex bucket arches, but they are interesting. Everyone can feel the shock that Feiyun Tower brings to themselves. And when the sun shines on Feiyun Tower, any words are pale, and no words can express my inner surging.
[Why is Feiyun Tower so beautiful?]
First of all, because it adopts the structure of Ming three (layers) and dark five (layers) as a whole, there is a sense of hierarchy in space; there are 4 golden pillars directly to the top of the building, the pillar height is more than 15 meters, and it is composed of 2 sections of pillar body, and there are multiple layers of square wood between the pillars, forming a square well-shaped structure, the structure of each layer of outer eaves and embracing buildings, the structure of beams and square wood and well-shaped structure are connected, combined with the complex and different bucket arches of each layer, forming a delicate and transparent architectural shape.
There are 345 groups of bucket arches under the eaves of Feiyun Tower, with various shapes, like clouds and flowers blooming. When you look up at Feiyun Tower, you will be attracted by these complex bucket arches at the first time, which is dazzling.
matthias.oliver.dante
I came to Feiyun Tower in Shanxi to find my senior brother.
The four famous towers in Shanxi that you must see are: Wanrong Feiyun Tower, Yongji Guanque Tower, Wanrong Qiufeng Tower, Jiexiu Aoshen Tower! Which ones have you been to? Which one do you like? 1. Wanrong. Feiyun Tower:
"There is a Feiyun Tower in Wanrong, half of it is inserted in the sky." This wooden structure tower in Wanrong County, Shanxi, is exquisitely structured and beautifully shaped, and is known as the "First Wooden Tower in China" and "The Tallest Wooden Tower in China". 2. Wanrong. Qiufeng Tower:
It was built in the ninth year of Tongzhi in the Qing Dynasty (1870). There are two Han Wudi "Qiufeng Ci" steles hidden in the second and third floors of the building, hence the name. The Qiufeng Tower is densely packed, beautifully shaped, 32.6 meters high, divided into three floors, five rooms wide, surrounded by corridors, and a horizontal plaque is carved on the east and west of the platform. The east is "Zhan Lu" and the west is "Wang Zou". 3. Jiexiu. Aoshen Tower:
Aoshen Tower is commonly known as "Xuanshen Tower" by the people. It was created in the Northern Song Dynasty. It is the only remaining Aojiao building in China. It integrates the mountain gate, the music building, and the street building. It has a unique style, a rigorous structure, a coordinated proportion, and exquisite and gorgeous.
4. Yongji. Guanque Tower:
Guanque Tower, also known as Guanque Tower, is located in Puzhou Ancient City, Yongji City, Shanxi Province. It was built during the Northern Zhou Dynasty and was named after the crane and sparrow perched on it. It is known as one of the four famous towers in ancient China, with a spectacular building and a clever structure. Wang Zhihuan's poem "Climbing the Guanque Tower" praised: The sun is leaning against the mountain, the Yellow River is flowing into the sea, and you want to be poor for a thousand miles, and go up one more floor!
Stardust@Eclipse~789
Discover the secrets of China's first wooden building.
Looking for a historic attraction in Yuncheng? Feiyun Tower in Wanrong Dongyue Temple is the perfect choice.
**Feiyun Tower Overview:**
Feiyun Tower, the main building of Wanrong Dongyue Temple, dates back to the Tang Dynasty. The existing main structure was rebuilt during the Zhengde period of the Ming Dynasty. It is a model of Chinese pure wooden buildings and is known as the "First Wooden Building in China". It is as famous as the Sakyamuni Pagoda in Fogong Temple and is known as the "South Tower and North Pagoda".
**Address & Transportation:**
- **Address:** No. 8, West Street, Wanrong County, Yuncheng City, Shanxi Province.
- **Transportation Guide:** On the last morning in Yuncheng, if you want to visit a convenient attraction, Feiyun Tower is the ideal choice. Take bus No. 107 to the Tobacco Bureau Bus Station, then navigate to Wanrong Dongyue Temple, and you can arrive in five or six minutes on foot. It is recommended that foreign tourists avoid waiting for vehicles at Yuncheng North Station, because the departure interval is long. It is recommended to take a bus at Yuncheng Station, with an interval of only 15 minutes.
**Opening Hours & Tickets:**
- **Opening Hours:** Daily from 9:00 to 18:00, and it will be extended to 18:30 under special circumstances according to the number of tourists.
- **Tickets:** CNY 10.
**Feiyun Tower Highlights:**
1. **Pure Wood Craftsmanship:** Feiyun Tower is a nail-free building, which is entirely dependent on the clever cooperation of the mortise and tenon structure. Each piece of wood is the crystallization of the wisdom of the ancients.
2. **Structural Mystery:** Its design of three bright and five dark, the stability of the sky pillar, and the chessboard layout constitute a thousand-year-old architectural miracle.
3. **Beauty of Craftsmanship:** There are 23 kinds of bucket arches and 345 blooming decorations in the building, showing the exquisite ancient architectural craftsmanship.
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In Feiyun Tower, you can feel the unique charm of ancient Chinese architecture and explore the historical stories behind this wooden building. Bring this guide and start your historical and cultural journey!
MysticRiver!42
Black Myth: Wukong Filming Location | The Aesthetics of Feiyun Tower in Shanxi is Amazing!
The eaves extend in all directions; the bucket arches bloom like flowers; four golden pillars support the towering pavilion.
If you look down, the glazed tiles dazzle in the sunlight; if you look up, the colorful view is made entirely of wood.
Feiyun Tower is a representative work of Chinese mortise and tenon wooden architecture, and is known as the "Southern Tower and Northern Pagoda" together with the Yingxian Wooden Pagoda!
🌟Highlights:
The bucket arches and eaves under each floor are the most complex and eye-catching parts of Feiyun Tower.
There are as many as 345 sets of bucket arches under the eaves of each floor, and the number of bucket arches and the form of the eaves on each floor are different.
The eaves and corners are also exquisitely carved, with elephant noses and dragon heads on the corners, two types of eaves, and locust heads, dragon heads, floating clouds, and rolling clouds on the corners, which are very decorative.
The flying eaves are the most eye-catching feature of ancient buildings. Feiyun Tower has as many as 32 flying eaves. Each flying eave is topped by a helmeted warrior, each with a vivid expression and a majestic appearance.
❤Attractions:
After Feiyun Tower is the Meridian Gate, the Temple of the Eastern Emperor uses a palace layout. The Meridian Gate is a building built in the Yuan Dynasty and repaired in the Ming Dynasty. It is wide and transparent, with seven rooms facing south and north, and six rafters deep into the single-eave hip roof.
Through the Meridian Gate is the Xian Hall, which was built in the Yuan Dynasty and repaired in the Ming Dynasty, with seven rooms wide and six rafters deep.
After the Xian Hall is the Xiang Pavilion, which was built in the Yuan Dynasty and repaired in the Ming Dynasty. The flat surface is square, with a cross hip roof and complete glazed ridge beasts. There are four coiled dragon stone pillars, three of which are wrapped in floating clouds and coiled dragons, and only the southeast corner is a single dragon.
Finally, there is the main hall of the Eastern Emperor, which was built in the Yuan Dynasty and repaired in the Ming Dynasty. It is five rooms wide, eight rafters deep, and has a double-eave hip roof.
🕐️Scenic Area Opening Hours: 08:00-17:00
🎫Scenic Area Ticket: CNY 10
📍Detailed Address: 8 Xidajie, Wanrong County, Yuncheng City
PRISCILLA OLSON
Feiyun Tower, a wooden structure, is a filming location for the Black Myth: Wukong game.
Feiyun Tower is located in Dongyue Temple in the east of Wanrong County, Shanxi. It was built during the Zhengde period of the Ming Dynasty. The century-old wooden tower is known as the "No. 1 Wooden Tower in China".
Upon entering Dongyue Temple, Feiyun Tower is located in the center of the main entrance. It faces south and is square in shape. It is 23.19 meters high and has five floors. The tower has flying eaves and a hip roof, and the exquisite wooden structure presents the style of the Ming Dynasty.
Scenery
The four pillars in the hall support the main building. There are 345 sets of brackets under the eaves, and the flying eaves are decorated with small figures and bells. The craftsmanship is complex and exquisite.
Admission: CNY 10
Transportation: Yuncheng Bus 107, CNY 10
diplomatical_leona
Originally, Shanxi is not only about Taiyuan, but also the hidden gem of Wanrong
Maybe it's because there are too many historical sites in Shanxi
Among the increasingly popular tourist destinations in Shanxi 🌅
The few exquisite sites in Wanrong remain relatively unknown 🍃
It's simply a severely underrated historical city
Every attraction here is astonishing❗️
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Not only does it have the first wooden tower in China
But also the only wooden structure with a hip roof from the Northern Song Dynasty in China
Not only does it have the predecessor of the Temple of Heaven in Beijing
But also the Jin Merchant Courtyard that blends Chinese and Western styles
Follow my steps for a journey spanning a thousand years‼️
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🗺Tourist Route
Li Family Courtyard → Ji Wang Temple in Wanrong → Feiyun Tower → Dongyue Temple → Houtu Temple
They are close to each other and can be easily covered in one day. You can drive yourself, hire a car, or take a bus
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✅✅✅
1️⃣Dongyue Temple
Located in the center of Wanrong County, it covers an area of about 10,000 square meters. It was first built in the Tang Dynasty and rebuilt in the Yuan Dynasty. The existing buildings include Feiyun Tower, Wumen, Xiandian, Xiangting, Main Hall, and Yanwang Hall. The Yuan Dynasty buildings such as the Main Hall are exquisite and magnificent
🎫Ticket: 10 yuan (including Feiyun Tower)
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2️⃣Feiyun Tower
Feiyun Tower is inside Dongyue Temple. It is a pure wooden structure, about 23 meters high, composed of 4 sky-reaching pillars and 32 short pillars. The entire tower has 345 sets of dougong, with rich shapes and ingenious structures. The three-story pavilion has eaves that fly upwards, and the structure under the eaves is dense and breathtaking, like a superb artwork
The entire wooden tower does not have a single steel nail, relying entirely on the craftsmanship and aesthetics of the artisans. It is considered the pinnacle of ancient architecture design and is known as the first wooden tower in China. It is also known as the "Southern Tower" along with the Yingxian Wooden Pagoda
🎫Ticket: 10 yuan
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3️⃣Houtu Temple
The origin of Houtu culture, it is the place where Emperor Wu of Han and Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, among other emperors, offered sacrifices to heaven multiple times. It is also known as the source of the Temple of Heaven in Beijing
The temple currently has buildings such as Qiufeng Tower, Shanmen, Theater Stage, Xiandian, Main Hall, and East and West Wuhudian, with a considerable scale. The most notable features of the theater stage and various halls are the exquisite wooden carvings on the door pillars and eaves, which are lifelike
The most spectacular is the towering Qiufeng Tower, which is 32.6 meters high. The tower is slender, and the dougong under the eaves is magnificent and elegant, standing like a giant guarding the Yellow River
🎫Ticket: Can use Yuncheng Tourism Annual Pass
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4️⃣Ji Wang Temple
This is the place that Liang Sicheng and Lin Huiyin visited three times but couldn't find. It is the only remaining wooden structure with a hip roof from the Song Dynasty in the country, hidden in a small village
The entire main hall does not have a single load-bearing beam, with rough and majestic dragon-carved stone pillars, exuding the grandeur of the Tang Dynasty. There is also a large iron bell with the Northern Song Dynasty year number hanging under the eaves
Ticket: None
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5️⃣Li Family Courtyard
Li Family Courtyard, along with Wang Family Courtyard and Qiao Family Courtyard, is known as the "Three Great Courtyards of Jin Merchants"
It was built during the Daoguang period of the Qing Dynasty and currently has more than a dozen courtyards. The Li family's business was spread across the country, and a family member even married a British lady. Therefore, the architectural style here combines the solidity of local architecture, the elegance of Huizhou architecture, and the Gothic style, giving it a unique charm
🎫Ticket: Can use Yuncheng Tourism Annual Pass
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🍲Food
Wanrong Hotel Restaurant: Delicious Yellow River Carp
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❗TIPS
🚌Wanrong is very close to Jishan and Xinjiang, and can be combined for a tour
amara.seraphine.hawkwood
The First Wooden Building in China, this wooden building can reach the clouds
📍"There is a Feiyun Tower in Wanrong, half of it is inserted into the sky." It can be seen how tall this wooden structure pavilion-style building is. Whenever the weather is clear, white clouds surround the building, and the peculiar pavilion seems to float with the clouds, hence it is called "Feiyun Tower". Because it is located in the southeast corner of Jiedian Town, the county seat of Wanrong County, it is also called "Jiedian Tower" by the locals.
🔍The structure of Feiyun Tower is exquisite and its shape is beautiful, reflecting the development process of ancient Chinese wooden structure buildings. This tall building not only has high aesthetic value but also has high academic and historical value.
🔍Although Feiyun Tower was rebuilt during the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, it has a history of only more than 250 years, but it retains the architectural characteristics of the Song, Yuan, and Ming periods, and has made some innovations and developments. Therefore, from the perspective of studying the development process of ancient Chinese architecture, Feiyun Tower is a treasure among the existing ancient buildings in China.
🔍The six characters on the plaque of Feiyun Tower, "Great Ancient Building of the Motherland", are strikingly prominent. When the sons and daughters of China see the "Great Motherland" of the first wooden building in China, they will be moved!
🔔The exterior of Feiyun Tower has three floors, plus two hidden floors, making it actually five floors. It is 23.15 meters high. The entire building has 32 wing corners, with outward-facing gables, unique and beautiful in shape.
🔔Feiyun Tower is built on a base 0.65 meters high, with a square bottom. From the first floor to the second and third floors, four large wooden pillars reach the top of the building through the central well, and 32 wooden pillars around it are cleverly connected in a checkerboard pattern, jointly supporting the building.
🔔During the Song and Yuan periods, all high-rise pavilions were built in layers. Therefore, this architectural structure with wooden pillars through the central well is a development of the architectural structure of the Song and Yuan periods.
🔔This building is made of wood, and all the joints, large and small, are mortise and tenon, without a single iron nail. This is relatively rare in Chinese pavilion-style buildings.
🔔Feiyun Tower has three layers of four dripping waters, a cross-hipped roof, and under the eaves of each layer of the porch, there are 345 sets of dougong, with various shapes, resembling clouds and blooming flowers. The wing corners of each eave are tilted, giving a feeling of flying in the air.
🔔The entire building has 32 wing corners, and on the tip of each corner stands a warrior in armor, the armor bright and colorful, making them appear more majestic and powerful. Wind chimes are hung on each corner of the building, swaying in the wind, producing a crisp and pleasant sound.
📣The glazed tiles on the roof of the incense pavilion at the back are also not to be missed, with exquisite details on the chiwen.
Ethan Hayes 234~
Yuncheng Dongyue Temple is not only famous for having the 'Number One Tower in China'
After arriving in Yuncheng, the phrase that locals often say is that one must visit the Feiyun Tower, which is known as the 'Number One Wooden Tower in China'. It is as renowned as the Wooden Pagoda in Ying County, and people in the know refer to them as 'the Pagoda in the North and the Tower in the South'. It was only after I arrived that I realized Feiyun Tower is just one of the buildings within the Wanrong Dongyue Temple complex, which is a national heritage site. The temple is adorned with beautifully carved beams and painted rafters, and it is certainly not just 'any ordinary place'...
🏯 About Dongyue Temple
It was originally built during the Tang Dynasty, and the existing structures are from the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. Because of the great fame of Feiyun Tower, many people overlook the existence of Dongyue Temple.
📸 Highlights
✅ Wumen (Noon Gate): This is the entrance hall of Dongyue Temple, a Yuan Dynasty building with a single-eave hip-and-gable roof. Its brackets and beam frames are highlights.
✅ Xian Dian (Offering Hall): The place where offerings were placed in the past, with eaves above each central column, also seems to be an ancient Yuan Dynasty building.
✅ Xiang Ting (Incense Pavilion): The place for burning incense, with four dragon columns as highlights. However, it seems to have been damaged, and the stone lions on the surrounding column heads are of various shapes.
✅ Main Hall: The plaque was written by Emperor Kangxi, and it is a double-eave hip-and-gable roof building.
Personally, I think that in Dongyue Temple, aside from Feiyun Tower, the most beautiful parts are probably the glazed ridge beasts on the roofs of the Main Hall and the Incense Pavilion. It's like a grand play on the roof, especially the pair of dragons, which are particularly charming with their teeth bared and claws outstretched.
Although Feiyun Tower is beautiful,
Please do not overlook Dongyue Temple.
A national heritage site for only 10 yuan is a bargain‼️
Olivia_Hudson19
The First Great Tower of China This wooden tower can reach the clouds
"There is a Feiyun Tower in Wanrong that half sticks into the sky." This wooden, pavilion-style building is so tall. When the weather is clear, white clouds wrap around the tower, and the strange pavilion seems to float along with the colorful clouds, hence it is known as the "Feiyun Tower". Also, because it is located in the southeast corner of Jiedian Town, the county seat of Wanrong County, it is also known as the "Jiedian Tower"
Feiyun Tower is exquisitely structured and beautifully shaped, reflecting the development of ancient Chinese wooden architecture. This tall building not only has high aesthetic value but also possesses significant academic and historical value.
Although Feiyun Tower was rebuilt during the Qianlong era of the Qing dynasty, with only over 250 years of history, it retains architectural features from the Song, Yuan, and Ming periods, with creative advancements and developments. Therefore, from the perspective of studying the development of ancient Chinese architecture, Feiyun Tower is a treasure among China's existing ancient buildings.
The six characters on the plaque of Feiyun Tower, "Great Ancestral Country's Ancient Building", are strikingly eye-catching. Sons and daughters of China are surely moved when they see the "Great Ancestral Country" on China's number one wooden tower!
Feiyun Tower has an exterior of three stories, plus two hidden layers, making it effectively five stories. It has a total height of 23.15 meters. The entire tower has 32 wing corners, with the mountain flowers facing outward, giving it a unique and beautiful shape.
Feiyun Tower is built on a base 0.65 meters high, with a square bottom. From the ground floor through the second and third floors, there are four large wooden columns that reach straight to the top of the tower through the sky wells, with 32 wooden columns cleverly connected in a checkerboard pattern to jointly support the structure.
During the Song and Yuan dynasties, high-rise buildings were constructed layer by layer. Thus, this architectural structure with sky well columns is a development from the Song and Yuan architectural styles.
The tower is made of wood, and all joints, large and small, are mortise and tenon without a single nail. This is quite rare in Chinese pavilion-style architecture.
Feiyun Tower has three stories with four water drips and a cross-shaped hipped roof. Under the eaves of each layer of the embrace structure, there are 345 sets of brackets, with varied shapes, very much resembling clouds surrounding and flowers blooming. The wing corners of each eave are upturned, giving a sense of soaring into the sky.
There are a total of 32 upturned eave corners on the entire tower, and on the tip of each corner stands a warrior in armor, bright and splendid, further highlighting their valiant and majestic appearance. Wind chimes hang at each corner of the tower, swaying in the wind, producing a crisp and pleasant sound.
Don't miss the glazed tiles on the roof of the incense pavilion behind, the details of the chiwen are exquisite.
CHEYENNE TAYLOR
China's premier wooden tower, the underrated ancient gem of Shanxi
When it comes to ancient famous towers, many people first think of Yueyang Tower, Huanghe Tower, Tengwang Pavilion, Guanque Tower, etc., but few know about the 'China's First Wooden Tower' Feiyun Tower (also known as Jiedian Tower) located in Wannian County, Yuncheng, Shanxi.
Also, as someone with a background in architecture, I have long admired the famous Ying County Wooden Pagoda in the 'southern tower and northern pagoda' of Shanxi, but I knew relatively little about the Wannian Feiyun Tower in the south. However, after a careful visit, one can better appreciate its preciousness!
Historically significant: The exact construction date of Feiyun Tower is unknown. Legend has it that during the second year of Wude in the Tang Dynasty, Emperor Taizong Li Shimin led troops to quell a rebellion. To commemorate the victory, music towers and temples were built in various places. After many wars, only Feiyun Tower still stands in Wannian County. The tower that remains today is also the shape after maintenance during the Qing Dynasty.
Pure wooden structure: The entire tower is made of pure wood, with all joints, big or small, being tenon and rivet connections, shining together with the Ying County Wooden Pagoda, and is known as the 'southern tower and northern pagoda'. The wood surface of the tower is not painted, showing the natural color of the wood. Many wooden columns on-site have protruding iron nails, which are said to have been added later for theft prevention.
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Ingeniously constructed: The tower has a width and depth of five bays each, with a total of 345 sets of brackets, which vary in shape, are exquisite in appearance, with each corner wing tilting upwards, and there are 32 tilting corner wings throughout the tower. At the tip of each corner, there stands an armored warrior, looking into the distance, giving the impression of celestial soldiers and generals soaring through the clouds, truly living up to the name 'Feiyun Tower'.
Uniquely structured: The entire tower has a square floor plan, with three visible stories and five hidden ones, with two hidden layers nestled within the flat base. The ground floor is square, with four central columns each 15.45 meters high reaching the top of the tower (the base of the columns has square grooves, which are said to have been left for ease of rotation during construction due to the massive size of the columns), supporting the structure, and 32 wooden columns around it form a chessboard pattern, ensuring the stability of the tower, standing for a thousand years.
There is a local saying, 'Wannian has a Jiedian Tower, half of which is inserted into the sky,' which shows the shock of the ancients when they first saw the tower! At the same time, because of the tower's exquisite craftsmanship, beyond the capabilities of ordinary people, there is also a legend that the tower was built by Lu Ban. Although this is a hearsay, it also shows the superb craftsmanship and ingenious structure! It is truly a feast for the eyes!
LIONEL BAILEY
This year, I gained 100,000 followers thanks to these 9 puzzles
📍Feiyun Tower is located within Dongyue Temple in Wanrong County, Yuncheng City, Shanxi Province. It is a pure wooden structure and is known as 'China's number one wooden building'.
📍Feiyun Tower stands 23.19 meters tall, densely packed with dougong brackets, and all joints are mortise and tenon connections, intricate and exquisite. It is known as 'the Southern Tower and the Northern Pagoda' together with the Wooden Pagoda of Ying County.
The exterior of Feiyun Tower has three stories, but inside it actually has five floors, with a total height of about 23 meters. The ground floor is square, the middle floor changes to a folded cross shape, surrounded by a corridor, and the roof profile is varied; the third floor returns to a square shape, but the roof resembles the middle floor, topped with a cross-ridge roof. The roofs of each floor make up the rich facade composition of Feiyun Tower.
📍Feiyun Tower is not large in volume, but it has four layers of eaves, 12 triangular roof sides, and 32 roof corners. The wood surfaces are not painted, showing the natural color of the wood.
The dougong bracket shapes and structures of Feiyun Tower are extremely varied, with almost every floor having a different form of upturned eaves and bracket sets.
📍The decorative elements include dragon heads, rolled clouds, grasshopper heads, and single floating clouds, with upturned mouths in the shapes of qin-face and ruyi heads. The angle brackets are decorated with elephant noses and dragon heads, adding a rich decorative interest.
📍Feiyun Tower is a representative building within Dongyue Temple in Jiedian Town, Wanrong County. There is a local saying: 'Wanrong has a Jiedian Tower, half-stuck into the sky'.
✨The exact founding date of Feiyun Tower is unknown, but records indicate that the tower already existed during the Tang Dynasty's Zhenguan period. The existing structure was rebuilt in the eleventh year of the Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty, retaining the architectural style of the Yuan and Ming dynasties.
nigellatheshigella
The four famous towers of China all feel inferior!
"The Number One Wooden Tower in China" is so beautiful yet so low-key, a national treasure that must be seen in this lifetime.
When it comes to the "Four Great Ancient Towers of China," every middle and elementary school student knows them by heart. However, if we set aside their spokespersons and literary works and focus solely on the architecture itself, none of today's "Four Great Ancient Towers of China" are truly deserving of their names anymore.
Fan Zhongyan's Yueyang Tower, which embodies the spirit of 'worrying before the world worries, and enjoying only after the world enjoys,' Cui Hao's Yellow Crane Tower with 'the white clouds drifting freely for a thousand years,' Wang Bo's Pavilion of Prince Teng where 'the setting sun and the solitary wild duck fly together, and the autumn water shares the same color with the sky,' and Wang Zhihuan's Stork Tower, where 'one wishes to see a thousand miles further, and climbs up one level higher,' have all disappeared into the river of history. What we see today, except for the Yueyang Tower built in the late Qing Dynasty that can still be considered an ancient building, the other three towers are all modern constructions of steel and concrete.
In front of the authentic ancient Feiyun Tower in Wanrong County, Shanxi Province, these towers, whether compared in historical age or architectural craftsmanship, are all inferior and not on the same level.
The four famous towers of Shanxi version, the Feiyun Tower of Dongyue Temple in Wanrong, the Qiufeng Tower of Houtu Temple in Wanrong, the Xuanjian Tower of the old city of Yuci, and the Xian Shen Tower of Jiexiu, may not be as well-known due to the lack of endorsement by famous people and works, but they are all genuine ancient wooden structures, representing the superb level of ancient Chinese craftsmen's architectural skills. Each one commands respect.
Located in front of the Dongyue Temple in Wanrong County, Shanxi Province, the Feiyun Tower is a pure wooden structure. Like the Wooden Pagoda in Ying County, it is built from bottom to top without a single nail and is known as "The Number One Wooden Tower in China," alongside the Wooden Pagoda in Ying County, which is referred to as "the southern tower and the northern pagoda."
The predecessor of Wanrong County was Wanquan County and Ronghe County. When the two counties merged, the first characters of their names were combined to form the new Wanrong County, with the county seat set in Jiedian Town. The exact year of the construction of Feiyun Tower is unknown. Because it is located in Jiedian Town, it was originally named Jiedian Tower, and the existing building is of Ming and Qing styles.
Legend has it that in the second year of Wude during the Tang Dynasty (619 AD), the 20-year-old Prince Li Shimin led his army to cross the Yellow River and launched the key battle of 'Baibi Battle' to eliminate the separatist forces of Liu Wuzhou and Song Jingang. After the victory, Li Shimin built music towers and temples in the three places where he stationed his troops to showcase his military achievements. Today, only the Feiyun Tower in Wanrong County stands tall in the city of Wanrong.
The Feiyun Tower is 23 meters high, with three visible and five hidden levels, a total of four layers of eaves, 12 triangular roof sides, and 32 roof corners. From all directions, each layer is a beautiful and spectacular Xieshan-style building.
Standing at the base of the tower, one can see the bottom space filled with wooden columns, four spliced columns that reach the top of the tower, ingeniously connected with the surrounding 32 columns in a chessboard pattern. The entire Feiyun Tower is like an inseparable organic whole, solid and stable, with the overall structure largely maintaining its original appearance after construction.
The interior of the tower is densely packed with dougong brackets, exquisite and intricate, with more than 300 sets of dougong brackets encompassing 23 types of forms, yet without a sense of complexity and chaos. Looking at them, they are like clouds surrounding or like flowers blooming, with the eaves and upturned corners resembling birds ready to soar and strike the sky, exquisitely beautiful. No wonder the ancients praised it as 'connecting to the cloud paths above, overlooking the groundless below, with layered eaves and stacked corners, like leather yet as if flying, painted rafters and carved beams, shining in the moon and reflecting the stars'.
Nova_Everglen_88
Journey to Shanxi—Feiyun Tower in Wanrong
🌟Highlights:
1. Feiyun Tower is known as the "Number One Wooden Tower in China". The existing building is in the style of the Yuan and Ming dynasties, with a pure wooden structure densely packed with dougong brackets, exquisite and delicate, and is known alongside the Wooden Pagoda in Ying County as "the Southern Tower and the Northern Pagoda".
2. It is an extremely spectacular existence among ancient Chinese wooden structures, standing 23.19 meters tall. There is a local saying, "Wanrong has a Feiyun Tower, half of which is buried in the clouds".
3. In 1988, it was listed as a national key cultural relics protection unit. It is a gem among the wooden structures in southern Shanxi and the whole country, and holds an important position among pavilion-style buildings.
4. Compared to the famous Yellow Crane Tower, Heque Tower, and Tengwang Pavilion, which are now new reinforced concrete imitations, only the Yueyang Tower, rebuilt during the Guangxu period, can still be considered an ancient building. Feiyun Tower is an original ancient pavilion that has retained the style of the Song and Yuan dynasties.
5. The entire tower is densely packed with dougong brackets inside and out, totaling 345 sets, creating a strong visual impact with its interlocking appearance. Looking up from beneath the tower, the numerous winged corner brackets and mountain flowers are intricately placed. The glazed warrior figures at the eaves are all different, but upon close inspection, they are definitely finely crafted.
6. Feiyun Tower is located within the ancient architectural complex of Dongyue Temple, which also includes the Yuan dynasty's Wu Gate, the Yuan-style Xian Hall and Daiyue Hall, as well as the Xiang Pavilion. Here one can understand the sacrificial rituals of the Dongyue Emperor, and Dongyue Temple itself is also a well-preserved grand ancient architectural complex from an ancient era.
7. The ticket price is 10 yuan, very affordable, with convenient transportation. The photography, whether of distant views or close-ups, is very good. While appreciating ancient architecture, one can also record the beauty of Chinese tradition.
8. Wanrong is not only home to Feiyun Tower but also other national treasure-level ancient buildings such as the Houtu Temple (Autumn Wind Tower), the Tomb of Emperor Shun, and the Temple of King Ji.
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rissolesowl
Shanxi Tourism | In Wanrong, there's a Feiyun Tower, half of it piercing into the clouds
| In Wanrong, there's a Feiyun Tower, half of it piercing into the clouds. 📍Feiyun Tower is located inside Dongyue Temple in Wanrong County, Yuncheng City, Shanxi Province, and is a pure wooden structure, known as 'China's number one wooden tower'.
🔸Feiyun Tower is 23.19 meters tall, with densely packed dougong brackets, all joints are mortise and tenon, exquisitely intricate, and together with the Wooden Pagoda of Ying County, they are known as 'Southern Tower and Northern Pagoda'.
The exterior of Feiyun Tower has three stories, but the interior actually has five levels, with a total height of about 23 meters. The floor plan is square, the middle level changes to a folded cross shape, surrounded by a corridor, the roof profile is varied; the third level's floor plan returns to a square, but the roof shape is similar to the middle level, topped with a cross-ridge roof. The various roof levels create the rich facade composition of Feiyun Tower. Although the tower is not large in volume, it has four layers of eaves, 12 triangular roof sides, 32 roof corners, and the wood surface is not painted, showing the natural color of the wood.
The dougong brackets and structure of Feiyun Tower are extremely varied, with almost every level having a different form of upturned eaves and bracket sets.
The decorative elements include dragon heads, rolling clouds, grasshopper heads, single floating clouds, etc., with upturned mouths in the shape of a qin (Chinese musical instrument) or ruyi (scepter), and the corner brackets are decorated with elephant trunks and dragon heads, rich in decorative interest.
Feiyun Tower is the representative building within Dongyue Temple in Jiedian Town, Wanrong, and there is a local saying, 'Wanrong has a Jiedian Tower, half of it piercing into the sky'.
✨The exact founding year of Feiyun Tower is unknown, but records indicate that the tower already existed during the Tang Dynasty's Zhenguan era. The existing tower was rebuilt in the eleventh year of the Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty, retaining the architectural style of the Yuan and Ming dynasties.
NeonOracle
Exquisite and delicate, embracing the moon with flying clouds｜Wanrong Dongyue Temple in southern Shanxi
【Shanxi Goodness and Beauty·Wanrong·Embracing the Moon with Flying Clouds Exquisite and Delicate】Continuing southward into the territory of Wanrong County in Yuncheng area. Here is a majestic ancient tower built during the Qianlong period and well preserved - Feiyun Tower. It is also known as the 'Southern Tower and Northern Pagoda' with the wooden pagoda in Ying County in northern Shanxi, and is one of the four famous towers in Shanxi. It is said that this Feiyun Tower was built without using any function, just to show off skills, to see how cool I am, I don't know if it's true or not. Arrived at noon, a bit against the light, Feiyun Tower is still magnificent!
Tips: The whole building is densely arranged with brackets, a total of 345 groups. And the shape is extremely varied, like clusters of clouds and blooming flowers. Each eave corner is lifted up, ready to fly. On a windy day, the wind bells at the corners of the building ring evenly, which is very pleasant. The roof is decorated with yellow, green, and blue glazed tiles, which are even more magnificent under the sun. Now its state, its ingenious structure, exquisite modeling, and magnificent appearance can be called a masterpiece of our country's tower architecture.
Ticket🎫: 10 yuan