Zhengding Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in Mar)
Zhengding Ancient City Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in Mar)
The feature presentation begins: The ancient city of Zhengding
My title naming method is learned from Huaian: A good old town called Hexia has to be called what? 'The Thousand-Year-Old Ancient Town of Hexia' (just kidding ^_^)~
Family, who understands? Hidden within a small ancient county town are ten national key cultural relics protection units!~ Here I venture to guess the thoughts of those who governed here in the past: If I can't completely defy the orders from above and not demolish anything, then I'll demolish less, targeting those with lower historical and cultural value... What? It wasn't demolished during this period? Oh, then never mind... ~
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The ancient city of Zhengding·Zhengding City Wall
The Zhengding City Wall is of prefectural-level regulation, grand in scale, and meticulous in layout. The existing city wall is a remnant of the Ming Dynasty. Each gate has three layers of defense: the moon city, the urn city, and the inner city gate, forming a circuitous and intricate defensive system, which is easy to defend but hard to attack. The moon city is a crescent-shaped wall built outside the urn city. In other words, to enter or exit the city, one must pass through three gates. This kind of structure, apart from imperial capitals like Beijing and Nanjing, is quite rare.
As background information, that... the giant lantern on the Chang Le Gate wall is already damaged, so... shall we just demolish it? ^_^
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The ancient city of Zhengding·Guanghui Temple·Huata Pagoda
I visited last March, and the Huata Pagoda inside the temple (the temple itself is long gone ^_^) can be considered a landmark of Zhengding, right? According to the 'Zhengding County Annals' from the first year of Emperor Guangxu's reign, the temple was built during the Tang Dynasty's Zhenyuan period (785-805 AD), greatly repaired during the Song and Jin periods, and renovated again in the middle of the Ming Dynasty. By the late Qing Dynasty, the temple had fallen into ruin, but the pagoda still stood. Due to the lack of historical records, the cultural relics community has long inferred based on the structure of the pagoda and the ink inscriptions from the sixth year of the Zhenglong era (1161 AD) found on the first floor's inner wall that the pagoda was a relic from the Liao and Jin periods. However, in 1997, during a restoration by the State Administration of Cultural Heritage, an inscription from the second year of the Taiping Xingguo era of the Northern Song Dynasty was discovered on the wall of the second-floor Buddha niche, which conclusively proved that the Huata Pagoda is a relic from the Song Dynasty.
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The ancient city of Zhengding·Linji Temple·Chengling Pagoda
I also visited last March and only took a few photos. Linji Temple is the birthplace of the Linji school of Chinese Zen Buddhism and the ancestral temple of the Linji sect in Japanese Buddhism. The Chengling Pagoda is the stupa of the relics of the founder of the Linji school, Master Yixuan. In the eighth year of the Tang Xiantong era (867 AD), after Master Yixuan passed away in Daming Prefecture, his disciples Cunjiang and others divided his relics into two parts. One part remained in Daming (the old site of the government office is located northeast of Daming County, Handan City, Hebei Province), and the other part was transported to Zhengzhou (now Zhengding County) to build the pagoda for preservation.
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The ancient city of Zhengding·Yanghe Building
Yanghe Building is located in the center of Zhengding County, spanning the middle section of the South Gate to the South Main Street within the city. It was originally built at the end of the Jin Dynasty and the beginning of the Yuan Dynasty, and was repaired during the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. The building has seven bays and is erected on a high and spacious brick platform, with arched gateways underneath, one on each side, allowing pedestrians and vehicles to pass through. Its layout is somewhat similar to the End Gate of Beijing's Tiananmen, but there is also a Guandi Temple built against the platform in the center of the south side. It is with great sorrow that people today recall: Yanghe Building was demolished in the 1960s... The current Yanghe Building has been reconstructed on the original site.
There are two Confucian temples within the ancient city of Zhengding
The Confucian Temple of Zhengding County
Free admission.
Inside the ancient city, there is the 'County Confucian Temple' and the 'Prefectural Confucian Temple', which are more than 400 meters apart.
The 'County Confucian Temple' still has the screen wall, Pan Bridge (now buried underground), front hall, east wing, west wing, and Dacheng Hall. In addition, there are four stone steles in the courtyard. The oldest one is the 'Zhending County School Stele' in the southwest corner. The stele mainly records that the Zhending County School was first built in the early Ming Dynasty, rebuilt in the twelfth year of the Chenghua period (1476 AD), and again in the sixteenth year of the Wanli period (1588 AD). The writer Song Shizhi, who was governing this region at the time, saw the collapse of the county school's halls and wings, and thus assisted the local officials in the reconstruction...
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The Confucian Temple of Zhengding Prefecture
Free admission (There is also a sign for 'Admission: 10 yuan', but underneath it, there is an A4 paper stuck on saying 'Free admission' ^_^).
The only thing worth seeing in the Prefectural Confucian Temple is the Ji Gate (the rest has been demolished). The Ji Gate faces south with a width of five bays and a depth of two bays. It is a single-eave Xieshan style building with a tiled roof. The dougong under the eaves are sparsely distributed and are considered true dougong ('Everyone step aside, I'm about to start moving the materials: 'True dougong' generally refers to the early type of lower dougong, that is, the dougong that directly reach the indoor beam frame and play a structural role are called 'true dougong'... Don't understand? That's right, I didn't understand either :P~). The beam frame is simple and reasonable, with six sets of columns dividing the space (I'm too lazy to move it ^_^). The wing rooms on both sides are later constructions. The Ji Gate, as the only remaining Yuan Dynasty building in Zhengding, has high historical research value.
Wang Family Mansion
The former residence of Wang Shizhen, built in 1912, is a typical northern Chinese courtyard house from the Republic of China era. Wang Shizhen (August 19, 1861 - July 1, 1930), styled Pinqing, also known as Guanru, was from Niujiazhuang in Zhending, Zhili (now Zhengding, Hebei). A modern political figure, he was one of the three prominent leaders of the Beiyang government. With his extraordinary intelligence and outstanding political achievements, he won the favor of Yuan Shikai and held various military and political positions, eventually becoming the Minister of the Army, Chief of the General Staff, and Prime Minister. In 1918, he retired from politics and lived in seclusion in Beijing. In May 1926, he took on roles such as the Chairman of the Beijing Temporary Security Council and the Chairman of the Beijing Relief Association. In July 1930, he died of liver cancer in Beijing at the age of 70.
Hebei | Zhengding Ancient City in Shijiazhuang, Five Temples and Four Pagodas, Pray for Blessings at the Pagoda
In the previous note, it was mentioned that Zhengding Ancient City is a place with a long history and rich tourism resources. This note will take stock of the highlights of the "Eight Major Temples of Zhengding Ancient City":
1️⃣Longxing Temple
🎫50 yuan
Built in the sixth year of Sui Kaihuang, it has a history of 1400+ years. This temple has many unique features:
🔸Z beautiful five-color suspended Guanyin statue (inside the Mani Hall): The entire five-color suspended mountain clay sculpture is already very spectacular, but the Guanyin sitting in it is even more unique. It is called the "Eastern Beauty" by Mr. Lu Xun because the Guanyin statue is graceful and serene, and has a more human image, which is very different from the previous image of gods. This Guanyin statue is also one of the important representatives of the transformation from "god" to "human" in the history of Buddhism.
🔸Z tall and ancient Thousand-Handed Guanyin (Dabei Pavilion): This is a "Thousand-Handed Guanyin Bodhisattva" cast in bronze in the Song Dynasty. It is known for its appropriate proportions, huge body, and fine carving. It really admires the ancient craftsmen!
🔸Z exquisite bronze Vairocana Buddha (Vairocana Hall): This three-layered, three-faced Vairocana Buddha was made by Emperor Wanli of the Ming Dynasty for his mother, the Empress Dowager Cisheng, to celebrate her birthday. It can be said to directly reflect the peak of bronze casting technology at that time, with a total of 1072 Buddha statues of various sizes on the whole statue!
🔸Z ancient prayer wheel: This prayer wheel is different from the common Tibetan style. It has a diameter of 7m and looks like an octagonal pavilion. There is a wooden shaft in the middle. Such a huge scripture bookshelf can be pushed by a child.
🔸Z large wooden Buddha statue: This huge Buddha statue is carved from a whole piece of wood, you can imagine how thick the tree must be!
🔸Z early regular script stele of Sui "Longzang Temple Stele": The full name is "Hengzhou Governor Eguogong's Stele for the Construction of Longzang Temple", the Sui Dynasty was a transitional period from Han Li to Tang Kai, and the Longzang Temple Stele is a representative work of this period~
2️⃣Tianning Temple
🎫15 yuan
Formerly known as "Dazangyuan", the Lingxiao Tower in the temple was also built during the reign of Tang Yizong Weitong, and is one of the four ancient towers in Zhengding. It is the tallest of the four towers. The tower body is mainly wooden structure, which is an octagonal nine-story pavilion-style tower. The structure below the third floor is brick.
3️⃣Kaiyuan Temple
🎫20 yuan
Originally named "Jingguan Temple", it was built in the second year of Xinghe in the Eastern Wei Dynasty. The Sumeru Pagoda in the temple was built in the tenth year of Tang Zhen Guan, also known as "Yan Pagoda", because its shape is very similar to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda in Xi'an, it is a nine-story dense eave square pagoda, and there are two strong and powerful arhat statues on each side of the bottom layer. The three-door building (the original temple gate), bell tower, and the ruins of the Fa Chuan Hall in the temple are also worth seeing. There is also a huge Bi Xi stele base and a broken stele (the Five Dynasties An Zhongrong Dezheng Stele) placed in the temple, which is really huge!
4️⃣Guanghui Temple
🎫15 yuan
Also known as "Hua Pagoda Temple", it was built during the Tang Zhenyuan period. At its peak, it was 196m wide from east to west and 239m long from north to south. Today, the only remaining Hua Pagoda in the temple is an important relic after the reconstruction in the Golden Dading period. After repairs in the Ming and Qing Dynasties, this uniquely shaped and beautifully decorated ancient pagoda has been preserved~
5️⃣Linji Temple
🎫Free
Also known as "Linji Pagoda Court", it was built in the second year of Xinghe in the Eastern Wei Dynasty. The founder of the Chinese Buddhist Linji Sect, Master Yixuan, lived in this temple, so this temple is the birthplace of this sect and the ancestral court of the Japanese Buddhist Linji Sect. The Chengling Pagoda in the temple is the stupa of Master Yixuan. It is a brick-imitated wooden structure, a dense eave-style octagonal nine-story pagoda. The railing on the Xumi seat and the flat seat are carved with strange flowers and birds. The carving is exquisite and unique!
🙏🏻Principle of Praying for Blessings at the Pagoda: Walk around the pagoda clockwise
One week for family happiness
Two weeks for both blessings and longevity
Three weeks for national peace and people's safety
Four weeks for wealth in all seasons
Five weeks for the world to be public
Six weeks for everything to go smoothly
Seven weeks for world unity
🎫Seven Scenic Spots Joint Ticket: The joint ticket includes Longxing Temple, Tianning Temple, Kaiyuan Temple, Guanghui Temple, Prefecture Confucius Temple, County Confucius Temple and Wang Shizhen's Former Residence
The original price is 140 yuan, and the discount joint ticket price is 100 yuan
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Longxing Temple Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in Mar)
Zhengding Ancient City·Longxing Temple
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.
Shijiazhuang, Hebei - Longxing Temple
Treasure Temple Longxing Temple
The Pilu Hall at the end of Longxing Temple was originally the main hall of Chongyin Temple, one of the eight great temples of Zhengding. It was built during the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty, and was relocated here after the temple fell into disrepair. In the center of the hall, there is a Ming Dynasty bronze statue of Pilu Buddha, which was made by the Ming Shenzong for his mother, Empress Dowager Li, and is another national treasure of Longxing Temple. The statue is divided into three layers, each with four Pilu Buddhas, wearing a five-Buddha crown, making the Pilu hand gesture, and sitting in a cross-legged position. On the thousand lotus petals of the three-layer lotus seat, there is a small Buddha statue, forming a pattern of a thousand Buddhas around Pilu Buddha.
Other attractions
The imperial plaque and the twin dragon glazed screen at the entrance of the Heavenly King Hall Longxing Temple does not have a mountain gate, the Heavenly King Hall is both the mountain gate and the first hall. Interestingly, there has always been a saying 'The temple is big and the mountain gate is far, the mountain gate is in Henan', which you can search for if interested
The walls of the Mani Hall are adorned with Ming Dynasty murals, also worth a look
From the bright outdoors to the inside of the hall, it's hard to see the murals on the walls clearly, and they can be easily overlooked. Your eyes need to adjust to the dim light environment to make them out
The base of the Thousand-Handed Guanyin is an original piece from the Song Dynasty
The cultural and creative shop on the east side of the Great Compassion Pavilion can stamp, and there are also fridge magnets and other Longxing Temple souvenirs
Address: No. 109, Zhongshan East Road, Zhengding County, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province
Transportation: Bus routes 134, 135, 143, 164, Sightseeing 1:
The garden maintenance inside is very good
Adult ticket: 50 yuan
Child/Senior ticket: 25 yuan
Volunteers are available, with enthusiastic service
Visiting time: 2-3 hours
Longxing Temple in Zhengding, Shijiazhuang, have you seen all the six unique features here?
There are not many ancient buildings that can be praised by Mr. Liang Sicheng, and Longxing Temple in Zhengding is one of them. The title of 'the first famous temple outside Beijing' is a great affirmation. The temple has a large number of sculptures, murals, inscriptions and ancient buildings from the Sui, Tang, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties. I want to go to Zhengding to see, Longxing Temple is probably my motivation. People say that Longxing Temple has the world-famous 'Six Uniques', but in my opinion, the wonderfulness of Longxing Temple is more than 'Six Uniques'.
👑Six Uniques of Longxing Temple
1️⃣ Song Dynasty Mani Hall: Mr. Liang Sicheng said that he had only seen such a building in Song Dynasty paintings. Even the stone incense burner at the door is an original from the Song Dynasty.
2️⃣ Reversed Seated Guanyin: Known as the Eastern Beauty God, like a fairy, like a human, like a god, like a Buddha.
3️⃣ Turning Wheel Treasury: Original from the Song Dynasty, the oldest and largest in scale.
4️⃣ Thousand-Handed and Thousand-Eyed Guanyin Statue: Built in the Song Dynasty, the ceiling of the bronze Buddha statue.
5️⃣ Ming Dynasty Vairocana Buddha Statue: There are thousands of Buddha statues on the three-layer lotus seat.
6️⃣ Longzang Temple Stele: The first stele of the Sui Dynasty, the ancestor of regular script stele carving.
💁🏻Personal recommendations beyond the 'Six Uniques'
✅ Precept Platform: One of the three major platforms in the north.
✅ Ming Dynasty Bronze Double-Faced Buddha: Amitabha Buddha + Medicine Buddha.
✅ Song Dynasty Buddha Statue in Mani Hall: One Buddha, two Bodhisattvas and two disciples (mud gold).
✅ Ming Dynasty Murals: Around the walls of Mani Hall.
✅ Northern Song Dynasty Wood Carved Maitreya Bodhisattva: In Cishi Pavilion.
✅ Great Compassion Pavilion: The wooden structure is from the Song Dynasty, and the exterior is from the Qing Dynasty.
✅ Sumeru Seat Relief: Under the Thousand-Hand Guanyin Statue in the Great Compassion Pavilion.
There are so many treasures in a temple, which is rare in China, and it is very friendly to tourists. Basically, no one will stop you from taking pictures here. Hebei people are really generous‼️
One-day tour of less-known routes in Shijiazhuang
Unexpected international village, worth a citywalk
Time: 9:00—20:00
Route: Zhengding Station→Ancient City Wall→Guanghui Temple→Linji Temple→Yanghe Tower→Kaiyuan Temple→Tianning Temple→Longxing Temple→Hebei Museum→Shijiazhuang Station.
Transportation:
①Taxi: Take a taxi to Zhengding in the city, about 0.5h, about 50 yuan
②Bus: Take bus 130 from the museum to Zhengding, about 40 minutes
③Train: Zhengding Station
Ancient city transportation: The distance between attractions is about 1 kilometer, it is recommended to walk
Cost: 204r, scenic spot tickets + transportation + food
Ancient City Wall (free): Built in the Ming Dynasty.
Guanghui Temple (15r): There is only one tower, currently the most magnificent tower in China. Built in the Song Dynasty, a pavilion building combining brick and wood, 31.5m high, 4 floors. The fourth floor is the essence of the tower, with wall sculptures and inlays, two stone Buddhas are enshrined in the conical inner eaves tower room, and the outer eaves are centered on the vertical lines of the eight faces and eight corners, with interlaced colored sculptures of Bodhisattvas, strong men, birds and beasts, lions, elephants, frogs and pavilions etc.
Linji Temple (free): Built in the Eastern Wei Dynasty.
Daxiong Hall: Enshrines Sakyamuni Buddha.
Chengling Tower: 30.47 meters high, octagonal nine-level eaves tower.
Yanghe Tower (free): Built at the end of the Jin Dynasty and the beginning of the Yuan Dynasty, it is the cradle of Yuanqu.
Kaiyuan Temple (20r): Built in the Eastern Wei Dynasty.
Sumeru Tower, 39.55m high, 9 floors.
Bell Tower: The only existing Tang Dynasty bell tower.
Tianning Temple (15r):
Only Lingxiao Tower, built in the Tang Dynasty, brick and wood structure, 9-storey pavilion tower, 41 meters high.
Longxing Temple (5r): You must bring a guide to visit.
Dabei Pavilion: The main hall of the temple, the pavilion is 33 meters high, the five-story three-story pavilion enshrines the Great Compassion Guanyin Bodhisattva 21.3 meters high, which is the best preserved and highest bronze cast Guanyin Bodhisattva in China, with 42 arms around the body, also known as "Thousand Hands and Thousand Eyes Guanyin" Each arm holds the sun and moon, clean bottle, pagoda, vajra, sword, etc.
Mani Hall: Enshrines Sakyamuni, the east and west sides of the hall are painted with the Western Paradise and the Eastern Pure Lapis Lazuli World, the north side wall is a five-color hanging mountain made of clay, with more than 30 Buddha statues, and the most beautiful five-color hanging Shuo Guanyin statue in the middle.
Hebei Museum: You must ask for an explanation
Ten treasures of the museum:
①Liu Sheng's gold-threaded jade suit
②Changxin Palace lamp
③Gold-inlaid Boshan stove
④King Zhongshan's large bronze tripod
⑤Gold and silver four dragons and four phoenixes bronze square case
⑥Carved dragon and phoenix pattern copper head
⑦Mural of the tomb passage of Emperor Wenxuan of Northern Qi Gao Yang
⑧White stone painted music relief
⑨Blue and white open light carved red blue glaze flowers and plants large jar
Tips:
1、You can pray for blessings clockwise around the tower
2、Enter the temple to visit and pray for blessings clockwise
3、Do not take pictures of Buddha statues
4、There are joint tickets for ancient city attractions, 80r
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Zhengding Rongguofu Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in Mar)
Rong Guofu must be familiar with everyone. I have seen the 86th edition of the Dream of Red Mansions will feel very cordial, here is the location of the TV series.
Every important holiday, Liu Wei of Rongguofu will welcome the guests at the door, and the girls in the palace will all appear together, all smiles. It will really bring people's thoughts to novels or TV dramas.
Buy a bunch of candied haws or sugar people, go shopping in the house, and go on a journey through time and space to make the weekend life more fulfilling!
Zhengding County Rongguo Mansion, the shooting location of Dream of the Red Chamber
Rongguo Mansion is an ancient architectural complex with the cultural background of the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. It is designed and built according to the 'Rongguo Mansion' depicted in the Chinese classic 'Dream of the Red Chamber'. From the entrance, you can first visit the Cao Xueqin Memorial Hall, then the outer ceremonial gate, the south hall, the inner ceremonial gate, Jia Zheng's study, Rongxi Hall, Wang Xifeng's residence, Rongqing Hall, flower hall, through the hall, hanging flower gate, and finally to Yiyuan. Coming out of Yiyuan is Ningrong Street.
📍Detailed address: No. 51 Xingrong Road, Zhengding County, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province
💰Ticket price: Tickets are 40 yuan, free for the elderly and children
Because it was winter when I went, there were fewer people, and the visiting experience was not bad, but the lack of flowers and trees made it less perfect.
Step into Rongguo Mansion | Be a character in the Dream of Red Mansions
🏯Rongguo Mansion is an ancient architectural complex with the culture of the late Ming and early Qing dynasties as the background. The main attractions include Rongguo Mansion Scenic Area, Ningrong Street Scenic Area, Cao Xueqin Memorial Hall and other landscapes. It is designed and built according to the 'Rongguo Mansion' depicted in the Chinese classic 'Dream of Red Mansions'.
🌟Highlights:
The Rongguo Mansion Scenic Area is a multi-courtyard complex with a deer-top diamond mountain shape, divided into middle, east, and west routes. The middle route uses court-style color painting, and the east and west routes use Suzhou-style color painting.
❤Recommended reason:
Zhengding Rongguo Mansion, the earliest film and television base in China, is known as 'China's Hollywood'.
📍Detailed address:
No. 51 Xingrong Road, Zhengding County, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province
🕙Business hours:
8:00-17:00
⏳Play time:
About 1-2 hours
💰Average consumption:
Adult ticket for the scenic area is 40 yuan
🚉Travel strategy:
Take the Zhengding Bus No. 143 to the Ping Pong Base and get off to arrive
Rongguofu Night Market in Zhengding, Shijiazhuang is free for 10 days
⌚Night market opening hours: 9.18~9.28, every night from 7 to 9 o'clock
🎉Performance: Yuan Chun's visit to the province at half past seven, Bao Dai's initial meeting at half past eight, in addition to other activities such as night patrol
🎫Normal ticket collection during the day, free at night, and the night view is really beautiful after the lights are on!
📍Address: No. 51, Xingrong Road, Zhengding County, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province
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Tianning Temple Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in Mar)
Zhengding Four Towers Travel Guide, the same photo spot as Liang Sicheng
Envious of Liang Sicheng
Taking his wife to take photos and check in everywhere
During the chaotic times of war, Mr. Liang Sicheng came to Zhengding, Hebei, and took photos of the Zhengding Four Towers, leaving behind precious pictures. However, it is unknown what color the vividly colored Zhengding Four Towers were back then. It is probably rare for a county town to have four ancient towers that are over a thousand years old, like this small city of Zhengding
🏯 Zhengding Four Towers
✅ Tianning Temple Lingxiao Tower (Tang Dynasty): Mr. Liang Sicheng's original words: 'The height of the tower body decreases with each ascending layer, while the eaves become more pronounced', a brick and wood mixed pavilion-style tower
✅ Kaiyuan Temple Sumi Tower (Tang Dynasty): Mr. Liang Sicheng's original words: 'In terms of form, it is the oldest of the Zhengding Four Towers', a nine-story dense eave style square tower
✅ Guanghui Temple Hua Tower (Tang Dynasty): Mr. Liang Sicheng's original words: 'From the perspective of form, this Hua Tower may be a unique example in the country', a rare flower tower
✅ Linji Temple Chengling Tower (Tang Dynasty): Mr. Liang Sicheng's original words 'Clear and elegant, can be considered a top-quality tower among towers', an octagonal nine-tier dense eave style brick tower
🎫 Tickets
Tianning Temple Lingxiao Tower 15 Kaiyuan Temple Sumi Tower 20
Guanghui Temple Hua Tower 15 Linji Temple Chengling Tower Free
You can see them all at the entrance when taking photos
If you are sentimental and have time, you can go in and take a look
Temples may be destroyed, but only towers are eternal‼️
One-day tour of less-known routes in Shijiazhuang
Unexpected international village, worth a citywalk
Time: 9:00—20:00
Route: Zhengding Station→Ancient City Wall→Guanghui Temple→Linji Temple→Yanghe Tower→Kaiyuan Temple→Tianning Temple→Longxing Temple→Hebei Museum→Shijiazhuang Station.
Transportation:
①Taxi: Take a taxi to Zhengding in the city, about 0.5h, about 50 yuan
②Bus: Take bus 130 from the museum to Zhengding, about 40 minutes
③Train: Zhengding Station
Ancient city transportation: The distance between attractions is about 1 kilometer, it is recommended to walk
Cost: 204r, scenic spot tickets + transportation + food
Ancient City Wall (free): Built in the Ming Dynasty.
Guanghui Temple (15r): There is only one tower, currently the most magnificent tower in China. Built in the Song Dynasty, a pavilion building combining brick and wood, 31.5m high, 4 floors. The fourth floor is the essence of the tower, with wall sculptures and inlays, two stone Buddhas are enshrined in the conical inner eaves tower room, and the outer eaves are centered on the vertical lines of the eight faces and eight corners, with interlaced colored sculptures of Bodhisattvas, strong men, birds and beasts, lions, elephants, frogs and pavilions etc.
Linji Temple (free): Built in the Eastern Wei Dynasty.
Daxiong Hall: Enshrines Sakyamuni Buddha.
Chengling Tower: 30.47 meters high, octagonal nine-level eaves tower.
Yanghe Tower (free): Built at the end of the Jin Dynasty and the beginning of the Yuan Dynasty, it is the cradle of Yuanqu.
Kaiyuan Temple (20r): Built in the Eastern Wei Dynasty.
Sumeru Tower, 39.55m high, 9 floors.
Bell Tower: The only existing Tang Dynasty bell tower.
Tianning Temple (15r):
Only Lingxiao Tower, built in the Tang Dynasty, brick and wood structure, 9-storey pavilion tower, 41 meters high.
Longxing Temple (5r): You must bring a guide to visit.
Dabei Pavilion: The main hall of the temple, the pavilion is 33 meters high, the five-story three-story pavilion enshrines the Great Compassion Guanyin Bodhisattva 21.3 meters high, which is the best preserved and highest bronze cast Guanyin Bodhisattva in China, with 42 arms around the body, also known as "Thousand Hands and Thousand Eyes Guanyin" Each arm holds the sun and moon, clean bottle, pagoda, vajra, sword, etc.
Mani Hall: Enshrines Sakyamuni, the east and west sides of the hall are painted with the Western Paradise and the Eastern Pure Lapis Lazuli World, the north side wall is a five-color hanging mountain made of clay, with more than 30 Buddha statues, and the most beautiful five-color hanging Shuo Guanyin statue in the middle.
Hebei Museum: You must ask for an explanation
Ten treasures of the museum:
①Liu Sheng's gold-threaded jade suit
②Changxin Palace lamp
③Gold-inlaid Boshan stove
④King Zhongshan's large bronze tripod
⑤Gold and silver four dragons and four phoenixes bronze square case
⑥Carved dragon and phoenix pattern copper head
⑦Mural of the tomb passage of Emperor Wenxuan of Northern Qi Gao Yang
⑧White stone painted music relief
⑨Blue and white open light carved red blue glaze flowers and plants large jar
Tips:
1、You can pray for blessings clockwise around the tower
2、Enter the temple to visit and pray for blessings clockwise
3、Do not take pictures of Buddha statues
4、There are joint tickets for ancient city attractions, 80r
Zhengding Ancient City Tour (IV) / The "Beam Removal and Column Replacement" of the Lingxiao Tower in Tianning Temple
🎯👉 One of the "Four Towers" of Zhengding Ancient City, the Lingxiao Tower of Tianning Temple is worth a careful look:
🚩Originally 60 meters high, it is the tallest ancient building in the city; it was built during the Tang Dynasty, and after a thousand years of vicissitudes, it is now 40 meters high, still tall and majestic, worthy of its name;
🚩The pair of crooked-headed lions at the entrance of Tianning Temple, relics of the Ming Dynasty; Figures 6-7
🚩Lingxiao Tower, brick and wood structure, the 1-4 floors of the Song Dynasty are brick structure, the 4-9 floors of the Jin Dynasty, brick and wood structure rebuilt, from the 4th floor to the top of the tower is built with a wooden Tongtian column, called the wooden heart column structure, which is commonly known as the beam removal and column replacement. Professionals say that this tower's heart column is the longest and largest among the existing ancient towers, with a special structure, it is an important example among the ancient towers in our country, and also a model of the mixed brick and wood structure in the north.
🎟🎟 The ticket is 20 yuan per person, and there is a commemorative stamp at the entrance (the other three towers do not have). It is within 200 meters of Kaiyuan Temple.
Exploring Zhengding
The experience of exploring Zhengding is superb, which can be said to surpass 99% of other domestic cities. The preservation of cultural relics is excellent, needless to say, many details of the city's facilities reflect a friendly attitude towards tourists. Such as parking management, drinking water facilities, restroom facilities, special catering services, etc.
Kaiyuan Temple Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in Mar)
Zhengding Ancient City·Kaiyuan Temple
The renovation has started, huh? The ticket price is 20 yuan, free for those above 60 years old.
Kaiyuan Temple was originally built in the second year of Xinghe of the Eastern Wei Dynasty (AD 540), originally named Jingguan Temple, and is one of the eight major temples in Zhengding ancient city. It was renamed Kaiyuan Temple in the twenty-sixth year of the Tang Dynasty's Kaiyuan era (AD 738). The main buildings in the temple include the Three Gates Tower, the Hall of Heavenly Kings, the Kaiyuan Temple Sumita Pagoda, the Kaiyuan Temple Bell Tower, and the ruins of the Dharma Ship Hall. The main hall of Kaiyuan Temple is located at the back, and the layout of the tower and pagoda standing opposite each other is a typical example of the architectural layout of Buddhist temples in the Tang Dynasty, occupying an important position in the history of Chinese architecture.
As the saying goes, 'A layman enjoys the show; an expert enjoys the technique.' The two stone lions in the southeast corner of the courtyard caught my attention. A female tourist said to her partner, 'Hey, look! Don't these two lions look like they are whispering to each other?...'^_^
Global Autumn Pursuit | Step into Kaiyuan Temple in Zhengding Ancient City, Hebei
| Step into Kaiyuan Temple in Zhengding Ancient City, Hebei. Zhengding Ancient City Kaiyuan Temple
is located at No. 109, Yan Zhao South Street, Zhengding County, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province
Kaiyuan Temple has a long history
It was built in the second year of Xinghe in the Eastern Wei Dynasty (AD 540)
It is one of the eight temples in Zhengding Ancient City
Kaiyuan Temple is antique
The cultural atmosphere is strong
The main buildings in the temple include
Sanmen Building, Heavenly King Hall, Sumeru Pagoda, Bell Tower and the ruins of the Law Ship Hall, etc.
This treasure temple is very worth coming to explore history and appreciate culture
In-depth One-day Tour Guide to Zhengding Ancient City, Shijiazhuang
In-depth One-day Tour Guide to Zhengding Ancient City, Shijiazhuang
📸 Longxing Temple: Reserve 2-3 hours to appreciate the Song Dynasty Buddhist architecture and cultural relics.
📸 Tianning Temple Lingxiao Tower: Appreciate Tang Dynasty architecture and tower heart structure.
📸 Kaiyuan Temple Sumeru Tower: Appreciate the Tang Dynasty brick and stone structure nine-level secret eaves square tower.
📸 Linji Temple Chengling Tower: Appreciate the octagonal nine-level secret style solid brick tower, experience Zen culture.
📸 Guanghui Temple Hua Tower: Appreciate the flower tower type, understand the architectural features.
📸 Prefecture Confucius Temple: Appreciate the Yuan Dynasty architectural style.
📸 County Confucius Temple: Understand the architectural features of the Five Dynasties period.
📸 Zhengding Ancient City Changle Gate: Visit one of the four city gates, feel the ancient city defense system.
Tourism costs:
Ticket cost: Depending on the ticket prices of each scenic spot, it is recommended to inquire in advance and purchase joint tickets to save costs.
Transportation cost: Depending on the individual's departure and arrival locations, the cost will also be different. It is recommended to plan the itinerary and transportation in advance.
Catering cost: There are many snack bars and restaurants in Zhengding Ancient City, where you can taste local delicacies. Choose the right food and price according to personal taste and needs.
Other costs: If necessary, consider buying some souvenirs or special products, etc.
Precautions:
Inquire about the opening hours and ticket prices of each scenic spot in advance to avoid delaying the itinerary.
Comply with the regulations of the scenic area, protect cultural relics and the environment.
Pay attention to personal safety and property safety, do not casually talk to strangers or accept help from strangers.
I hope this guide can help you better plan the in-depth one-day tour of Zhengding Ancient City in Shijiazhuang! Have fun!
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