Day 1 National → → → → → → Changzhi Assembly Day
All day
The whole day is the gathering day for Changzhi
Tourists from all over the world can choose their own transportation and arrive at the designated hotel in Changzhi to check in. Please report "China-Travel Note + Name" at the hotel front desk to check in. Check-in is after 14:00. During free time, please keep your belongings safe and pay attention to safety.
You can freely visit Changzhi Shangdang Gate, Lu'an Prefecture City God Temple, etc. to experience the atmosphere of Changzhi's fireworks.
Shangdang cured donkey meat, crispy fire-baked bread, Lucheng shuangbing, Changzi fried cakes, Qinzhou dry steamed buns, Huguan mutton soup, etc. are all local delicacies that cannot be missed.
Day 2 Changzhi → Hoxing Temple → Guanyin Hall → Dayun Temple → Longmen Temple → Stay in Pingshun
All day
After breakfast, walk into the Three Wonders of Faxing Temple and appreciate the beauty of the twelve statues of Perfect Enlightenment Bodhisattvas and the harmonious and unobstructed heaven.
There are three wonders in Faxing Temple: the stupa from the Tang Dynasty, the burning lamp tower from the Tang Dynasty, and the colored sculptures from the Song Dynasty in the Yuanjue Hall.
The first thing that catches your eye upon entering the temple is the stupa, a two-story pavilion with a particularly spacious first floor. It resembles a pagoda but isn't, a temple but isn't, and is the only building of its kind to survive today with this unique style. The second unique feature is one of only three Tang Dynasty burning towers still extant in China, of which the one at Faxing Temple is exceptionally intricately shaped, meticulously carved, and well-preserved, earning it the distinction of a treasure of ancient stone sculpture. The third unique feature is the Song Dynasty sculpture of the "Twelve Perfect Enlightenment Bodhisattvas," hailed by art historians as the "crown of Song Dynasty Bodhisattva sculptures." Among the surviving Song Dynasty colored sculptures in my country, only the one here clearly bears a clear date and artist.
Then go to [Changzhi Guanyin Temple] to experience the shock of the hanging sculptures
Built during the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty, the Guanyin Hall houses over 500 statues of various sizes within this small, three-room hall. It's one of the three best-preserved Ming Dynasty hanging sculptures in Shanxi Province. Entering the hall, one cannot help but hold their breath, transported by a vibrant world of art. The statues, some seated on the altar, some leaning against the gables, some resting on pillars, and some gazing from rafters, range from majestic and powerful to graceful and elegant, some serene and benevolent, and some possessing handsome expressions. From the Eighteen Arhats, the Twenty-Four Devas, and the Twelve Perfect Enlightenment Bodhisattvas to the popular deities of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism, interspersed with pavilions, towers, exotic flowers and plants, auspicious clouds, and thunderbolts, the scene is truly breathtaking!
Afterwards, we went to Dayunyuan, one of the six existing wooden structures from the Five Dynasties period in China. The walls are covered with Five Dynasties murals depicting immortals in the wind and rain.
Dayun Temple, one of three Five Dynasties wooden structures in Shanxi Province, is renowned for the Five Dynasties murals preserved in its Amitabha Hall. 22 square meters of Five Dynasties murals cover the east and fan-shaped walls of the Great Buddha Hall, making them the only known surviving examples of these murals in ancient Chinese Buddhist temples and halls. The east mural depicts "Vimalakirti's Transformation," while the back depicts "Western Pure Land Transformation," with a celestial palace and pavilion suspended overhead. Due to the erosion of time and human damage, much of the mural has become blurred. Life is short, so don't miss out on these fragile yet beautiful pieces.
Then we went to Longmen Temple, one of the ancient wooden structures of the Five Dynasties, which combines the architecture of the Five Dynasties, Song, Jin, Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties.
Longmen Temple is renowned for its diverse collection of existing buildings spanning a wide range of ages and roof styles, encompassing architecture from the Five Dynasties, Song, Jin, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. This unique site in China holds invaluable historical research and cultural value. The temple's West Side Hall, originally built in the Northern Qi Dynasty, is a unique example of a gabled wooden structure in China. While the courtyard is small, it encompasses a wide range of architectural styles and forms, facilitating comparison and study, while also creating a sense of winding paths leading to a secluded retreat. It's well worth a visit.
Check in Pingshun and rest at night~
Day 3 Pingshun → Tongtianxia → Hongni Village → Stay at Baquanxia
All day
After breakfast, head to Tongtianxia, a small mountain lake in the north.
Tongtian Gorge is one of the ten great gorges in the Taihang Mountains. The main canyon, approximately 26 kilometers long, is the most treacherous, longest, and steepest of the Taihang Mountains. With its lush peaks and deep ravines, the canyon rises in the west and drops in the east. Millions of years of geological history, natural collapses, and tectonic erosion have shaped this vast and profound landscape, creating a series of unique peaks and ridges, pictographic rocks, and a string of rapids and streams intertwined with secluded, serene pools. Together, the canyons, peaks, valleys, and narrow ravines create a breathtaking and breathtaking landscape, making it an ideal spot for a refreshing summer getaway. Every winter, the area is bathed in cascading icefalls and icy shrouds, creating a unique, almost Icelandic world for the Shanxi people.
Then head to [Hongni Village] a hidden wonderland deep in the Taihang Mountains
Hongni Village is located in the heart of the Hongtiguan Grand Canyon in the Taihang Mountains. Surrounded by mountains on three sides and facing the water, it gets its name from the rainbows formed by the mist from its waterfalls in summer. It's known as the "ancient village on the cliff." Founded during the Later Tang Dynasty (932 AD), the village features stone architecture, with flagstone streets and stone-built houses creating a unique traditional Taihang Mountain settlement. A glimpse into the pristine environment and quaint charm will leave you with a unique experience.
Stay at Baquanxia Scenic Area at night~
Day 4: Taihang Mountain Baquanxia Grand Canyon → Iron Flower Making in Situ Town
All day
After breakfast, head to [Taihang Mountain Baquan Gorge] the most majestic gorge in Taihang Mountains and the No. 1 water gorge in the north
Baquan Gorge boasts a unique landscape of dramatic ups and downs, with numerous springs and streams, and deep, treacherous gorges. It is one of the most striking gorges in the Taihang Mountains. The highest peaks in the area reach over 1,700 meters above sea level, while the lowest ravines are only 600 meters, resulting in a drop of over 1,100 meters. The gorge stretches 13 kilometers and covers a drainage area of 60.33 square kilometers. It boasts over 300 springs and 30 waterfalls. At the rear of the gorge, the eight springs originate from the same source. In the middle of the gorge, two spring clusters each contain eight springs. The total number of springs in these three clusters is eight, giving it the name Baquan Gorge. "Seeing from the ground, observing from the sky, swimming in the water, and walking among the clouds" is the authentic experience tourists experience in Baquan Gorge.
After that, we went to [Situ Town] Shanxi Folk Customs Collection, and watched the iron flower show.
Located northeast of downtown Jincheng, Situ Town recreates the authentic life of Shanxi's urban life over a millennium. It's a great place to experience the vibrant Shanxi folk customs and savor Shanxi cuisine. Tonight, we'll watch the stunning iron flower show "Millennium Iron Soul." Notably, Situ Town's over a thousand-person iron flower team represents the first such feat in Chinese history. As night falls, shirtless individuals simultaneously strike iron flowers, their furnaces blazing, their molten iron ablaze. Sweat mingles with the molten iron, and the flowers bloom like dazzling celestial flowers. Under the night sky, sparks glitter, like celestial flowers.
Stay in Situ Town or Jincheng at night
Day 5 Jincheng → Qinglian Temple → Jade Emperor Temple Sculptures → Disband in Jincheng
All day
After breakfast, go to [Qinglian Temple] National Three, drowning and rebirth, flowers blooming for a thousand years, the beauty of the Tang Dynasty is not limited to Dunhuang, the top of Shanxi Tang sculpture
Qinglian Temple consists of the Upper Temple and the Lower Temple. The Upper Temple was built during the Tianbao period of the Northern Qi Dynasty. Ten steles inscribed with calligraphy from the Tang, Song, Ming, and Qing dynasties are preserved here, featuring various scripts, including regular script, cursive script, official script, and seal script. These inscriptions are valuable resources for studying temple history and calligraphy. The Lower Temple, built during the second year of the Tang Dynasty's Dahe era, consists of two main halls, the north and south, and a stupa. The seven painted sculptures in the Maitreya Hall are relics from the Tang Dynasty. Qinglian Temple is renowned for its 54 existing Tang and Song Dynasty painted sculptures, the Song Dynasty sculptures featuring four different gilding techniques. These techniques, a product of innovation influenced by the times, imbue each sculpture with a profound historical significance.
Then go to [Fucheng Jade Emperor Temple] National Three, a masterpiece in the history of Chinese sculpture, a rare Taoist Twenty-Eight Constellations colored sculpture
The Jade Emperor Temple's various halls contain statues from the Song, Yuan, and Ming dynasties. The Yuan Dynasty statues of the Twenty-Eight Constellations are the most impressive in the temple. Inferred to be the work of the renowned Yuan Dynasty sculptor Liu Luan, these statues are characterized by Greek noses, slender waists, and rich and profound facial expressions, representing a prime example of the achievements of ancient Chinese sculpture. The Twenty-Eight Constellations painted sculptures exemplify the fusion of realism and romanticism in ancient Chinese sculpture. Standing outside the temple, one feels as if they were in a celestial palace, a sensation reminiscent of "the gates of the Nine Heavens open, and ceremonial figures from all nations pay homage to the emperor."
After having fun, we will be dropped off at Jincheng East Station, ending our pleasant journey.
It is expected to arrive at Jincheng East Station around 15:00. It is recommended to buy a ticket after 15:30.
