Jinci Museum

🇨🇳 • 《晋祠公园》(周) This park and its buildings is the “Museum of Chinese Constructions” throughout history, from 周 to 清. A Sublime place.

Come to Taiyuan, you can't help but come to Jinci. Jinci is located in the southwest of Taiyuan. It is a big park with beautiful scenery, pavilions and towers. The core area of Jinci is the Jinci Museum. There are three national treasures in the garden of this core area: the Madonna, the Temple, and the Cross Bridge. The temple is a combination of pavilions and temples. It is very unique and has been preserved for thousands of years. You will travel there for this purpose. There is also the oldest Zhou Bai, Tang Yan, who seems to tell the story of time. There is also the music of the Yuan Dynasty, which is vivid and vivid, and also provides a reference for studying the music regulation at that time. This time, I was visiting Jinci in the rain, but it has a charm compared to the rainy days.

It is commonly said, 'Among the victories of Sanjin, Jinyang is the best. And among the victories of Jinyang, all are in Jinci.' In Taiyuan, this ancient city with a long history, the fact that people say 'Among the victories of Jinyang, all are in Jinci' shows the remarkable nature of Jinci. And the victory of Jinci, in the opinion of Xiao Tan Jun, lies in its central axis. The buildings on the central axis: the Holy Mother Hall, the Offering Hall, the Fish Pond Flying Bridge, the Duiyue Pavilion, and the Golden Man Terrace, are definitely the essence of the temple. Jinci is the earliest existing royal sacrificial garden in China, built to commemorate the founding prince of the Jin state, Tang Shuyu, and his mother, Yi Jiang. These two historical figures may not be very familiar. Tang Shuyu's real surname was Ji, his given name was Yu, and his courtesy name was Ziyu. He was the youngest son of King Wu of Zhou and the full brother of King Cheng of Zhou. The Holy Mother Hall is the main hall of Jinci, built in the ninth year of the Taiping Xingguo era of the Northern Song Dynasty (984 AD). It is the earliest example of 'sub-steps all around' (which refers to the practice of adding an extra corridor around the main body of a building), with a double-eaved Xieshan-style roof, seven bays wide, and contains Song Dynasty colored sculptures, which are masterpieces of ancient Chinese sculpture.

Jinci, located in Jinci Town, Jinyuan District, Taiyuan City, Shanxi Province, was originally named Jinwang Temple, and initially called Tang Shuyu Temple, built to commemorate the founding prince of the Jin state, Tang Shuyu (later posthumously titled King of Jin) and his mother, Queen Yi Jiang. Jinci houses representative Song Dynasty architecture such as the Holy Mother Hall, the uniquely shaped cross-shaped ancient bridge Fish Pond Flying Bridge, and the Jin Dynasty building Xian Hall, which resembles a hall but is suspected to be a pavilion. These have been identified by the National Ministry of Culture as three national treasure buildings; the Zhou Cypress, Nanlao Spring, and Song Dynasty maid statues within the temple are known as the 'Three Wonders of Jinci'; the Duoyue Workshop, Nanlao, and Shuijing Platform are collectively referred to as the 'Three Plaques of Jinci'. Jinci is the earliest existing royal ancestral garden in China, the ancestral temple of the Jin state; it is a concentrated carrier of ancient Chinese architectural art, a unique example in the country with a complete sequence of architectural types and historical periods from the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties to the Republic of China, with all its attached colored sculptures, murals, and steles considered national treasures.

The weather is getting warmer, and we decided on a whim to take the kids to Taiyuan for 2 days this weekend. First, it's close to Shijiazhuang, just 1 hour by high-speed rail; second, one visit to the Shanxi Museum is simply not enough, I want to go again. 🚄High-speed rail: 358 🏨Accommodation: 233 🎫Tickets: 178 (Jinci) 🍚Dining: 320 🚗Taxi: 95 💰Total cost: 1180 RMB (Per person: 390) 💟Accommodation: I've stayed at the Liuxiang branch of G Hotel in Taiyuan before, and this time we stayed near the zoo. It was recommended by a local colleague. It's quieter than Liuxiang and the rooms are bigger with a better experience. The hotel breakfast is quite good, and they have laundry and a gym. My son went to the gym after waking up in the morning, and then we had breakfast before heading out. It's great value for money. Newly renovated, no smell, and their mattresses are very comfortable, which is the main reason I chose them again. Located next to the zoo, if you want quiet, choose this one; if you want lively, choose the Liuxiang branch, you can walk back to the hotel after visiting. 💟Itinerary: Day1: Shijiazhuang▶️Taiyuan South 🚄High-speed rail 8:35-10:05 (1 and a half hours to Taiyuan South Station) 🚗30 minutes (19 km, cost 19 RMB)▶️Shanxi Museum ▪️Shanxi Museum: When visiting a city, I put the museum first to understand the city's past and present. The Shanxi Museum is one of the top museums in the country. Besides viewing the relics, getting stamps is also very satisfying, and their first-floor cultural and creative products are quite distinctive. 🚗15 minutes (6 km, cost 9 RMB)▶️Shanxi Merchants Museum ▪️Shanxi Merchants: Originally the Shanxi Military Governor's Mansion, this place mainly displays bronzes. Now it's the Shanxi Provincial Government office. The architecture is a blend of Chinese and Western styles. My advice is if you've been to the Shanxi Museum, you can skip this and go to the Taiyuan Botanical Garden instead. 🚶9 minutes (600 meters)▶️Liuxiang, Bell Tower Street, Food Street ▪️Bell Tower Street: The three streets are adjacent. After one, comes the next, and the night market is very lively. Intestine stuffing, God's fried chicken, Mouse Den sweet dumplings, beef offal, sea buckthorn ice cream, honey twist... all delicious. Day2: Depart from G Hotel 🚗30 minutes (33 km, cost 35 RMB)▶️Jinci Museum ▪️Jinci: Jinci is a bit far from the city center, so it's recommended to take a taxi. Jinci is divided into two parts, the front is a free park, and the essence starts where you see the words "Jinci", which is the Jinci Museum. The ticket is 80 RMB, covering many ancient buildings from different eras. It's advised to hire a guide, as every hall and plaque has a story. 🚗9 minutes (6 km, cost 10 RMB)▶️Taiyuan Ancient County ▪️Ancient County: Ancient towns are more or less the same, but Taiyuan's ancient county is quite large, and it's full of food vendors. You can try various Shanxi snacks at reasonable prices. It's also suitable for taking photos as "Shanxi Merchant's Young Madam", reminiscent of Pingyao. There are several makeup shops next to the parking lot. 🚗30 minutes (22 km, cost 22 RMB)▶️Taiyuan South Station

Route: Jinci → Shanxi Museum → Old Barracks There is a saying that if you don't visit Jinci, you have wasted your trip to Taiyuan, so the first stop is Jinci. However, it is really far. It takes nearly two hours to get there by bus from Taiyuan Station. After arriving, just walk to the Jinci Museum, buy a ticket, check it, and then you can start exploring. The three treasures of Jinci, the Nanlao Spring, the colored sculptures, and the Zhou Cypress, are all worth seeing. There are also the Xian Hall and the Fish Pond Flying Bridge, with the wood-carved coiling dragon being truly spectacular. The three-thousand-year-old Zhou Cypress is also very impressive. The place is a scene at every step, and the ancient architecture really has a lot of charm. After visiting Jinci, head to the Shanxi Museum. The first thing you see is the national treasure, the Bird Zun, followed by the history of Shanxi and the Partition of Jin among the three families, which is really fascinating. After the museum closes, go to the Old Barracks to enjoy delicious food!

Walked past one of the three treasures, the Fish Pond Flying Bridge~ Stopped to look up at the three-thousand-year-old Zhou Cypress Touched the ever-temperate and enduring Nao Lao Spring~ Touched the worry-free Arhat head~ Zoomed in to see the graceful demeanor~ It is said that the maid statue has a smiling face from the front and a sad profile~ Admired the domineering wood-carved coiling dragon pillars……… Truly amazed by the exquisite craftsmanship of the artisans In the spring when the grass and trees are flourishing, feel the beauty of the thousand-year-old royal garden Jinci is the earliest existing royal garden in our country Divided into Jinci Park and Jinci Museum~ Enter the scenic area, the outer part is Jinci Park, and inside is the museum, there are many tour guides both inside and outside, charging 30 to 100 yuan, you can bargain, but the outer tour guides cannot go inside, so you need to consider carefully whether to go in, the tour guide needs to collect a hundred tickets, most do not go in. Three parts seeing, seven parts listening, you must ask the tour guide to explain, the scenic area is very large. When you come to Shanxi, you absolutely cannot overlook, miss the scenic spots, without Tang Shuyu, there would be no Jin state, nor the present Shanxi! When you come to Jinci, you must not miss The three treasures: Xian Hall Fish Pond Flying Bridge, Holy Mother Hall The three unique features: Song dynasty maid statues, Nao Lao Spring, Western Zhou cypress trees The three plaques: Shuijing Platform facing Nao Lao Spring Just after checking tickets is the must-see central axis of Jinci Shuijing Platform: Ming and Qing dynasties stage, integrating pavilions, towers, and terraces Once filmed the 86 version of Journey to the West, Shanxi is the birthplace of opera culture, three of the four great Yuan dynasty playwrights were from Shanxi, the number of stages ranks first in the country Jinren Platform: The first thing you see is the Iron Man, iron is one of the metals, the center of the platform is a Ming dynasty glazed pagoda. Duyue Archway: Built by Ming dynasty litterateur Gao Yingyuan for his mother's treatment, at this time the dougong mainly served a decorative purpose! Xian Hall: Characteristics of ancient Chinese architecture: walls may fall but the house does not collapse, the load-bearing role is played by columns and dougong, it is used to place sacrificial offerings Fish Pond Flying Bridge: Ancient books record: circular is a pool, square is a pond. It was recorded in the Water Classic Commentary written by Li Daoyuan of the Northern Wei Dynasty, this bridge has at least 1500 years of history Holy Mother Hall: Inside there are 43 colored sculptures, those beside the Holy Mother are from the Ming dynasty, the rest are original Song dynasty sculptures, the Tang dynasty's luxurious and elegant style changed the Song dynasty's fresh and elegant, changing the wide robes and large sleeves. Must see the maid statues, it is said that the maid statue has a smiling face from the front and a sad profile, lively and vivid! Opening hours off-season: 9 am~5 pm peak season: 8:30 am~6 pm, ticket price 80 Entering the scenic area from the south gate of Jinci Park is very convenient The parking lot is not crowded, the park is large You can take the scenic area shuttle for 10 yuan per person In the early stage, you can watch the 'A Millennium-Old Garden to See Jinci' by Jia Jun, a teacher of cultural elegance from Tsinghua University

If you can only stay in Taiyuan for one day, then take your time to visit Jinci; if half a day, then quickly tour Jinci; if only two hours, then run through Jinci. If I could only go to one place in Taiyuan, I would choose Jinci. The reason it is called Jinci is that it was the state temple of the Jin state, and thus, Jinci also has a royal background. Many people regard it as the root of Taiyuan, the location of the 'dragon vein' of the entire Shanxi province. Indeed, Shanxi is abbreviated as Jin, which makes this 'root' aptly named. From the parking lot to Jinci, you have to pass through Jinci Park, which is free of charge, with pavilions and terraces that have a southern charm. The walk is not long, about fifteen minutes, and you will reach the gate of Jinci. If you have plenty of time and want to stroll around, it is still necessary to find a guide. If you have done your homework in advance, it's not a problem to go without one, because there are many interpreters inside. As long as you do a little homework and 'eavesdrop' on someone else's explanation, that's basically enough. When visiting Jinci, you must not miss its three treasures, three marvels, and three plaques. The three treasures refer to: the Zhou Cypress, Song Dynasty colored sculptures, and the Everlasting Spring; the three marvels refer to: the Holy Mother Hall, the Offering Hall, and the Fish Pond Flying Bridge; the three plaques refer to: the Water Mirror Terrace, Facing Yue, and Hard to Age. Especially the Zhou Cypress, an ancient tree over three thousand years old, was already sprouting during the Western Zhou period! The columns of the Holy Mother Hall are adorned with coiling dragons, which have now become internet-famous dragons, especially the one that is cuter than a ✌️! From different angles, each dragon offers a unique visual experience. It is recommended to take your time and look around, and you are guaranteed not to be disappointed. The essence of Jinci ends at the Holy Mother Hall, which is also where the conventional tourist route ends. Further up is the Taoist culture, which is worth a look if you are interested and have enough time. As for me, I am leisurely enjoying my time in the coffee shop inside the Jinci Academy.

🏞️ Exploring Jinci, a one-day tour of ancient charm and modern style! Hey friends! I went to Jinci last weekend, and it was a trip well worth it. Follow me and feel the mystery of this place that holds a thousand years of history! 😉 1️⃣ The beauty of Jinci starts with the surrounding clear waters, as if traveling through time and space, instantly calming the mind. 🌊 2️⃣ Then there's the majestic complex of buildings, each hall has its own story, as if the joys and sorrows of the ancients are frozen between these stone bricks and wooden beams. 🏰 3️⃣ There's also the stone carving art that can be seen everywhere, delicate and vivid, each carving makes one stop and admire. 🗿 4️⃣ Don't forget the night view of Jinci, with the lights adding a touch of mystery and romance, it's simply a paradise for photography enthusiasts. 📸 5️⃣ Of course, the snacks are also a highlight, if you're tired from walking, try some authentic Shanxi snacks, they will definitely satisfy your taste buds. 🍢 On the way back, I couldn't help but think, shouldn't everyone have a longing for a place full of history and culture like this in their hearts? Would you, like me, be full of curiosity and a desire to explore such places? 👣

🏞️ Exploring Jinci Temple, a one-day tour of ancient charm and modern style! Hey friends! I went to Jinci last weekend, and it was a trip well worth it. Follow me and experience this mysterious place with a thousand years of history! 😉 1️⃣ The beauty of Jinci starts with the clear waters surrounding it, as if traveling through time and space, instantly calming one's mood. 🌊 2️⃣ Then there's the majestic complex of buildings, each hall has its own story, as if the joys and sorrows of the ancients are frozen between these stone bricks and wooden beams. 🏰 3️⃣ There's also the stone carving art that can be seen everywhere, delicate and vivid, each carving makes one stop to appreciate. 🗿 4️⃣ Don't forget the night view of Jinci, the lights add a touch of mystery and romance, it's simply a paradise for photography enthusiasts. 📸 5️⃣ Of course, the snacks are also a highlight, if you're tired from walking, try some authentic Shanxi snacks, they're sure to satisfy your taste buds. 🍢 On the way back, I couldn't help thinking, shouldn't everyone have a longing for such a place full of history and culture in their hearts? Would you, like me, be full of curiosity and a desire to explore such places? 👣

🏞️ Explore the Mysteries of Jinci Temple, a Journey Through Ancient Charm and Modern Style in One Day! Hey friends! I visited Jinci Temple last weekend, and it was truly a trip worth taking. Follow me and experience this mysterious place that holds a thousand years of history! 😉 1️⃣ The beauty of Jinci Temple starts with the clear waters that surround it, as if traveling through time and space, instantly calming one's mind. 🌊 2️⃣ Then there's the majestic complex of buildings, each hall has its own story, as if the joys and sorrows of the ancients are frozen between these stone bricks and wooden beams. 🏰 3️⃣ There's also the stone carving art that can be seen everywhere, delicate and vivid, each carving makes one stop to appreciate. 🗿 4️⃣ Don't forget the night view of Jinci Temple, with the lights adding an extra touch of mystery and romance, it's simply a paradise for photography enthusiasts. 📸 5️⃣ Of course, the snacks are also a highlight, if you're tired from walking, try some authentic Shanxi snacks, they're sure to satisfy your taste buds. 🍢 On the way back, I couldn't help but think, shouldn't everyone have a longing in their heart for a place so full of history and culture? Would you, like me, be filled with curiosity and a desire to explore such places? 👣

🏞️ Exploring the Jinci Temple, a one-day tour of ancient charm and modern style! Hey friends! I went to Jinci last weekend, and it was a trip well worth it. Follow me and feel the mystery of this place that holds a thousand years of history! 😉 1️⃣ The beauty of Jinci first has to mention the surrounding clear waters, as if traveling through time and space, instantly calming the mind. 🌊 2️⃣ Then there's the majestic complex of buildings, each hall has its own story, as if the joys and sorrows of the ancients were frozen in these stone bricks and wooden beams. 🏰 3️⃣ There's also the stone carving art that can be seen everywhere, delicate and vivid, each carving makes one stop to appreciate. 🗿 4️⃣ Don't forget the night view of Jinci, the lights add a touch of mystery and romance, simply a paradise for photography enthusiasts. 📸 5️⃣ Of course, the snacks are also a highlight, if you're tired of walking, try some authentic Shanxi snacks, they will definitely satisfy your taste buds. 🍢 On the way back, I couldn't help thinking, shouldn't everyone have a longing for such a place full of history and culture? Would you, like me, also be full of curiosity and a desire to explore such places? 👣