[2025 Guangyuan Attraction] Travel Guide for Huangzesi (Updated Mar)

If you want to find a niche and unique trip in February, Guangyuan must be the best choice. Here you can find the ancient Jianmen Pass, the picturesque Tangjiahe, and the mouth-watering delicacies. In three days, you will experience the charm of Guangyuan immersively. Hurry up and save this guide👇 👣3-day tour route Day1: Arrive in Guangyuan→Huangze Temple→Thousand Buddha Cliff→Taste Guangyuan cuisine→Check in hotel • Morning: After arriving in Guangyuan, go to Huangze Temple first. This is the temple dedicated to Wu Zetian, the only female emperor in China. The cliff carvings in the temple are very exquisite, allowing you to feel the rich historical and cultural heritage. • Afternoon: Go to Qianfo Cliff, one of the most magnificent grottoes in Sichuan. Stroll along the plank road beside the Jialing River, admire more than a thousand grotto statues, and take photos in the atmosphere. • Evening: Look for delicious food in the city and start your trip to Guangyuan. Day 2: One-day tour of Jianmen Pass Scenic Area • Morning: Take the cable car up the mountain to start the "martial arts journey" of Jianmen Pass, check in the majestic gate tower, overlook the mountains from the gate tower, and feel the heroic spirit of "one man guarding the pass, ten thousand men cannot open it". • Noon: Enjoy a special tofu feast in the scenic area. Jianmen tofu is a specialty, and various tofu dishes will satisfy your appetite. • Afternoon: Challenge the exciting monkey trail or bird trail and experience the thrill and excitement of walking on the cliffs. Afterwards, stroll along Cuiyun Corridor, admire the thousand-year-old cypresses, and feel the vicissitudes of history. Day 3: Tangjiahe Nature Reserve → Return • Morning: Go to Tangjiahe Nature Reserve, a paradise for wild animals. You may encounter cute red pandas, takins and other rare animals. • Afternoon: Take a walk in the reserve, enjoy the natural scenery, breathe the fresh air, and relax. Then we returned with a lot of good memories. 📸Photographing and checking in at scenic spots • Huangze Temple: Take retro photos in front of the statue of Wu Zetian with the ancient building as the background. • Thousand Buddha Cliff: Standing on the plank road, with the grotto statues and Jialing River as the background, every shot is a blockbuster. • Jianmen Pass Tower: Put on ancient costumes, stand in front of the tower, and instantly become a "hero". • Tangjiahe: Take a photo with the wild animals and natural scenery in the nature reserve to record this beautiful moment. 🍜Must-eat food • Guangyuan cold noodles: smooth texture, with special chili oil and seasoning, sour and spicy, you will fall in love with it at the first bite. • Steamed cold noodles: Different from ordinary cold noodles, it has a softer and more glutinous texture and a unique flavor. • Jianmen Tofu: There are many varieties, such as bear paw tofu, pocket tofu, etc., each one is worth a try. • Sour cabbage and tofu rice: The sour aroma of sauerkraut and the tenderness of tofu are perfectly combined, which is appetizing and goes well with rice. 🏠Accommodation Guide • City: There are various accommodation options and convenient transportation. You can choose a hotel or B&B according to your budget. It is recommended to live in Lizhou District, close to the food street and shopping mall. • Jianmen Pass Scenic Area: If you want to visit Jianmen Pass conveniently, you can choose an inn or resort hotel near the scenic area. You can enjoy the first ray of sunshine in the scenic area in the morning and feel the tranquility of the scenic area in the evening. 💕Guangyuan has both profound history and culture and beautiful natural scenery. Come to Guangyuan this February to start an unforgettable trip! Remember to plan your trip in advance and book accommodation. I wish you a pleasant three days in Guangyuan~

❄️In the cold and poetic winter, I set foot on the charming land of Guangyuan and started an unforgettable winter journey. For this trip to Guangyuan, I have carefully prepared a comprehensive travel guide for you, so that you can deeply appreciate the unique style of this city in three days😎. 🎯 Tour route: Day 1: Arrive in Guangyuan, check in at the hotel first, take a short rest, then go to Huangze Temple to feel the weight of history. In the evening, enjoy local cuisine in the city. The next day: Set off for Jianmen Pass early in the morning to experience the danger of "one man guarding the pass, ten thousand men cannot open it". In the afternoon, go to Cuiyun Corridor to enjoy the beautiful scenery of towering ancient cypresses. Day 3: Visit Mingyue Gorge and experience the miracle of ancient transportation. Prepare to return in the afternoon. 🌟Introduction to must-visit attractions: 🎈Huangze Temple: The temple dedicated to Wu Zetian, the only female emperor in China. There are many precious cultural relics and historical sites in the temple, showing the culture and art of the Tang Dynasty. 🎈Jianmen Pass: Famous for its "majesty, strangeness, danger and beauty", it was an ancient military fortress and is now a popular tourist destination. 🎈Cuiyun Corridor: The ancient cypresses are lush and green, and it is known as the "Wonder of Shu Road". Walking in it, it feels like traveling back to ancient times. 🎈Mingyue Gorge: It integrates the six roads of plank road, post road, towpath, waterway, highway and railway in one gorge, witnessing the development and changes of transportation. 🎈Thousand Buddha Cliff: A treasure house of grotto art, it preserves a large number of exquisite Buddha statues and stone carvings with extremely high artistic value. 🎈Zhaohua Ancient City: It has a long history, profound Three Kingdoms culture, and ancient streets and alleys full of charm. 🎈Tangjiahe National Nature Reserve: With a beautiful ecological environment and many rare animals and plants, it is an excellent place to get close to nature. 🎈Tianzhao Mountain: With dense forests and beautiful scenery, it is an ideal place for leisure and vacation. 🏞️Surrounding attractions: 🎈Zengjiashan: In winter, you can enjoy the snow scenery, skiing, and the unique karst landforms. 🎈Cangxi Pear Expo Park: You can enjoy pear blossoms in spring and taste sweet pears in autumn. 🍜Food recommendation: 🎈Queen Steamed Cold Noodles: Guangyuan specialty food, smooth texture and unique taste. 🎈Jianmen Tofu: Using tofu as the raw material, various delicious dishes are made, such as Mapo Tofu, Bear Paw Tofu, etc. 🎈Qingchuan black fungus: rich in nutrition, delicious taste, can be eaten cold, stir-fried, or made into soup. 🎈Sauerkraut tofu noodles: The sour taste of sauerkraut and the tenderness of tofu combine to create a unique taste. 🏨Accommodation recommendation: 🎈Hotels in the city: convenient transportation, complete surrounding supporting facilities, you can choose chain hotels such as Home Inn and Hanting. 🎈B&Bs near Jianmen Pass: You can feel the charm of Jianmen Pass at a closer distance and experience the local customs and practices. 🎈Zhaohua Ancient City Inn: Stay in the ancient city and feel the tranquility and simplicity of the ancient city, such as Gu Family Courtyard. I hope this guide can help you have fun, eat well, and stay comfortably during your winter trip to Guangyuan😘!

Guangyuan is the birthplace of Wu Zetian, the only female emperor in China. In the Zetian Hall in Huangze Temple, there is a stone carving of Wu Zetian's true appearance. This is a must-see attraction when traveling to Guangyuan, Sichuan. 🗿 Guangyuan Huangze Temple 📍Address: Intersection of Nuhuang Road and Binjiang Road, Lizhou District, Guangyuan City 🎫Ticket: 50 yuan, free for those under 1.2 meters🆓 ❗️Others: On non-holidays, you can enjoy a 30% discount on the regular ticket with a high-speed rail ticket within seven days. In addition, there is a package ticket with Qianfo Cliff for 80 yuan. ⏳ Tour: The whole tour takes 2-3 hours 1️⃣Stone sculpture of Wu Zetian Located in the 🏯Zetian Hall of Huangze Temple, you can see it from the entrance along the main road. The hall enshrines a stone sculpture of Wu Zetian in her later years, wearing a crown👑, and presenting the image of a bhikkhuni. The stone sculpture was later covered with gold, presenting its current appearance. 2️⃣ Cliff carvings The Big Buddha Cave is the most exquisite and largest cave in Huangze Temple. The main Buddha is more than 7 meters high. There is a viewing platform opposite the stone sculpture. You can go up to the second floor to view the grottoes from the front, which is different from the visual experience of standing at the foot of the stone Buddha and looking up. 3️⃣Queen Cultural Exhibition Hall The museum displays cultural relics in four stages of Wu Zetian's life, from her birth in Guangyuan to her becoming an emperor and her contributions to the country. The introduction is quite detailed. 🔴Others 🔸There are also Song Dynasty Tomb Stone Carvings, Five Buddha Pavilion, Lu Zu Pavilion and other buildings in Huangze Temple that can be visited 🔸After coming out of the exhibition hall, you can overlook the Jialing River and Guangyuan High-speed Railway Station on the way down the mountain. The terrain here is higher, and you can also overlook the Guangyuan Ancient City. 👍The scenery is very good

🌟Huangze Temple is located in the west of Guangyuan City, Sichuan Province, China, on the west bank of the Jialing River, at the foot of Wulong Mountain. 👉Huangze Temple has 57 existing niches and more than 1,200 stone carvings, which were first carved in the late Northern Wei Dynasty, developed through the Northern Zhou and Sui Dynasties, and reached their peak in the Tang Dynasty. 🌟The stone statue of Wu Zetian in the Zetian Hall is 1.8 meters high, carved from a whole piece of sandstone, and is more than 1,300 years old. 🔥Highlights of Huangze Temple: ✅The stone statue of Empress Wu Zetian, covered with gold foil after thousands of years, still retains its majesty. ✅Restoration of the scene of the two saints and the prime ministers, as if traveling back to the magnificent Tang Dynasty. ✅The Great Buddha Niche of the Sui Dynasty, a 6-meter-high statue, is very impressive, with fine carvings and traces of the times. ✅The Heart Sutra Cave, which once had a stele inscription by Yan Zhenqing. ✅Huangze Temple Museum, with five units, tells the life story of Wu Zetian and all the empresses in the world, which is worth savoring and browsing. ✅Wu's Ancestral Temple, where you can pray and offer lotus flowers. ✅In addition, there are Northern Wei niches, Bell and Drum Tower, Lüzu Pavilion, etc. I visited all the attractions, spent an afternoon, and walked 20,000 steps. 😂😂 👉The main attractions of Huangze Temple are the stone statue of the empress and the grottoes. 🌟Entering the gate of Huangze Temple, the first thing you see is the "Two Saints Hall," and above it is the Zetian Hall, the main hall of Huangze Temple, with a stone statue in the center, 1.8 meters high, carved from a whole piece of sandstone. It is the image of the empress in her old age and is the only stone statue of Empress Wu Zetian in China. 📷Photo tips: 🟠The ancient architecture of Huangze Temple is suitable for ancient costume photography. 🟡The cliff stone carvings of Huangze Temple are also worth a shot! 📍Location: Guangyuan, Sichuan 🚗Transportation: Navigate directly to Huangze Temple, there is a parking lot at the entrance. 💰Tickets: CNY 47/person, parking CNY 10 ❗TIPS: ❤️Huangze Temple is now a museum, so there is no vegetarian food! 🧡You can hire a guide to tour Huangze Temple. 💛If you want to take pictures of cultural relics, please do not turn on the flash. Although it has little impact on the cultural relics, it will disturb other visitors. Please travel in a civilized manner!

Located on the banks of the Jialing River in Lizhou District, Guangyuan City, Sichuan Province, this grand temple was built in the late Northern Wei Dynasty. It is located by the mountain and the water. It was originally named "Wunu Temple" and also known as "Chuanzhumiao". By the early Tang Dynasty, the temple and the carved cliff stone carvings had a certain scale. After Wu Zetian ascended the throne, she named it Huangze Temple, which means "the emperor's grace is vast, and the benefits reach the hometown". The temple is located in Guangyuan, the birthplace of Wu Zetian. Later, the temple added the Second Holy Hall, Wu's Family Temple, and Wu Hou Zhenrong Hall, etc., which not only offered Buddha, but also worshipped the female emperor, making Huangze Temple gradually become the temple of Empress Wu Zetian.

To commemorate her birthplace and mother, Empress Wu Zetian specially ordered the construction of a stone sculpture of her true likeness within Huangze Temple, which is currently the only stone sculpture of Empress Wu's true likeness in the world. Huangze Temple does not have the traditional Buddhist temple's 'Mahavira Hall', but instead has the 'Zetian Hall' as its main hall. In the statue, Wu Zetian wears a tall and precious crown, sits in a lotus position, and forms the Dhyana mudra with her hands in front of her abdomen, solemn and sacred.

✅✅ The only temple in China dedicated to an empress ✅✅ Among the first batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units ✅✅ National 4A-level tourist attraction ✅✅ A famous tourist spot in Guangyuan ♻️♻️ Huangze Temple, originally named "Wunu Temple" or "Chuanzhu Temple", is located on Empress Road, Lizhou District, Guangyuan City, Sichuan Province. It is a temple dedicated to Wu Zetian, the only female emperor of China 👸👸👸 ♻️♻️ The temple was first built during the Tang Dynasty's Kaiyuan era and has a history of over 1300 years. The existing main structures include the main gate, Zetian Hall, Ersheng Hall, Big Buddha Tower, Little South Sea, Lüzu Pavilion, Five Buddhas Pavilion, Wu Family Ancestral Temple, Bell and Drum Tower, and the Heart Sutra Cave, etc. ⛩️⛩️⛩️ ♻️♻️ In addition to the true likeness of Empress Zetian, the temple also preserves cliff carvings of Huangze Temple from the Northern Wei to the Ming and Qing dynasties, as well as inscriptions from various eras, which have great value for cultural relics appreciation and research. The Big Buddha in the Big Buddha Tower, the donor figures, and the central pillar, as well as the Song Dynasty tomb relief carvings, are even hailed as treasures of traditional Chinese culture 🎎🎎🎎 🚙🚙 Transportation: There are sightseeing buses available from the city, and it is also accessible by car, but parking spaces are competitive 🅿️🅿️🅿️ 💰💰 Admission: 48 yuan 💴💴💴

🫅🏻After Wu Zetian ascended to the throne, she favored Buddhism over Taoism, using it to suppress the Li royal family who claimed descent from Laozi. Against this backdrop, a nationwide trend emerged to build temples and carve Buddha statues on a grand scale. 🗿 This was especially true in Wu Zetian's hometown of Guangyuan, where an image of the empress was carved and enshrined in Huangze Temple. Since it was modeled after Wu Zetian post-coronation, the statue resembles an old lady, which is probably the closest representation of the real Wu Zetian. In addition to this, Huangze Temple also preserves more than 50 grottoes and over 1,000 stone carvings. The Great Buddha Grotto carved during the Tang Dynasty is the best preserved, with a full and well-arranged layout of figures that are relaxed in posture. In the center stands a 5.8-meter-tall statue of Amitabha, flanked by two disciples, two bodhisattvas, two vajra warriors, and two heavenly kings. 📍Address: Huanghou Road, Lizhou District, Guangyuan City, Sichuan Province 🈺️Opening hours: 8:30-17:30 🎫Ticket price: 50 RMB per person 🏆Scenic spot level: AAAA, one of the first batch of key national cultural relics protection units

Every year on September 1st is Guangyuan's Daughter's Festival. Without having been here, one would never know the high regard in which great figures and Song Qingling hold Wu Zetian. Wu Zetian's true likeness stone carving statue The true likeness stone carving statue of Wu Zetian enshrined in the Zetian Hall is said to be an image of her in her later years, wearing a treasure crown and dressed as a 'Bhikkhuni' (main picture, 4th emoji). Guangyuan is the northernmost city in Sichuan, with many places having extremely dangerous terrain. The difficulty of the Shu Road, as described by the great Tang Dynasty poet Li Bai, says it all. 🎫Ticket: 50💰 for adults, discounts available for students ⏰Opening hours: 8.00-18.00 📍Address: Navigate to 'Huangze Temple Scenic Area' (near Qianfo Cliff and the train station) 🔥【How to enjoy Guangyuan city area?】 Morning: You must try a bowl of cold noodles in the morning, which can only be made with the water from the Jialing River in Guangyuan❗️ Although the word 'cold' is in its name, it is actually served hot. There are many delicious and affordable foods. Afternoon: Route 1⃣ Huangze Temple — Qianfo Cliff: Huangze Temple is the only temple in China dedicated to Empress Wu Zetian. Pray in the temple and feel the charm of the empress. Qianfo Cliff is the largest grotto group in Sichuan Province. Experience the wash of Chinese grotto culture on the cliffside. (You can go to Huangze Temple earlier in the morning and take a bus or drive to Qianfo Cliff in the afternoon) Route 2⃣ Fenghuang Tower (Dongshan Park): Climb Fenghuang Tower to overlook the entire Guangyuan cityscape, enjoy a cup of Ba Ba tea at the tower, and savor the afternoon; or relive childhood joy in the park. Evening Iron Bridge: Check-in for photos Guangyuan Covered Bridge (by the Jialing River): Photo-taking + river breeze + post-dinner walk + river cruise 🔥Attractions around Guangyuan, Jiange: Jianmen Pass/Cuiyun Corridor You can spend an entire day here because you will climb the Shu Road, which is as difficult as ascending to heaven, walk the bird path hanging on the cliffside, and climb the thrilling and exciting Ape Rubbing Path. After a day, your legs will be weak! Here, you can find 365 days of excellent air quality, Ba Ba tea everywhere, and people strolling by the river after meals. The character 'leisure' is evident everywhere. Although the city seems small and leisurely, very suitable for retirement, its touristic nature should not be underestimated.

If we're talking about places with great value for money around Xi'an, Guangyuan definitely counts as one, worth visiting time and again‼️ 🗓 Itinerary: 🚄 High-speed train version recommended: Saturday: Morning Xi'an➡️Guangyuan😃2 hours by high-speed train, ticket price 150 Afternoon Qianfoya, Fenghuang Mountain, enjoy hotpot in the evening, yum😋Stay overnight in Guangyuan Sunday: Morning Nanhe Bus Station➡️Zhaohua Ancient City, minibuses depart every hour, 30 minutes trip, ticket price 9 yuan; enjoy Zhaohua's delicious intestines Afternoon return to Guangyuan, end the weekend with a Sichuan cuisine meal 🎬 Evening Guangyuan➡️Xi'an 🚗 Self-driving version recommended: Friday Drive overnight to Guangyuan, about 5 and a half hours, stay overnight in Guangyuan; Saturday Drive about 1 and a half hours to Jinniu Ancient Trail's Lanma Wall, then 1 and a half hours to Zhaohua Ancient City in the afternoon, stay overnight in Zhaohua; Sunday Drive half an hour back to Guangyuan, visit Qianfoya, Fenghuang Mountain, Huangze Temple, schedule according to personal interest and time, have Sichuan cuisine for lunch; then start the journey back to Xi'an; ❤️ A few little tips ❤️ 1️⃣ Self-driving can be tiring, especially the Qinling section, which is quite demanding. It's recommended to have several drivers take turns, but once you arrive in Guangyuan, you can enjoy the freedom 2️⃣ There are many homestays in Zhaohua Ancient City, take a good look at pictures and reviews when choosing. We picked Jiameng Post, which was quite good and convenient; the food in Zhaohua seems similar from place to place, go with what looks good to you, the intestines are a tasty specialty😋 3️⃣ Accommodation in Guangyuan really offers better value for money, it's up to you; we randomly chose a hotpot place and it was great, also had Dong's Stewed Pig's Trotters, delicious👍right at Nanhe Square, all kinds of food, dazzling 4️⃣ Sichuan's rapeseed flowers are blooming, all along the river by Zhaohua Ancient City, so beautiful‼️ 5️⃣ For the high-speed train version, please check the return trip times from Zhaohua Ancient City to Guangyuan in advance, currently, only morning trips from Nanhe Bus Station to the ancient city are visible, can't see the return trips; 6️⃣ Movie ticket prices in Guangyuan might be a bit cheaper, consider watching a couple of movies😏

Sichuan Guangyuan Huangze Temple Travel Guide: The Birthplace of Empress Wu Zetian On the Qingming Festival in April, I finally visited the long-anticipated Sichuan Guangyuan Huangze Temple, which is the birthplace of the only female emperor in Chinese history, Wu Zetian. Historical records state that her registered place of origin is Shanxi Bingzhou, but she was born in Sichuan Guangyuan Highlights of Huangze Temple: The true-life stone sculpture of Empress Wu Zetian, which has been washed over thousands of years and covered with gold foil, still retains its imposing aura The reenactment of the Two Saints holding court and the scene with the prime ministers, as if traveling back to the majestic era of the Tang Dynasty The Sui Dynasty Great Buddha niche, with a six-meter-tall statue, is extremely impressive, finely carved, and full of traces of the era The 'Heart Sutra' cave, which once had a stele inscription by Yan Zhenqing Huangze Temple Museum, which has five units, detailing the life of Wu Zetian and the collection of all the female emperors in the world, is well worth savoring and browsing The Wu family ancestral temple, where you can pray and offer lotus flowers In addition, there are Northern Wei Dynasty niche statues, the Bell and Drum Tower, Lüzu Pavilion, and so on. I visited all the attractions, strolled for an afternoon, and walked twenty thousand steps Ticket price: 50$ for adults, with discounts available for students Opening hours: 8.00-18.00 Address: Navigate to 'Huangze Temple Scenic Area' (near Qianfo Cliff and the train station) Huangze Temple is truly a feng shui treasure, located by the Jialing River, with gentle breezes blowing, making one's soul incredibly peaceful. If you also like this period of history, or if you are in a state of confusion and struggle, then come to this place for a visit, to cleanse your soul Finally, buy a souvenir coin at the entrance as a fulfillment of a long-held wish~

🌟Highlights: Huangze Temple is the only temple in China dedicated to the only female emperor, Wu Zetian, located on the banks of the Jialing River west of Guangyuan City, Sichuan Province. In 1961, it was announced by the State Council as the first batch of national key cultural relics protection units; ❤Recommended reasons: In 2006, it was rated as a national AAAA tourist attraction. Huangze Temple is not only the only temple dedicated to Wu Zetian in China, but also preserves 6 grottoes, 41 niches, 1203 bodies of Huangze Temple cliff carvings and inscriptions from the Northern Wei to the Ming and Qing Dynasties, which not only have extremely high cultural relic value, but also have extremely high ornamental and research value, and are even hailed by experts as the treasures of Chinese traditional culture.

Guangyuan Huangze Temple Cliff Carving The Huangze Temple carvings were excavated from the Northern Dynasty to the Song and Ming periods. The Great Buddha Grotto is the largest niche carving of Huangze Temple, which was originally opened by the fourth son of Emperor Wen of Sui (King Shu Yang Xiu), but was completed in the early Tang Dynasty. Inside the niche, there are seven statues of one Buddha, two disciples, two Bodhisattvas, and two strong men. The rear wall of the niche is carved with human-shaped dragons. The Wu Zetian stone carving in the Zetian Temple is the only real image of Wu Zetian in the country. 🚌Bus: Guangyuan Railway Station to Huangze Temple, take bus No. 1.13.15, 20 minutes. 🪭Address: Intersection of Queen's Road and Binjiang Road, Lizhou District 🎫Ticket: 50 yuan Guangyuan Thousand Buddha Cliff Carving The Thousand Buddha Cliff is the largest grotto group in Sichuan, with a large span of time, from the Southern and Northern Dynasties to the Qing Dynasty. Unfortunately, in 1935, the Sichuan-Shaanxi Highway was built, destroying more than half of the carvings. The group of carvings is centered on the Great Cloud Cave, divided into two sections, south and north. The famous niches in the south section include the Great Buddha Cave, Lotus Cave, Muni Cave, Thousand Buddha Cave, Sleeping Buddha Niche, Many Treasures Buddha Grotto, Ruyi Wheel Guanyin, etc. The famous ones in the north section include the Three World Buddha Grotto, Wuyou Flower Tree Buddha, Maitreya Buddha Grotto, Three Body Buddha Niche, Bodhi Image Grotto, Lushena Buddha Niche and the Qing Dynasty's Tibetan Buddha Cave, etc. 📍Address: Located on the east bank of the Jialing River, 4 kilometers north of the old city of Lizhou District, Guangyuan City, Sichuan Province. 🚌Transportation strategy: Bus No. 5 and 27 in Guangyuan urban area can reach directly. 🎫Ticket price: Adult/50