[2025 Yuncheng Attraction] Travel Guide for Yuncheng Museum (Updated Mar)

The Yuncheng Museum, a cultural landmark of Yuncheng City and a National First-Class Museum, boasts a unique architectural design resembling ancient tree roots embedded in the Loess Plateau, reflecting its profound historical and cultural heritage. The museum houses a rich collection of artifacts spanning from the Paleolithic Era to modern times, including over 2,000 precious relics. The main exhibition, themed "East of the Great River," is divided into six historical sections: ✅Roots of Chinese Civilization: Showcases evidence of fire use from the Xihoudu Site. ✅Treasures of the Collection: Displays bronzeware, ceramics, and other artifacts from the Spring and Autumn Period to modern times. ✅The Salt Spring and Autumn: Tells the story of Yuncheng Salt Lake's significant role in China's salt industry history. ✅A Land of Outstanding People: Celebrates the renowned figures and scholars from Yuncheng throughout history, highlighting the city's enduring cultural heritage. ✅Splendor of Architecture: Presents the charm of Yuncheng's ancient architecture through building models and multimedia technology. My personal favorite exhibition hall👍 ✅Turbulent Times in Tiaoshan: Recounts Yuncheng's glorious history during the revolutionary period.

Yuncheng's hidden gem isn't just the Guan Di Temple and Yongle Palace—it's the Yuncheng Museum! Here, you'll find a treasure trove of precious artifacts and be transported back in time to experience the city's rich history. Stepping into the museum is like embarking on a magical journey through time. The museum is divided into several exhibition halls, showcasing a diverse collection of bronzes, ceramics, stone carvings, calligraphy, and paintings. Beyond the artifacts, the museum's architecture is a masterpiece in itself. Blending modern design with traditional elements, it exudes a classic elegance and grandeur. Every corner is a photo opportunity, waiting to be captured. The museum also features a special exhibition on Hedong culture, offering an in-depth look at the region's unique history and cultural characteristics, providing visitors with a deeper understanding of the area. 📍Address: 1080 Weifeng Street, Yanhu District, Yuncheng City, Shanxi Province 🈺️Hours: 09:00–17:00 (Closed on Mondays)

Shanxi is known for its historical relics, and Yuncheng boasts "big names" like Yongle Palace and Guan Di Temple. But beyond these ancient structures, the Yuncheng Museum is also worth a visit 👀. The Yuncheng Museum houses a rich collection that vividly showcases Yuncheng's long history and profound cultural heritage. The museum also features a special exhibition on Hedong culture, offering an in-depth interpretation of the region's historical and cultural characteristics, providing visitors with a deeper understanding of the area. Visiting the Yuncheng Museum not only allows you to admire a wealth of artifacts but also to experience the charm of history more directly through modern technology such as multimedia interactive devices and VR experiences. 💁🏻‍♀️P.S. There are also tons of free, beautiful stamps to collect. Remember to bring a notebook, or you can buy one at the gift shop ✌️. ▫️▫️▫️▫️ ⓘ ⓝ ⓕ ⓞ ▫️▫️▫️▫️ 🧩Name: Yuncheng Museum 📍Address: No. 1080 Weifeng Street, Yanhu District, Yuncheng City, Shanxi Province 🈺️Hours: 9:00 am–5:00 pm, closed on Mondays

Although there are thousands of Guan Di Temples, the one in Jiezhou is the oldest, largest, highest-ranking, and best-preserved, covering a total area of 220,000 square meters. It truly deserves its title as the "Ancestor of Guan Temples"👍 The temple is divided into two parts: the Jieyi Garden and the main temple. The main temple has a complete layout, with the front hall and the rear palace. Along the central axis are the screen wall, Duan Gate, Zhi Gate, Wu Gate, Yushu Tower, Chongning Tower, and Chunqiu Tower. On both sides, there are bell and drum towers, stele pavilions, and corridors. A popular photo spot is the horizontal plaque with the inscription "Shen Yong" (Divine Valor), written by Emperor Qianlong. The matching fridge magnets were sold out at the souvenir shop😭, but luckily, I found one at the Yuncheng Museum. However, the quality wasn't great for 38 RMB, so buy with caution. Guan Di Temple boasts two beautiful caissons, one in Yushu Tower and the other in Chunqiu Tower. The chrysanthemum caisson in Chunqiu Tower is truly breathtaking👏 There's a fee to go upstairs, but it's worth it‼️

"The Spirit of Guan Yu" is the theme song of the Guan Yu Culture Tourism Festival in Yuncheng. The lyrics mention "The spirit of Guan Yu, loyalty and righteousness passed down through the ages", showcasing the profound cultural heritage of Guan Yu. 4-Day 3-Night Road Trip in Yuncheng Itinerary Day 1: Arrive in Yuncheng - Jiezhou Guandi Temple - Yongle Palace • Morning: Arrive in Yuncheng and check in to your hotel • Noon: Have lunch in Yuncheng and try some local specialties • Afternoon: Visit Jiezhou Guandi Temple, the largest and highest-ranking Guandi Temple in China • Evening: Visit Yongle Palace and admire the Yuan Dynasty murals Day 2: Guanque Tower - Yellow River Iron Ox - Pujiu Temple • Morning: Visit Guanque Tower, climb the tower to enjoy the view of the Yellow River, and experience the magnificent scenery of "The sun sets behind the mountains, the Yellow River flows into the sea" • Noon: Have lunch near Guanque Tower • Afternoon: Visit the Yellow River Iron Ox and admire the grandeur of the Tang Dynasty iron ox • Evening: Visit Pujiu Temple and experience the love story of Cui Yingying and Zhang Sheng from "Romance of the West Chamber" Day 3: Li Family Courtyard - Houtu Temple - Salt Lake • Morning: Visit Li Family Courtyard and admire the ancient buildings that combine Chinese and Western architectural styles • Noon: Have lunch near Li Family Courtyard • Afternoon: Visit Houtu Temple and see the Houtu Temple of "Heaven and Earth" • Evening: Visit Salt Lake and admire the beautiful sunset over the lake Day 4: Yuncheng Museum Attraction Highlights 1. Jiezhou Guandi Temple: • The largest and highest-ranking Guandi Temple in China, with magnificent architecture and profound cultural connotations • The temple has dragon pillars, a four-dragon wall, and steles from various dynasties, with unique caisson and pavilion designs • An important place for studying ancient Chinese architecture and religious culture 2. Yongle Palace: • The largest and most well-preserved Taoist temple in China, with murals of high artistic value • The murals in the three palaces are as famous as those in Dunhuang, showcasing the exquisite painting art of the Yuan Dynasty • An important place for studying ancient Chinese religious art and painting history 3. Guanque Tower: • One of the four famous towers in China, where you can climb the tower to enjoy the view of the Yellow River and experience the magnificent scenery of "The sun sets behind the mountains, the Yellow River flows into the sea" • The newly built Guanque Tower is magnificent and is a landmark building in Yuncheng • Suitable for experiencing the poetic sentiments of ancient Chinese literati 4. Yellow River Iron Ox: • An iron ox cast in the Tang Dynasty, used to fix the floating bridge on the Yellow River, showcasing the casting technology of the Tang Dynasty • The iron ox is grand in shape and is an important physical object for studying ancient Chinese bridges and casting technology • Together with the Pujindu Site, it witnesses the historical changes of the Yellow River 5. Pujiu Temple: • The setting of the story "Romance of the West Chamber", with ancient buildings and a strong cultural atmosphere • The temple has attractions such as love locks, suitable for couples and family tourists • An important place for studying ancient Chinese literature and religious culture 6. Li Family Courtyard: • The architectural style combines traditional southern Shanxi dwellings, Huizhou architecture, and European "Gothic" architecture • Known for its "benevolent culture", showcasing the charitable spirit of the Li family • An important place for studying modern Chinese commercial culture and architectural art 7. Houtu Temple: • The place of worship for the central god and mother earth in ancient Chinese mythology • The temple has Qiufeng Tower and a five-colored earth altar, with rich cultural connotations • An important place for studying ancient Chinese religion and mythology 8. Salt Lake: • The Salt Lake in Yuncheng is rich in minerals and presents a colorful appearance • At sunset, the reflection of the Salt Lake is like a mirror, with spectacular scenery • A great place for photography enthusiasts

| These 6 places made me redefine shock. After traveling for so many years, I rarely use "shocking" to describe a place. These 6 places in 2024 let me see what is truly amazing. ✅ Dongyang Lu's House - Baogai Suoluolian Sanju Colorful Spike Sheep Horn Lamp Walking into Lu's House is like traveling back to the prosperous family of ancient times. The goat horn lamp is a treasure that protects the house. The lamp is 4.5 meters high and weighs 250 kilograms. There are three large lamps made of sheepskin, silk and goat horns connected in the middle. There are 6 strings of 24 small goat horn lamps and bead basket lamps hanging on the outside, which are made of 400,000 colorful glass beads. It was included in the Guinness World Records. ✅Xiaoxitian - Ceiling with hanging sculptures The hanging sculptures of Xiaoxitian are distributed in the main hall, making full use of the limited space to create a three-dimensional, multi-layered Buddhist world. The production of the hanging sculptures took 12 years, and more than 1,030 lifelike colored sculptures were carefully created in a space of 217 square meters. The characters are lifelike, with different postures, densely packed yet orderly. Each statue is the result of the painstaking efforts of ancient craftsmen, and one cannot help but marvel at the greatness of art. ✅Guangsheng Temple - Feihong Tower The most exquisite and best preserved glazed tower in existence, the tower is decorated with rich glazed components and patterns, with bright colors and fine workmanship, reflecting the superb glazed craftsmanship. Even on a cloudy day (it was raining heavily when I went there), the glazed tower is still dazzling. ✅Wanrong Feiyun Building Feiyun Building has three floors on the outside, but actually has five floors on the inside. The whole building does not use a single nail, and all components are connected with mortise and tenon structures to ensure the stability of the building. The brackets of Feiyun Tower are intricate and exquisite, layered one on top of the other, as light and floating as clouds, or like a bird spreading its wings about to fly. Looking up, one cannot help but admire the architectural wisdom of the ancients. ✅Yongle Palace The murals of Yongle Palace are famous for their grand scale, exquisite craftsmanship and profound historical and cultural connotations, especially the "Chao Yuan Tu" in the Sanqing Hall, which is colorful and lifelike, showing the Taoist immortal system and is known as the "Oriental Art Gallery". ‼ ️Since taking photos is prohibited inside the temple, the photos are replicas of the Yuncheng Museum ✅Jilue Huanggong Temple in Chaozhou - Woodcarving Walking into the Jilue Huanggong Temple is like walking into a temple of woodcarving art. Beams, brackets, brackets... everywhere is full of exquisite wood carvings, figures, flowers and birds, landscapes, dazzling and overwhelming - Each of these 6 places brought me unparalleled shock. If you also love traveling and exploring the unknown, you might as well go to these places. I believe you will be impressed by their charm.

East of the Yellow River The great land of Hedong Full of wonders Trace the roots of Chinese civilization and human history Learn about the salt merchant culture of the Spring and Autumn Period Read the words of the saints Marvel at the wonders of architecture Explore the revolutionary history of Hedong Discover the treasures of the museum 🌟Highlights: The layout of Yuncheng Museum is inspired by the "meaning of Tai Chi, the momentum of nebulae, and the shape of a cradle." The building is shaped like an old tree root rooted in the Loess Plateau. 🕙Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00 am–5:00 pm 📍Address: Weifeng Street, Yanhu District, Yuncheng

📍Address: Weifeng Street, Yanhu District, Yuncheng City, Shanxi Province. The square in front of the museum is huge, and if you're lucky, you might catch a special exhibition. We saw an exhibition on ancient architecture in Shanxi on the square, and it gave us a lot of ideas for future trips. 🚗Getting there: We stayed at a nearby hotel and walked to the museum. There are lots of places to eat, drink, and have fun nearby, and there's a big shopping mall next door, so we recommend adding this to your city walk itinerary. 👍️Must-see: 1. The museum has a large wall with a replica of the Yongle Palace murals, and you can take photos of it. The replica is aged, so it makes up for not being able to take photos in Yongle Palace. 2. There are also murals from Qinglong Temple here. Qinglong Temple is rarely open, and the murals inside are under constant restoration, so you can hardly ever see them. It's lucky to be able to see them in the museum. The damaged parts are left blank, which is very realistic and true to the original. 💗Other tips: The museum also has many models and introductions of ancient architecture in Shanxi, which are worth taking your time to see. If you're interested in comparisons, you can find many great places here that you won't find in regular guides.

If the wind doesn't come 🌬, let's chase the wind! Embark on a journey to seek the wisdom and aesthetics of the ancients. Let's explore the ancient architectural heritage of Yuncheng together～✨ 📅Day1: 📍Guangrenwang Temple🏛→ 📍Yongle Palace🏯 📍Guangrenwang Temple - A treasure of Tang Dynasty wooden architecture, a living fossil witnessing history. It is not only a miracle of architecture but also a place of cultural heritage. 📍Yongle Palace - Built to commemorate Lü Dongbin, one of the Eight Immortals. The mural art is breathtaking, with every stroke filled with stories and vitality 🎨. 📅Day2: 📍Houtu Temple🏛→ 📍Wangrong Dongyue Temple - Feiyun Tower🏢→ 📍Wangrong Ji King Temple🏛 📍Houtu Temple - A place to worship the Earth Mother, feel the reverence for nature 🌱. 📍Feiyun Tower - The first wooden tower in China, every beam and column reveals the ingenuity and wisdom of craftsmen, the mortise and tenon structure is amazing 🧩. 📍Ji King Temple - A temple that carries farming culture, a holy place where people pray for a good harvest 🌾. 📅Day3: 📍Great Buddha Temple🏞→ 📍Xinjian County Jiangzhou Office Scenic Area🏛→ 📍Longxing Temple Longxing Tower-🏯 📍Great Buddha Temple - A Buddhist holy land in the Jin and Yuan Dynasties, the "world's first clay sculpture Buddha" is shocking 🙏. 📍Jiangzhou Office - An ancient government building, as if you can hear the echoes of history. 📍Longxing Tower - A mysterious tower full of legends, its stories are waiting for you to explore 🌌. 📅Day4: 📍Sima Wengong Temple🏛→ Jiezhuo 📍Guan Di Temple🏯 📍Sima Wengong Temple - A place to commemorate the great politician and historian Sima Guang, feel his spirit of integrity and honesty. 📍Guan Di Temple - As the crown of martial temples, it is not only grand in scale but also carries people's respect for the spirit of loyalty and righteousness 🛡. 📅Day5: 📍Yuncheng Museum🏛 📍Yuncheng Museum - A national first-class museum, taking you into the historical scroll of "east of the great river" 📖. 🍜Of course, how can we miss the food on the journey? Jiezhuo lamb soup 🐑, Yuncheng big plate chicken 🍗, Jiangzhou copper hot pot 🍲... every dish is a feast for the taste buds! 🍽 Yuncheng, an ancient yet vibrant city, is waiting for you to discover more stories and secrets! 🌟

Why is Guan Yu's hometown Yuncheng named so? What is the relationship between Yuncheng and salt? What is the connection between Bao Zheng, Ouyang Xiu, and Yuncheng? Spend half a day in the Yuncheng Museum, travel through time, touch the traces left by history, listen to the stories told by the artifacts, and perceive the footsteps of the ancestors who lived on this land. ✨ First Exhibition Hall: The Search for Chinese Roots Experience the magnificent history from human ancestors to the origins of Chinese civilization, through a series of unearthed cultural relics and archaeological discoveries. Real objects, inscriptions, and statues in multiple dimensions display the 40 million-year-old 'Dawn Ape' and the cultural remains from the Paleolithic, Neolithic, and Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties. ✨ Second Exhibition Hall: Museum Treasures Over a thousand museum treasures including bronzes, stone carvings, clay sculptures, and paintings, each exquisite and full of stories, with the museum's prized stone coffins also located here. The story of Yuncheng and salt, as well as the origin of the name of Yuncheng, can also be found in this exhibition hall. ✨ Authentic Murals Are you still amazed by the authentic murals of Yongle Palace, Qinglong Temple, and Jiyi Temple, regretting that you can't get a closer look or take photos? The authentic mural reproductions on the second floor are equally stunning. There are many more interesting items and stories in the Yuncheng Museum, which are left for you to discover~ 📝 Practical Tips: 📍 Address | Yuncheng Museum, Weifeng Street, Salt Lake District, Yuncheng, Shanxi 🚌 Bus | Direct access by Route 5 🚗 Self-driving | Follow the navigation 🕙 Business Hours | 9:00-18:00 ⏳ Suggested Visiting Time | 2-4 hours 🎫 Ticket | 🆓 Free

“When asked if Shanxi is bad, I answered, “wherever my heart is at peace is my hometown.” Yuncheng, formerly known as "Hedong", is located east of the Yellow River. This is an important birthplace of Chinese civilization and the earliest place called China. Yuncheng has salt lakes, Shun and Yu, and Yuncheng has Hou Ji. Huangdi and Yandi "formed an alliance" here, and Chiyou was "knocked down" and thrown into the lake here. The Battle of Zhuolu ended with Huangdi defeating Chiyou. Eventually, the Yanhuang and Chiyou tribes merged with each other, and the glorious history of Chinese civilization began. In fact, Yao was in Linfen, not far away. After Huangdi, three legendary tribal alliance leaders appeared in the Yellow River Basin: Tang Yao, Yu Shun and Xia Yu. Yao, Shun and Yu are recognized as sages by all schools of thought in later generations. During the period when they governed the world, they promulgated the seasonal laws of agricultural production, improved government laws, controlled floods, expanded territory, created music and rituals, established the system of abdication and initially formed the political form of "country". The opening line of the Book of Songs: Birth of the People reads: "When the people were first born, it was Jiang Yuan. How did they give birth to the people? They performed sacrifices and offered offerings, so that they would not be childless. They followed the Emperor Wu Min San, and were always at ease. They carried on Zhen and Su, and gave birth to and raised people. It was Hou Ji at that time." This poem, which was circulated among the Zhou ethnic group and describes the birth of ancestors, is one of the epics of the Han nationality in the pre-Qin period. The ancestor mentioned in this poem is Hou Ji, the ancestor recognized by the Zhou people. Yuncheng has a summer capital Xia was the first dynasty in Chinese history. As the beginning of the three ancient dynasties of Xia, Shang and Zhou, it developed on the basis of the culture of Tang Yao and Yu Shun, and it arose in Hedong. Stories such as the Xia capital Anyi, Shang Tang's conquest of Xia, and Duke Wen of Jin's domination of the world have all left a deep historical mark in the Hedong region. Yuncheng has 102 national protected sites, the most among prefecture-level cities. Only Beijing ranks ahead of Yuncheng in the country. When it comes to national protection, ancient Chinese capitals such as Xi'an, Luoyang, Kaifeng, Nanjing, etc. have to stand aside compared to Yuncheng. There are many scenic spots in Yuncheng, but they are too scattered. If you go to Yuncheng for at least 5 days, you may not be able to visit all the places. 1. Guandi Temple - the largest Guandi Temple complex in China. As soon as you enter Haizhou Town, you will see various elements of Guan Gong. The architectural style of Guandi Temple is extremely imperial, which is enough to prove the respect for him by all dynasties. The several cultural and creative products in Guandi Temple are all worth visiting and are very distinctive. The last Chunqiu Tower is worth visiting. Although the ticket costs an additional 30 yuan, you will get a small lucky bag, which is rare in the scenic area. 2. Yongle Palace - It takes about 50 minutes to drive from Guandi Temple to Ruicheng, passing through the Zhongtiao Mountain Tunnel which is nearly 10 kilometers long. The cultural and creative store of Yongle Palace is at the entrance of the scenic area. There are many species, but there is nothing to buy. The murals are indeed shocking, but I don’t understand why we are not allowed to take pictures. The security guards scolded us in various ways. I really don’t understand it! 3. Guangrenwang Temple - The attraction is free and very close to Yongle Palace. I have been fortunate to visit Nanchan Temple and Foguang Temple before. This temple is much smaller than the two in Xinzhou, but it is built like a small museum. You can learn a lot of knowledge and it is definitely worth a visit. 4. Sima Wengong Temple in Xia County. The attraction is not particularly large. In addition to Sima Guang's ancestral hall and tomb, there is also a Song Dynasty temple. There is also a stele building outside the Wengong Temple. I happened to catch the immersive performance at the Sima Wengong Temple. Every actor was very dedicated. From the old man selling candied haws on the street to the young lady playing the maid, you can really feel the care of every cast and crew member and the scene arrangement. 5. Wanrong Li Family Compound. The kindness of Shanxi merchants is the main theme of the Li Family Courtyard. The design of every courtyard and every finely carved brick and tile are full of the owner's beautiful expectations for life. It is recommended to ask a tour guide for an explanation, which takes about an hour, and I think it is worth it. 6. Feiyun Tower, Wanrong County The first wooden building in China is located in Dongyue Temple and is now inaccessible. Behind the wooden building is the main part of Dongyue Temple. The scenic spot is relatively small, about 40 minutes away from Li's Courtyard, and the tour time is about 20-30 minutes. If you think the distance is too far, you don't have to make the trip. 7. Yuncheng Museum Take bus No. 14 directly to the destination, and pay by ZFB card directly. The south gate is the exit. There are explanations in the exhibition hall on the first floor, but I didn't stay long in the exhibition halls on the second and third floors. Due to the convenience of online media nowadays, the exhibition of basic information on some cultural relics and attractions in museums has lost its meaning. This is not just a problem for the Yuncheng Museum, but a problem that all museums in the country must consider. So we watched the national treasure one more time. There is a stamp collection area at the exit on the first floor. It is recommended to bring a stamp collection book. The vertical large-size 6-composite stamp is worth stamping. The two-day trip to Yuncheng ended here. The special forces never stopped, but still felt unsatisfied. We visited 7-8 scenic spots, but less than one-tenth of the cultural relics protected in Yuncheng. I am so envious of the people of Yuncheng. I beg you to protect these cultural relics and I will come again next time.