Longxing Temple

A treasure of a small city🌆 Nine floors, four towers, eight temples, twenty-four golden archways That is Hebei Zhengding - This is the hometown of Zhao Zilong Also an ancient military stronghold Here, there are ancient buildings with a history as long as Shanxi's In the early years, due to Zhengding Airport's policy I have taken many flights here But never took the time to thoroughly explore this small city I didn't expect it to bring me such a big surprise - 🌴Zhengding citywalk one-day tour route Airport - Ancient City - Longxing Temple - Rongguo House - Tianning Temple - Confucian Temple - Kaiyuan Temple - Yanghe Tower - Linji Temple - Guanghui Temple - Zhengding South Gate City Wall to watch the sunset 🌴Attraction recommendations 🔸Longxing Temple A temple worth visiting in Zhengding city, one of China's ten famous temples, a monastery outside the capital, attracting Mr. Liang Sicheng to visit four times, with a Northern Song Dynasty hall, a suspended sculpture of Guanyin that Mr. Lu Xun called 'the beauty of the East', the oldest revolving scripture cabinet, the tallest and oldest bronze cast Thousand-Hand Guanyin, and the earliest regular script stele. It's really worth a visit 🔸Rongguo House The filming location for the 1987 version of 'Dream of the Red Chamber', where you can go to take photos in the same style 🔸Tianning Temple With Song Dynasty ruins, it has the country's earliest ancient pagoda with a central pillar structure 🔸Yanghe Tower If you're tired, you can rest here, there are many cultural and creative shops, snacks, and beverage stores, and you can also go to the second floor for a panoramic view 🔸Linji Temple The ancestral court of the Buddhist Linji school, one of the five major schools of Zen Buddhism 🔸Guanghui Temple The flower pagoda here is really distinctive and very beautiful, Liang Sicheng called it 'a unique example overseas' 🔸South Gate City Wall You can watch the sunset here, and you can see four towers, with a telephoto lens you can capture three towers in one frame - 🏨About accommodation: It's good to stay inside the ancient city, living in Zhengding small city is very cheap 🍔About food: There are many night markets, I recommend going to the one at Zhengding small commodity market which is right opposite Zhengding station, other options include donkey meat sandwiches, hohhot noodles, rib noodles, Zhengding's eight great bowls, hot cut meatballs, etc., you can also try the northern meatballs and steamed dumplings, which are different from the southern sticky rice dumplings

Here is a travel guide to Longxing Temple in Zhengding, Hebei: 1. Transportation: You can take the high-speed train to Zhengding. After getting off at Zhengding Station, take a bus or taxi to Longxing Temple. 2. Food: There is a Wangquan Ancient Street near Longxing Temple. The street is built in the architectural style of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, mainly featuring old-brand catering and special catering, supplemented by tea houses, cultural and creative industries, and cultural performances. - Popular shops: The unique taste of the noodles pressed out by the dragon head bed in the shop; Zhengding roast skin residue, Zhengding liver collapse, etc. are all special dishes. 3. Shopping: You can buy some cultural and creative products on Wangquan Ancient Street, such as bookmarks, ornaments, etc. Please note that travel plans may need to be adjusted according to actual conditions, such as transportation, weather, and personal interests. Wish you a pleasant journey!

Ticket price is 50 yuan, free for those above 60 years old. The architecture and statues inside the temple are really beautiful; if you have ample time, you should definitely take a longer look. Wandering around Longxing Temple, it feels like you've arrived at the Jinci Temple in Taiyuan, Shanxi ~ The temple was originally built in the sixth year of the Sui Kaihuang era (586 AD), initially named Longzang Temple, renamed to Longxing Temple during the Tang Dynasty, and in the forty-ninth year of Kangxi's reign (1710 AD) it was bestowed the name 'Longxing Temple' which has been used to this day. Let me pick the most impressive part to talk about (official introduction): Inside the Mani Hall, the north wall of the trough is a Song dynasty polychrome clay relief of a hanging mountain, with over 30 Buddha statues on it. The most eye-catching is the polychrome Avalokitesvara sitting in the middle, commonly known as the 'Upside-Down Avalokitesvara'. The Avalokitesvara is 3.4 meters tall, with the left foot on a lotus and the right leg bent up, both hands embracing the knee, the body slightly leaning forward, the face is beautiful and serene, and the posture is elegant and dignified. Below the willow-shaped eyebrows, those deep and wise eyes look down slightly, forming an emotional exchange with the worshippers looking up (this reading comprehension, a hundred faints! ^_^), this humanized Buddha statue was referred to by Mr. Lu Xun as the 'Goddess of Beauty of the East'. During the Spring Festival holiday, while strolling in Jizhou, Tianjin, I also saw a similar 'Upside-Down Avalokitesvara' in the Dule Temple, but it was a smaller version.

Zhengding Longxing Temple, also known as the Great Buddha Temple, has a history that can be traced back to the sixth year of the Sui Dynasty's Kaihuang era. Originally named Longzang Temple, it was later bestowed the name Longxing Temple during the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty, and it is listed as one of China's top ten famous temples. If you have ever visited, then you must remember the following Six Marvels to truly appreciate its charm. The First Marvel is the bronze Thousand-Handed and Thousand-Eyed Guanyin inside the Dabeige Pavilion, standing at 21.3 meters tall. It was cast during the Northern Song Dynasty by order of Emperor Taizu Zhao Kuangyin and is the tallest and oldest Guanyin statue in the world, commonly known as the 'Great Bodhisattva of Zhengding Prefecture'. The Second Marvel is the colorful Shuao Guanyin statue inside the Mani Hall, with a beautiful and serene face and a graceful and dignified posture, praised by Mr. Lu Xun as the 'Eastern Goddess of Beauty'. The Third Marvel is the Mani Hall itself, with its peculiar structure and unique form. The square hall has a Xieshan-style pavilion protruding from the center of each side, forming a 'cross' shape on the plan, which Mr. Liang Sicheng praised as a unique example of ancient world architecture. The Fourth Marvel is the Song Dynasty's revolving sutra repository, the oldest existing revolving sutra repository in China. It is shaped like an octagonal pavilion with sutra drawers inside, which can store Buddhist scriptures and can be rotated when pushed. The Fifth Marvel is the Sui Dynasty's Longzang Temple Stele, the earliest existing stele inscription in regular script, acclaimed as the number one stele of regular script. The Sixth Marvel is the bronze cast Pilu Buddha inside the Pilu Hall, one of the most exquisite works of ancient China, considered a unique example within the country. This Pilu Buddha is made of bronze, standing at 6.72 meters tall, showcasing the highest level of bronze casting craftsmanship of the time. If you plan to visit Zhengding Longxing Temple, then please make sure not to miss these Six Marvels. Also, don't forget to ask for a guide at the interpretation reception next to the ticket office. They can provide you with more detailed explanations, making your journey more enriching and interesting.

After visiting Zhengding, you'll understand what a treasure trove of an ancient city it is! Ancient temples, pagodas, and city walls, you'll be immersed in the rich architecture and historical atmosphere all day long. 🚗Transport Three hours by car from Beijing, or one hour by high-speed train to Shijiazhuang or train to Zhengding then transfer to a bus. Free parking is available at various scenic spots within the ancient city, which is very considerate. You can also choose to walk between the sights, as the distances are not too far. . 🚶🏻‍♀️Tour Route 1️⃣Longxing Temple: A must-see! One of China's top ten famous temples, built during the Sui Dynasty, expanded in the Northern Song Dynasty, it has witnessed numerous prosperous eras, with all Buddha statues and murals exquisitely stunning. ▪️The Reclining Guanyin, hailed by Lu Xun as the "Eastern Goddess of Beauty," captivating to the point where it's hard to look away. ▪️The bronze Thousand-Handed and Thousand-Eyed Guanyin statue, over 20 meters tall, a miracle of ancient metallurgy. ▪️The bronze Vairocana Buddha, made by the order of Emperor Wanli during the Ming Dynasty, with over a thousand Buddha figures on its surface, a rare artistic treasure. ▪️The wooden Maitreya, carved from a single piece of wood during the Northern Song Dynasty. ▪️Giant murals, with walls in the Mani Hall fully painted, using lead powder and gold leaf, the colors and layers are of superior quality. ▪️The revolving sutra cabinets, wooden scripture storages from the Song Dynasty, are also the oldest existing ones. 🎫50 🕘2-3 hours 2️⃣Have lunch at Wangquan Ancient Street, with local delicacies like the Eight Great Bowls, donkey meat, covered pancakes, meatball soup, and Hele noodles. 3️⃣Rongguo House: If you like 'Dream of the Red Chamber,' you can visit here. It's quite large and includes some scenes from the 1987 TV series, but the Grand View Garden is not here. 🎫40 🕜30 minutes 4️⃣Tianning Temple: The entire structure is made of brick and wood, and the design of the central pillar of the fourth floor reaching to the sky is unique in the country. 🎫15 🕑15 minutes 5️⃣Kaiyuan Temple: Home to the largest existing Pixiu in China, and the only remaining Tang Dynasty bell tower. Also, the stone carvings of the powerful warriors at the base of the tower are worth seeing. 🎫20 🕑20 minutes 6️⃣Linji Temple: The origin of the Linji school, one of the most widely spread schools of Chan (Zen) Buddhism in China. 🎫🆓 🕑15 minutes 7️⃣Guanghui Temple: An octagonal brick-carved, wood-structured pagoda, very exquisite, called a 'unique treasure within the seas' by Liang Sicheng. 🎫15 🕑15 minutes (Personally, I think Kaiyuan Temple is worth entering, the others can be appreciated from a distance as well) 8️⃣Yanghe Building: Originally built during the Jin Dynasty, recently reconstructed, climbing the building offers a bird's-eye view of the ancient city's central axis. The night view is also beautiful. 🎫🆓 🕑15 minutes 9️⃣South City Gate: Climbing the city wall allows you to see all four pagodas in one frame. Inside the city gate, there is also a barbican. 🎫🆓 🕑30 minutes

🌞Looking for a small town full of historical charm and surprises for the summer of 2024? Nine towers, four pagodas, eight temples, and twenty-four golden archways, this is Zhengding in Hebei, the hometown of Zhao Zilong, an ancient military stronghold! 🛫Due to the policies of Zhengding Airport in the early years, I took off and landed here multiple times, but never really stepped into this small town. Unexpectedly, this visit brought me such a big surprise! 🚶Zhengding Citywalk one-day tour guide: Airport → Ancient City → Longxing Temple → Rongguo House → Tianning Temple → Confucian Temple → Kaiyuan Temple → Yanghe Tower → Linji Temple → Guanghui Temple → Sunset viewing at Zhengding South Gate City Wall 🏯Must-visit attractions recommendation: 1. Longxing Temple: The most worthwhile temple to visit in Zhengding city, one of China's top ten famous temples. It has the halls from the Northern Song Dynasty, and Mr. Liang Sicheng visited four times. Especially the 'Eastern Beauty' suspended Guanyin statue praised by Mr. Lu Xun, as well as the oldest revolving sutra repository and the bronze cast Thousand-Hand Guanyin, are treasures not to be missed. 2. Rongguo House: The filming location for the 1987 version of 'Dream of the Red Chamber', a perfect spot for photography enthusiasts to capture the same scenes. Daning Temple: A Song Dynasty relic, home to the earliest ancient pagoda with a central pillar structure in China. 3. Yanghe Tower: A place to rest when tired, taste snacks, and from the second floor, you can overlook the beautiful scenery. 4. Linji Temple: The ancestral temple of the Linji school of Buddhism, one of the five major schools of Zen Buddhism. 5. Guanghui Temple: The 'unique example overseas' flower pagoda praised by Liang Sicheng, is very distinctive. 6. South Gate City Wall: At sunset, you can see four pagodas here, and with a telephoto lens, you can capture the spectacular view of three pagodas in one frame. 🏠Accommodation and food: It is recommended to stay within the ancient city, as accommodation and food are affordable in the small town of Zhengding. For food, the night market is a must-visit, with the Zhengding small commodity market night market located opposite Zhengding station being highly recommended. Additionally, donkey meat sandwiches, hohhot noodles, rib noodles, Zhengding's eight great bowls, hot cut meatballs, and other local specialties are not to be missed. Don't overlook the northern meatball shaomai, which has a completely different texture from the southern sticky rice shaomai!