Walking into Chunyang Palace in Taiyuan, uncover the only Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams Courtyard in the country

Every time I transit through Taiyuan, I stay at Yingze Hotel. I had heard about a Chunyang Palace nearby, and this year I finally arrived in Taiyuan early in the afternoon, so I managed to visit before it closed. The place has very few visitors; although it is next to the Wuyi Square roundabout, it is exceptionally quiet, truly a hidden gem. Chunyang Palace is a seventh batch national key cultural relic protection unit. The "Nirvana Transformation Stele" and the "Statue of Changyang Tianzun" in the courtyard are among the first batch of cultural relics prohibited from being exhibited abroad. The entire scenic area has eight national treasure-level cultural relics. Moreover, the courtyard structure itself is also very particular, with the Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams Courtyard being the essence of Chunyang Palace. The base is a chamfered square, with eight sides being brick-vaulted caves, meticulously built according to the positions of the Eight Trigrams: Qian, Kun, Zhen, Xun, Kan, Li, Gen, and Dui. High towers are built on four sides of the cave tops, and nine-cornered pavilions stand at the four corners, connected by corridors between the towers and pavilions. The "three-room two-story pavilion" in the center of the Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams Courtyard, combined with the surrounding four towers and four pavilions, forms the Nine Palaces layout, symbolizing the division of the heavenly palace into nine equal parts. The cave buildings on the first floor are the "Nine Caves and Eighteen Holes". Besides the main caves in the east, south, west, and north, the corner caves are connected to corner caves, efficiently utilizing the corner spaces, corresponding to the eight positions of the Eight Trigrams. Chunyang Palace is now also known as the Shanxi Ancient Architecture Museum and the Shanxi Art Museum, often hosting special exhibitions. "Chunyang Palace," you have such treasures, yet you never mention them! July 19, 2024, Chunyang Palace live update (tickets are still half price) — although some buildings are still under renovation, the five courtyards are fully open, the Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams Courtyard can be accessed up to the second floor, and the Statue of Changyang Tianzun is also available for viewing! The Nirvana Transformation Stele, a Tang Dynasty stele inscription and one of the first batch of cultural relics prohibited from being exhibited abroad, can be viewed up close! However, viewing is self-disciplined, and everyone must watch in an orderly manner and refrain from touching. The mural exhibition runs until August 31, with two halls displaying original works, each with individual explanations. The "Five Dragons Supporting the Sage" and the "Dragon King Hall Murals of the Five Gods Temple" can all be viewed up close. Since there are no glass barriers, please be very careful! Do not touch with your hands. Taiyuan's hidden treasure: Chunyang Palace A mysterious place next to Wuyi Square As a native of Taiyuan, whenever someone mentions "Chunyang Palace," my first reaction is: "Hmm, what is that?" However, after delving into it, I realized it is an invaluable treasure buried in obscurity! A Taoist building in the form of Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams This is the central palace among the three major Taoist temples in Shanxi dedicated to Lü Dongbin. The temples, courtyards, and gardens, every brick and tile, every plant and tree, are filled with historical traces, as if whispering the stories they have experienced. Five courtyards, a world of its own Shanxi Ancient Architecture Museum I heard that Chunyang Palace will reopen to the public on New Year's Day 2024. For someone like me who loves exploring, this is undoubtedly great news! A beautiful encounter between the pedestrian street and Chunyang Palace While enjoying the tour of Chunyang Palace, you can also stroll through Taiyuan's authentic pedestrian streets, such as Liuxiang, Zhonglou Street, and Food Street, to enjoy some local snacks. It's simply perfect! Travel tips Want to easily reach Chunyang Palace? The nearby Wuyi Square Station is extremely convenient and well-connected. Chunyang Palace awaits your visit! Tickets: Full price 30 yuan, half price 15 yuan, free with Taiyuan All-in-One Card. Friends traveling to Taiyuan, don't miss this hidden treasure!