https://ph.trip.com/moments/wanrong-1446130
2024 Wanrong Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in October)
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Popular Attractions
Li's Grand Courtyard
A lesser-known but stunning filming location for the Shanxi Black Myth: Qiu Feng Lou.
❤Recommended because:
Qiu Feng Lou stands quietly on the banks of the Yellow River, located behind the main hall of the Yuncheng Hou Tu Temple. The Hou Tu Temple was built where the Fen River flows into the Yellow River. It is the birthplace of Chinese Hou Tu culture and is the crown of temples in China and the source of the Temple of Heaven in Beijing.
Before the Ming Dynasty, the Hou Tu Temple was a royal sacrificial site, and later it became a temple for folk sacrifices. The existing buildings in the temple include the mountain gate, the well platform, the offering hall, the incense pavilion, the main hall, Qiu Feng Lou, and the east and west five tiger side halls. The buildings are magnificent and the structure is exquisite.
The mountain gate and the well platform form a rare "品" stage in China, providing important evidence for the study of the shape of ancient Chinese stages, and it has extremely high historical and artistic value.
The glazed ornaments in the main hall are dazzling and extremely precious. The hanging carvings on various buildings are exquisite and lifelike.
The Song Dynasty inscription "Fen Yin Er Sheng Pei Feng Ming" preserved in the temple is an inscription written and inscribed by Emperor Zhenzong of Song himself. Inscriptions inscribed by emperors in ancient China are rare, so this inscription is one of the famous inscriptions in ancient China.
🌟Highlights:
1️⃣Qiu Feng Lou is named after the "Qiu Feng Ci" tablet of Emperor Wu of Han Liu Che hidden in the building. Emperor Wu of Han personally came to worship six times and left the eternal masterpiece "Qiu Feng Ci".
2️⃣The 28 exquisitely carved hanging pillars on both sides of Qiu Feng Lou symbolize the 28 generals of Emperor Wu of Han's Yun Tai.
3️⃣The upper layer of the cross-hipped roof has 36 corners, symbolizing the 36 brothers of Wa Gang Zhai at the end of the Sui Dynasty.
4️⃣Each glass corner is also equipped with a colored glazed warrior figure, a total of 108, symbolizing the 108 generals of Liang Shan.
🎫Scenic area ticket: CNY 20
🕙Opening hours: 08:30-18:00
📍Detailed address: On the banks of the Yellow River in Miao Qian Village, Rong He Town, Wan Rong County, Yun Cheng City
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.
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!
Xuanyuan's ancestral temple was built on the banks of the river, and it is the oldest temple in China.
📍Address:
Ronghe Town, Wanrong County, Yuncheng City, on the banks of the Yellow River
🚗Transportation:
Self-driving is recommended. The parking lot is large. The entrance and exit are not the same. You need to walk and climb the mountain.
👍️Highlights:
We are all familiar with the Temple of Heaven and the Temple of Earth, but before these two, there was the Temple of Hou Tu, which is the oldest temple. Especially in the Han Dynasty, the worship of Hou Tu had become a system. Every three years, the emperor would come here to hold a grand ceremony.
Especially during the reign of Emperor Wu of Han, Liu Che, he worshipped Hou Tu six times in his life. The ceremony was grand and left a well-known masterpiece "Autumn Wind Poem". (The innermost part of the Hou Tu Temple is the all-wood Autumn Wind Tower, which is no less than the Feiyun Tower.) Later, Emperor Xuan of Han, Emperor Yuan, Emperor Cheng, Emperor Ai, and Emperor Guangwu of the Eastern Han Dynasty came here to worship 11 times.
The autumn wind rises and the white clouds fly,
The grass and trees are yellow and the geese return to the south.
Orchids are beautiful and chrysanthemums are fragrant,
I miss my beloved and I can't forget.
Only when I really stand on the ancient road, blowing the wind of the Yellow River, standing in front of the gorgeous Autumn Wind Tower, can I really understand this Autumn Wind Poem.
🎟️Ticket Information:
20.
We bought the Yuncheng annual pass, which includes this attraction.
Qiu Feng Lou in Yuncheng, Shanxi.
Qiu Feng Lou is located behind the main hall of the Hou Tu Temple in Wanrong County, Yuncheng City, Shanxi Province. Here is a detailed introduction:
1. Name origin: The name comes from the "Qiu Feng Ci" tablet of Emperor Wu of Han, Liu Che, which is stored in the building. According to records, Emperor Wu of Han, Liu Che, visited Hedong many times. In the late autumn of the fourth year of Yuanding (113 BC), Emperor Wu of Han climbed the building after worshiping the Hou Tu Temple, and was inspired to write the famous "Qiu Feng Ci".
2. Architectural structure:
- Overall structure: The building is 32.6 meters high, with three floors as the main body, five rooms wide, surrounded by corridors, and a cross-hipped roof. The lower part is built with a tall base, which runs through the east and west. The south side is the main entrance to the building, surrounded by brick walls. The building has a moderate proportion, simple brackets under the eaves, exquisite and simple structure, magnificent and vigorous shape, and is a masterpiece of ancient wooden architecture.
- Featured design: There are 28 finely carved hanging columns on both sides of the building, which are said to represent the 28 generals of Emperor Wu of Han; the upper part is a cross-hipped roof, with a total of 36 corners, symbolizing the 36 brothers of Wagangzhai at the end of the Sui Dynasty; each corner is decorated with 108 colored glaze warrior figures, symbolizing the 108 generals of Liangshan. These designs not only reflect the wisdom and skills of ancient craftsmen, but also contain rich historical and cultural connotations.
3. Cultural relics and inscriptions: There is a "Qiu Feng Ci" tablet of Emperor Wu of Han on the second and third floors of the building. The tablet on the third floor is 0.58 meters high and 0.73 meters wide. It is engraved in cursive script, with heavy strokes and dignified posture. This tablet was built in the eighth year of Yuan Zhiyuan (1271 AD). It is now broken and missing the upper left corner. It is inlaid vertically in the building with a wooden frame; the tablet on the second floor is 0.82 meters high and 1.87 meters long. It is engraved in seal script and embedded in the north wall of the building. The tablet is intact and was erected in August of the thirteenth year of Tongzhi in the Qing Dynasty (1874 AD).
4. History: The creation date of Qiu Feng Lou is unknown. Due to the flooding of the Yellow River, it was rebuilt during the Kangxi and Tongzhi periods of the Qing Dynasty. The existing buildings were rebuilt in the ninth year of Tongzhi in the Qing Dynasty (1870). Some researchers believe that the building has a Ming Dynasty style and was relocated during the Qing Dynasty.
In 1996, Qiu Feng Lou was designated as a national key cultural relics protection unit by the State Council. Its unique historical and cultural value and architectural art value attract many tourists to visit.
Shanxi Yuncheng Li Family Courtyard Travel Guide.
In the journey of exploring ancient Chinese courtyards, the Li Family Courtyard in Wanrong, Yuncheng, Shanxi is undoubtedly a rare cultural treasure.
The Li Family Courtyard in Wanrong, Yuncheng, Shanxi, as one of the four major courtyards in China, carries the family history of Li Ziyong, a wealthy businessman in southern Shanxi. This private courtyard, built in the late Qing Dynasty and the early Republic of China, is huge, equivalent to 10 Qiao Family Courtyards, which is shocking.
**Architectural Features:**
Li Ziyong met a British woman, Mai Ru, while studying in the UK and married her. In order to provide his wife with a comfortable residence, he specially built a Western-style building that integrates the 16th-century European "Gothic" style, making the Li Family Courtyard a rare Chinese and Western-style ancient house with high artistic value.
**Tour Highlights:**
- **Exquisite Carvings:** The brick carvings, stone carvings, wood carvings, and iron art in the Li Family Courtyard are exquisite, and every detail reflects the ingenuity of the craftsmen.
- **Historical Culture:** Visitors can follow the signs to visit various courtyards, admire the brick carvings, paintings, and plaques in the courtyard, and feel the profound historical and cultural heritage.
**Transportation and Address:**
- **Detailed Address:** Yanjing Village, Wanrong County, Yuncheng, Shanxi.
- **Transportation Guide:** The parking lot is spacious and the transportation is convenient. Self-driving tourists can use navigation to directly reach the entrance of the scenic spot. In terms of public transportation, you can take the bus to Yanjing Village and get off to arrive.
**Summary:**
With its unique architectural style and profound cultural connotation, the Li Family Courtyard is worthy of being one of the four major courtyards in Shanxi. Whether you are a building enthusiast or a historical and cultural explorer, you might as well take a tour.
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!
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
National Day reverse play, even the gods envy! I rarely dare to use "shocking" to share my mood.
1、Destination Introduction
Lijia Mountain Village is located in Meng County, Shanxi Province, surrounded by majestic mountains, as if in a paradise. Especially in autumn, the colorful leaves are like oil paintings, a paradise for photography enthusiasts.
2、Attraction Introduction
The main attractions of Lijia Mountain Village are "Lijia Mountain Ancient Village" and "Lijia Mountain Creek". The ancient village is well preserved, walking on the bluestone paved path, as if traveling back hundreds of years ago.
In Lijia Mountain Village, what attracts me most is the unique cave dwellings. There are hundreds of well-preserved cave dwellings, forming a unique landscape. The cave dwellings are mainly made of earth and wood, built on the mountain, with a simple exterior and a warm and comfortable interior, reflecting a strong rural atmosphere.
Each cave dwelling has a unique design, some used for living, others for storage and farm tools. Entering the cave dwelling, the first thing you feel is the fragrance of the soil and the warmth, especially suitable for winter living. The walls of the cave are decorated with various traditional decorations, reflecting a strong local culture.
In the courtyard of the cave dwelling, you can often see villagers drying crops and children playing, as if time has stopped here. In the sunshine, the outline of the cave dwelling is particularly charming, a perfect place for taking photos.
There are several small restaurants in the village, especially recommended "Lijia Big Bowl Dishes". The signature dish "Yam Stewed Ribs" is tender and delicious, the soup is rich, it really makes me feel the warmth of home! In addition, don't forget to try the local "Knife-cut Noodles", the chewy noodles with a fragrant soup base, take a bite, instantly make you feel good.
You can try "Oil Stick Pie", crispy outside and soft inside, eat one and you can't stop! After dinner, have a cup of "Homemade Yellow Wine", warm and comfortable, it's a perfect match.
The terrain of Lijia Mountain Village is relatively rugged, it is recommended to wear comfortable shoes, prepare some drinking water, and keep your strength. At the same time, local etiquette is also very important, try to respect the villagers' living habits and maintain environmental hygiene.
3、Personal Experience Sharing
My experience in Lijia Mountain Village is beyond my imagination! Whenever I walk on the ancient streets, the sound of birds and water in my ears, a sense of tranquility will naturally arise in my heart. What impressed me most was the hospitality of the villagers, they would take the initiative to greet you, and even invite you to their home to taste their homemade food.
I also participated in a traditional handicraft experience activity, learning how to make bamboo weaving. Although the result is a bit embarrassing, the feeling of making it by hand is particularly satisfying. Through communication with the villagers, I felt a different kind of simplicity and warmth than in the city.
In short, Lijia Mountain Village is a place suitable for slowing down and enjoying life. If you are also looking for a place to escape the world, why not come here for a walk, I believe you will fall in love with the unique charm of this place like me! I hope my sharing can help your journey, go and experience the beauty of Lijia Mountain Village!
vivienne_evelyn_blackwood 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
Shanxi YunCheng Li Family Courtyard | Welcome to the home of the richest family in southern Shanxi.
| Welcome to the home of the richest family in southern Shanxi.🚗 Basic Information🚗
📍 Location: Yanjing Village, Gaocun Town, Wanrong County, Yuncheng City
📍 Attraction: Li Family Courtyard
📍 Opening Hours: 9:00-17:00 (Stop entry at 16:30)
📍 Ticket Price: CNY 45/person
📍 Transportation: Bus No. 13 from Linyi, taxi, private car
📢 The luxurious Qiao Family Courtyard, the imposing Qu Family Courtyard, and the magnificent Cao Family Courtyard. Today, I will take you to experience the most colorful Li Family Courtyard😁.
🎆 Architectural Style🎆
🌈 The Li Family Courtyard is divided into two sections, east and west, by a natural ditch. It is the private residence of Li Ziyou, a wealthy businessman in southern Shanxi. It was built during the Daoguang period of the Qing Dynasty. There were originally 20 courtyards, and now there are 11. There are also ancestral halls, gardens, etc.🌸
🌈 The entire building is a shaft-style courtyard with a central courtyard, which also incorporates the architectural style of Huizhou. The brick carvings, stone carvings, wood carvings, and ironwork of the building vividly reflect the folk customs and cultural characteristics of southern Shanxi.😮
⛰ Historical Background⛰
🌈 Pushing open the heavy gate of the Li Family Courtyard,🤠 the long scroll of Jin Shang culture in recent history unfolds before us. It is a model of Chinese residential architecture, a model of family culture, and a model of auspicious culture. Here is the integration of Chinese farming and reading, and the full interpretation of official and business economy. On the vast Loess Plateau in northern China⛰, at the foot of the majestic and tragic Mian Mountain,🌸 this ancient and simple building complex bears the imprint of thousands of years of Chinese civilization, deeply condensed in the mountains and rivers of Jinsan.
🌈 The ancestors of the Li family fled from Hancheng County, Shaanxi Province to Wanquan County, Shanxi Province during the Yongle period of the Ming Dynasty due to famine🤠. They worked hard, farmed and read, and later went from farming to business, starting businesses and becoming local tycoons. The Li family took agriculture as their foundation, prospered through business, established themselves through integrity, and became famous throughout the world for their philanthropy, creating a legend of starting from scratch, doing business with integrity, becoming rich in one area, and doing good deeds throughout the world. The development history of the Li family is a microcosm of China's modern economic history,😁 which has accumulated capital from traditional agriculture and then entered the commercial field. The feudal businessmen were also enterprising and successfully entered the modern industrial field, transforming into national capitalists😲. It is rare to achieve three leaps in family economic development in a short period of time. The Li Family Courtyard is a valuable physical witness to this historical period😌.
📢 Let's end with a conclusion📢
🌈 The Li Family Courtyard has a "Hundred Good Wall",📷 which is written with 365 "Good" characters in different fonts. This is the Li family's requirement for themselves and their descendants to do good every day, every day, and forever🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻.
TranscontinentalJourneys*88 Autumn Wind Tower, follow the Black Myth Wukong to tour ancient buildings.
Autumn Wind Tower is located in the Hou Tu Temple in Wanrong County, Yuncheng, Shanxi. It was built in the Han Dynasty, but the specific year is unknown. The Autumn Wind Tower we see today is a relic of the Qing Dynasty.
It is 32.6 meters high, divided into three floors, with a brick and wood structure, a cross-hipped roof, and exquisite wood carvings.
Allusion
Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, Liu Che, visited Hedong six times in his life and left the poem "Autumn Wind". During the Tongzhi period of the Qing Dynasty, the county magistrate of Ronghe rebuilt this building in memory of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty's "Autumn Wind", and we now have the Autumn Wind Tower we see today.
The east gate is engraved with the word "Zhan Lu", the west gate is carved with the word "Wang Qin", and there are 28 hanging columns, representing the 28 generals of Liu Xiu, Emperor Guangwu of the Han Dynasty.
Transportation: There is no public transportation, it is recommended to charter a car or drive by yourself
Ticket: 20 yuan
Visit the Li Family Courtyard and learn about the culture of the Shanxi merchants over the past century.
Learn about the culture of the Shanxi merchants over the past century. Visit the Li Family Courtyard and learn about the culture of the Shanxi merchants over the past century.
The Shanxi Li Family Courtyard is a place full of history and culture.
This was the home of Li Ziyong, the richest man in southern Shanxi during the Qing Dynasty to the Republic of China, and was built during the Daoguang period of the Qing Dynasty.
Together with the Qiao Family Courtyard and the Wang Family Courtyard, it is known as the "Three Lotus of Shanxi Merchants". The folk song "Qiao Family is famous, Wang Family has a courtyard, Li Family is kind" is popular in Yanjing Village, which shows the uniqueness of the Li Family Courtyard.
The overall building is a vertical well-type wealth-gathering quadrangle, which also incorporates the Huizhou architectural style. Some courtyards are "Gothic" buildings, which are a blend of north and south, and a combination of Chinese and Western Shanxi merchants' courtyards.
The architecture and decoration of the Li Family Courtyard reflect the values of the owner's harmony and good deeds.
The couplet on the gate: "Three provinces set up chess boards in front of the stage, and five clouds gather in the depths of the descendants", and the horizontal batch "Xiu De Wei Shan" expresses the expectations of future generations.
The word "Fu" on the screen wall is composed of patterns such as deer, cranes, and peaches, implying that the "Three Stars of Fortune, Lu, and Shou" are shining, and the surrounding bat patterns imply "Fu is in front of you".
The architectural style of the courtyard combines Chinese and Western elements, with both Chinese-style quadrangles and Western-style buildings and Japanese-style sliding doors, reflecting the owner's openness and tolerance.
The owner of the house, Li Ziyong's father, Li Daoxing, once generously donated money to save many refugees in Wanquan County, and was respected by the people as "Li Shanren". It is said that at that time, he not only donated a lot of money and food, but also personally led his family to the disaster area to help the victims rebuild their homes. The local prefect issued him a plaque of "urgency and righteousness" to commend his good deeds.
【Shanxi Style】Li Family Courtyard: A Treasure of Sino-Western Architectural Fusion
🏰【Shanxi Style】Li Family Courtyard: A Treasure of Sino-Western Architectural Fusion🏰
🌿In Wanrong, Shanxi, there is a courtyard that not only carries the profound history of Shanxi but also integrates the essence of southern and northern architecture. It is the Li Family Courtyard—one of the four great courtyards of Shanxi, renowned alongside the Wang Family Courtyard and the Qiao Family Courtyard, with the saying "Qiao Family for fame, Wang Family for the courtyard, Li Family for benevolence."
🏡The Li Family Courtyard is an architectural marvel that combines the residential style of southern Shanxi, the Huizhou architectural features of the south, and the courtyard layout of northern merchants. Even more astonishing is the incorporation of Gothic architectural elements from the West, thanks to the international vision of the family members, creating a unique architectural style.
🎨Walking into the Li Family Courtyard feels like traveling through time, with every step being an exploration of history. The old brick carvings, painted beams, and intricate details reveal the exquisite craftsmanship of the artisans and the cultural heritage of the family. Every brick and tile here tells the story of the Li family, waiting for you to savor.
📸If you love photography, this place is definitely a paradise for you. Whether in Hanfu or cheongsam, you can find the best background here. Put on your traditional attire and let the camera capture these beautiful moments that transcend time.
📍【Travel Tips】
📌Location: Wanrong, Shanxi, the Li Family Courtyard awaits your exploration.
💰Tickets: Regular tickets are 30 yuan per person. Friends with household registration in Shanxi, Shaanxi, and Henan might consider purchasing the Yuncheng Scenic Area Annual Pass for 128 yuan per person, allowing access to more attractions.
🍞Suggestion: There are no food and drink supplies inside the courtyard, so remember to bring water and food to enjoy a complete tour experience.
⏰Duration: It is recommended to reserve 2-3 hours to slow down and appreciate every detail.
🏞️Come to the Li Family Courtyard, experience the charm of Sino-Western architectural fusion, let the weight of history and the lightness of modernity intertwine here, and embark on an unforgettable cultural journey.
Charlotte12 Rodriguez - Charlie Follow the footprints of ancient charm and explore the study tour of ancient buildings in Yuncheng
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! 🌟
Went to the Houtu Temple, sharing my true feelings, every word from the heart
Houtu Temple is one of the oldest temples in China for worshipping Houtu (Earth Mother).
This place has a profound cultural heritage and is known as the 'Ancestral Temple of China' and 'The Crown of Temples in the Country'.
Public Transportation:
Take a car from Wanrong West Station to Gaogang, get off at the scenic spot intersection, and walk a few minutes to reach.
Tour time is about 3 hours.
Tourist attractions:
Qiufeng Tower — Nuwa Hall — Temple Murals — Quality Theater Stage — Zhang Yi Ancient Road
Notes:
Most of the buildings and cultural relics in Houtu Temple are historical sites, please do not damage or graffiti.
Food:
Ronghe Mixed Vegetables, Yellow River Carp, Ronghe Cold Noodles, Baked Cake, Lamb Soup, Various Fish Feasts, Lamb Noodles, Baojing Big Knife Noodles, etc.
Wanrong Beixin Stupa
Beixin Stupa: Located in Beixin Village, Ronghe Town, Wanrong County, Yuncheng City, Shanxi Province, it is an ancient pagoda from the Ming Dynasty, first built in the 16th year of Hongwu in the Ming Dynasty (1383 AD). Originally an affiliated building of the Beixin Chongsheng Zen Temple, the Zen temple has long been destroyed, and only the ancient pagoda remains. The pagoda is 15 meters high, uniquely shaped, and is a five-story circular stupa-style lama brick pagoda. The pagoda is well-preserved and serves as an important entity for studying the architectural style and Buddhist culture of the Ming Dynasty. Standing on the observation deck next to the pagoda, one can enjoy a panoramic view of the winding Yellow River No. 1 Tourist Highway and the vast Yellow River beach, with beautiful scenery.
Wanrong Dongyue Temple - Stone Carvings and Steles
Dongyue Temple Stone Carvings and Steles: On the stone pillars around the incense pavilion in front of the Dongyue Hall in Wanrong Dongyue Temple, there are stone beasts mainly carved as stone lions, which are vivid and lifelike. Additionally, the supporting stone pillars in front of the Dongyue Hall are carved with dragons and phoenixes. These carvings are realistic, exquisitely crafted, and awe-inspiring!
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
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.
Explore the Mysterious Cultural Heritage - The Li Family Mansion
The Li family was the richest family in southern Shanxi towards the end of the Qing Dynasty. The Li Family Mansion is a group of ancient buildings with rich historical and cultural value, located in Yanjing Village, Wanrong County, Yuncheng City. It was initially built during the Daoguang period of the Qing Dynasty, and the mansion is famous for its unique architectural style and profound family culture. The original complex had 20 courtyards, with 11 still existing today, including ancestral halls, gardens, etc. The entire complex adopts a vertical shaft-style layout for gathering wealth, typical of the Siheyuan (courtyard house). The brick carvings, stone carvings, and wood carvings used for decoration in the mansion are also extremely unique. These carvings are not only exquisitely crafted but also have profound meanings, fully displaying the auspicious connotations and beautiful visions of the culture of southern Shanxi.
The architectural style of the Li Family Mansion is diverse, integrating traditional courtyard houses, Huizhou-style architecture, and European elements, reflecting the blend of northern and southern Chinese cultures as well as the combination of Chinese and Western cultures. Particularly noteworthy is the brick carving of the character '善' (good) in the mansion's shadow wall, composed of 365 different calligraphic styles of the character. This unique design makes it a unique cultural landscape in the country.
The Li Family Mansion
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‼️
The unique charm of the Hou Tu Temple in Wanrong, Shanxi, known as 'the crown of temples in the land', is on display
Standing on the banks of the Yellow River, there is an ancient building, which is the Hou Tu Temple on the bank of the Yellow River in Wanrong, Shanxi.
It is the earliest temple on the land of China used for the worship of Hou Tu. Since ancient times, emperors of successive dynasties have often held ceremonies to worship Hou Tu here, with Emperor Wu of Han visiting this place 7 times and leaving behind the famous 'Autumn Wind Ode'.
The ancients held a deep reverence for heaven and earth, and the Goddess Hou Tu was regarded as the deity of the land. Inside this temple, there is a unique '品'-shaped stage that can simultaneously host three different plays.
The brick carvings, wood carvings, and stone carvings here are also known as the 'three excellences', with exquisite craftsmanship and stunning beauty. The Autumn Wind Pavilion at the very end, named after Emperor Wu of Han's 'Autumn Wind Ode', is truly the crowning jewel of the Hou Tu Temple. Welcome everyone to visit our homepage and discover more!
The Li Family Mansion
The Li Family Mansion, one of the three great mansions of Shanxi, was built during the Daoguang period. It covers an area of over 100,000 square meters, with 20 courtyards. It not only embodies the style of northern courtyards but also draws on the architecture of the southern Hui style and the essence of European Gothic architecture. It is a blend of Chinese and Western, integrating north and south, and possesses extremely high cultural and artistic value.
When visiting Shanxi, one must see this pavilion that seems to have stepped right out of a Song dynasty painting
"As the autumn wind rises and the white clouds fly, the grass and trees turn yellow and the geese head south."
This ancient building, named after Emperor Wu of Han's "Autumn Wind Ode," has been continuously harassed by the Yellow River for over a thousand years. Despite being rebuilt time and again, it still stands proudly on the banks of the Yellow River, embodying the beauty of a pavilion that appears to have emerged from a Song dynasty painting.
This is the Autumn Wind Pavilion located in Wannian, Yuncheng, Shanxi. It is the crowning structure of the Houtu Temple, a sacred site for worshipping the Earth Mother—Houtu, the oldest and most primal deity in China. However, most visitors to Wannian only go to see the Feiyun Pavilion, which is known as "China's Number One Pavilion," and few make their way to the riverbank to admire this magnificent and solitary wooden structure—a true pity.
The Autumn Wind Pavilion stands 32.6 meters tall, with a lofty base that is accessible from the east and west. The east door is carved with the words "Looking towards Shandong," and the west door with "Looking towards Qin," said to be the path Zhang Yi took when he entered Qin. The south side is the main entrance to the pavilion, surrounded by a brick wall with decorative patterns.
The main body of the pavilion has three floors, is five bays wide, and is surrounded by corridors. The roof is a cross-hipped style, and on the first and second floors, there is a protruding bay on each side, topped with a tiled roof and forward-facing ridge decorations; the corridors on the second and third floors have bracket sets or flat seats. The entire pavilion is densely packed with beautifully shaped and generously proportioned bracket sets. The proportions of the pavilion are appropriate, with simple and elegant bracket sets under the eaves, and a structure that is exquisitely simple and majestic.
The Autumn Wind Pavilion is already situated on a high platform, and its towering presence makes it an excellent vantage point. Visitors can lean on the railings and gaze into the distance, where the gentle and generous Yellow River, the mother river, flows quietly. The Daxi High-speed Railway bridge spans across it, with wheat fields, fruit trees, and villages in close view, presenting a picture of tranquility and harmony.
Facing the Yellow River, one is reminded of Emperor Wu of Han, who, during a season of clear autumn skies, saw wild geese calling as they flew south, leaves falling, and vegetation turning yellow. After Emperor Wu and his ministers offered sacrifices to Houtu, they crossed the Fen River on a towered boat. In the middle of the river, white waves churned, and on the boat, a feast was in full swing, with flutes and drums playing in unison, and musicians and dancers performing in harmony with the sound of the boatman's oars, creating an endless melody. Moved by the scene, Emperor Wu composed the famous "Autumn Wind Ode": As the autumn wind rises and the white clouds fly, the grass and trees turn yellow and the geese head south. The orchid is elegant and the chrysanthemum is fragrant, holding a beloved one in my heart, I cannot forget. Sailing the towered boat across the Fen River, cutting through the midstream to raise white waves. The flutes and drums play, the oarsmen sing, joy reaches its peak, yet sorrow lingers. Youth is fleeting, what can one do about old age?
Li Family Mansion in Yuncheng, Shanxi Province!
The Li Family Mansion in Wanneng, Yuncheng, Shanxi, was the residence of Li Ziyong, the richest man in southern Shanxi during the Qing Dynasty to the Republic of China period. It was built during the Daoguang era of the Qing Dynasty and is located in Yanjing Village, Wanneng County. Together with the Qiao Family Courtyard and the Wang Family Courtyard, it is known as one of the 'Three Lotus Seeds of Jin Merchants', with the saying 'Visit the Qiao Family for its fame, the Wang Family for its courtyard, and the Li Family for its virtue'. The overall architecture is a vertical well-style Shanxi courtyard designed for gathering wealth, which also incorporates Huizhou architectural style. As Li Ziyong once studied in England, some of the courtyards feature 'Gothic' architecture. It is a grand Jin merchant's courtyard that blends northern and southern Chinese styles, Chinese and Western elements, and is unparalleled in Shanxi. It encapsulates the profound cultural heritage of the Han nationality and possesses extremely high cultural and artistic value. The brick carvings, stone carvings, and wood carvings inside the mansion are particularly exquisite and worth seeing.
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.
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!
The Temple of Earth is the predecessor of the Temple of Heaven, and a poem about the autumn wind tells the story of its past and present lives
She is the crown of temples within the sea, and the source of the Chinese ancestral roots. 4000 years ago, on the banks of the Fen River, the Sweeping Earth Altar was built by the river, and the culture of worship was born. The ancients said, 'The great affairs of the state are in sacrifice and in war.' More than 2000 years later, at the confluence of the Fen and Yellow Rivers, the worship of Hou Tu became institutionalized. The Hou Tu Temple, where people sought their roots and ancestors, prayed for the nation's peace and the people's safety, and for a harmonious world.
Over thousands of years, the Hou Tu Temple, though repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt, and now only a fraction of its size during its heyday, still stands as the center of ancestral worship for Chinese people worldwide on the banks of the Yellow River in Wanrong County, Shanxi Province, continuing to tell its own story.
✔️The existing buildings in the Hou Tu Temple include the mountain gate, '品'-shaped stage, offering hall, main hall, east and west Five Tiger Halls, and the Autumn Wind Tower, etc. The architecture is magnificent and the layout is exquisite. Although the scale of the existing Hou Tu Temple is much smaller compared to the Tang and Song dynasties, it is still a vast and splendid ancient temple complex. Moreover, due to its exquisite architectural craftsmanship and dazzling brilliance, it has high historical, cultural, and artistic value.
✔️Additionally, from the Han to the Song dynasty, a total of 9 emperors, including Emperor Wu of Han and Emperor Zhenzong of Song, came to the Hou Tu Temple in Wanrong to worship 24 times. As the source of worship culture, the imperial worship undoubtedly indicates that it represents the highest level of worship culture activities and also represents the ancient emperors' recognition of the status of the Hou Tu Temple as 'the crown of temples within the sea'❗️.
Why was the worship later changed to the Temple of Heaven and Earth in Beijing during the Ming and Qing dynasties? It is said that after Emperor Zhu Di of the Ming dynasty moved the capital to Beijing, he originally wanted to go to the Hou Tu Temple to worship in person, but due to busy state affairs and the long journey, he sent a high official to take soil from here for the sacrificial rites, and built a Hou Tu Temple in Beijing, which is the Temple of Heaven and Earth. Later, the Earth Temple was built, and the Temple of Heaven and Earth was renamed the Temple of Heaven. This is why the Hou Tu Temple, as the 'source of the Temple of Heaven'❗️, can be called a temple, while all other Hou Tu temples in the country are called temples.
It is commonly believed that the association of buildings with poetry began in the Tang dynasty, but in the earlier Han dynasty, a timeless masterpiece gave rise to the Autumn Wind Tower on the banks of the Fen River! 'The autumn wind rises, the white clouds fly, the grass and trees turn yellow, and the geese return south. The orchid is elegant, the chrysanthemum is fragrant, thinking of the beloved one, I cannot forget. Sailing the tower boat on the Fen River, crossing the midstream, raising the white waves. The flute and drum sound, the oarsmen sing, joy reaches its peak, but sorrow is plentiful. How can one resist aging when youth is fleeting'❗️The Autumn Wind Tower is named after Emperor Wu of Han's poem 'The Song of the Autumn Wind', and it stands majestic and beautiful on the banks of the Fen and Yellow Rivers. Inside the Autumn Wind Tower, each floor has a stele of 'The Song of the Autumn Wind', especially the Yuan dynasty stone stele on the third floor, which is the most ancient. Unfortunately, to better protect it, climbing the tower is no longer allowed, which is a pity!
✔️Just as 'The Song of the Autumn Wind' says, 'How can one resist aging when youth is fleeting'! Today, the Hou Tu Temple in Wanrong, Shanxi, has become a place for people from all walks of life in China, as well as compatriots from Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, and overseas Chinese, to seek their roots and worship Hou Tu. It is also a bond of national unity, connecting the feelings of Chinese people at home and abroad❗️As the source of Chinese ancestral culture, it is increasingly showing its profound historical and cultural connotations.
📍Ronghe Town, Wanrong County, Yuncheng City, Shanxi Province
🚗Shanxi attractions are scattered, it is recommended to drive or charter a car
💰20 yuan, no reservation required
⏰️8:30-18:00, the tour lasts 2 hours
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.
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A lesser-known but stunning filming location for the Shanxi Black Myth: Qiu Feng Lou. | China's No. 1 Wooden Building - Feiyun Tower. | I came to Feiyun Tower in Shanxi to find my senior brother. | Xuanyuan's ancestral temple was built on the banks of the river, and it is the oldest temple in China. | Qiu Feng Lou in Yuncheng, Shanxi. | Shanxi Yuncheng Li Family Courtyard Travel Guide. | Discover the secrets of China's first wooden building. | Black Myth: Wukong Filming Location | The Aesthetics of Feiyun Tower in Shanxi is Amazing! | National Day reverse play, even the gods envy! I rarely dare to use "shocking" to share my mood. | Feiyun Tower, a wooden structure, is a filming location for the Black Myth: Wukong game. | Shanxi YunCheng Li Family Courtyard | Welcome to the home of the richest family in southern Shanxi. | Autumn Wind Tower, follow the Black Myth Wukong to tour ancient buildings. | Visit the Li Family Courtyard and learn about the culture of the Shanxi merchants over the past century. | 【Shanxi Style】Li Family Courtyard: A Treasure of Sino-Western Architectural Fusion | Follow the footprints of ancient charm and explore the study tour of ancient buildings in Yuncheng | Wanrong Beixin Stupa | Originally, Shanxi is not only about Taiyuan, but also the hidden gem of Wanrong | Went to the Houtu Temple, sharing my true feelings, every word from the heart | Wanrong Dongyue Temple - Stone Carvings and Steles | The First Wooden Building in China, this wooden building can reach the clouds | Explore the Mysterious Cultural Heritage - The Li Family Mansion | Yuncheng Dongyue Temple is not only famous for having the 'Number One Tower in China' | The unique charm of the Hou Tu Temple in Wanrong, Shanxi, known as 'the crown of temples in the land', is on display | The Li Family Mansion | When visiting Shanxi, one must see this pavilion that seems to have stepped right out of a Song dynasty painting | Li Family Mansion in Yuncheng, Shanxi Province! | The First Great Tower of China This wooden tower can reach the clouds | China's premier wooden tower, the underrated ancient gem of Shanxi | The Temple of Earth is the predecessor of the Temple of Heaven, and a poem about the autumn wind tells the story of its past and present lives | This year, I gained 100,000 followers thanks to these 9 puzzles Recommended Attractions at Popular Destinations
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