National Heritage Sites: Yu State Ancient City Wall (National Level 7), Zhenwu Temple (National Level 6), Lingyan Temple (National Level 6).

1-6: Yu State Ancient City Wall: The 7th batch of national key cultural relics protection units, Ming Dynasty, ancient architecture.

The Yu State was established in the second year of the Northern Zhou Dynasty (580 AD) and was rebuilt in the tenth year of the Ming Dynasty (1377 AD). The city was re-planned on the basis of the old city, including the city's shape, pattern, city defense, market, temple, and yamen. The Yu State City is 980 meters long from north to south, 780 meters wide from east to west, and 3520 meters in circumference. The city wall is 11 meters high and 13 meters wide at the bottom. There is a gate on the east, west, and south sides, and a urn city is built outside the gate. There is no city gate on the north side, and the Jade Emperor Pavilion is built in the middle of the north wall. City towers and corner towers are built at each city gate and corner. The existing south gate (Jingxian Gate) city platform and the northeast, north, and northwest are about 1600 meters long. The north city wall and west city wall where the Jade Emperor Pavilion is located are well preserved.

7-9: Zhenwu Temple: The 6th batch of national key cultural relics protection units, Ming Dynasty, ancient architecture.

Zhenwu Temple was built in the Ming Dynasty and was rebuilt in June of the 59th year of Kangxi (1720). The existing buildings of Zhenwu Temple include the Heavenly King Hall, Zhenwu Hall, East and West Side Halls, and Bell Tower.

Unfortunately, Zhenwu Temple is currently closed for maintenance, and now you can only look at the beautiful archway and stone lion at the door.

10-20: Yu State Lingyan Temple, the 6th batch of national key cultural relics protection units, Ming Dynasty, ancient architecture.

Lingyan Temple was rebuilt by the notorious eunuch Wang Zhen, who deceived Emperor Yingzong of Ming to personally lead the troops to the Tumu Fortress and was captured, in the sixth year of Ming Zhengtong (1441). The existing Heavenly King Hall and Daxiong Hall of Yu State Lingyan Temple. The Daxiong Hall is a single-eave pavilion. There are three Douba and Douba caisson ceilings in the hall, which are exquisitely decorated and have dragon patterns on the top. The ceiling is decorated with eight treasures, white cranes, and flower patterns, which symbolize the auspiciousness of the Buddhist world and are very beautiful.

Post by Taste the World | Sep 19, 2024