Pingyao Zhenguo Temple

Pingyao Zhenguo Temple

Zhenguo Temple in Pingyao is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction and a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level.

Zhenguo Temple is located in Haodong Village, northeast of Pingyao County, Shanxi Province.

Zhenguo Temple

Originally named "Jingcheng Temple," Zhenguo Temple was first built in the seventh year of the Tianhui era (963 AD) during the Northern Han Dynasty of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. The temple fell into disrepair during the Ming and Qing dynasties. In the 20th year of the Jiaqing era (1815 AD), the main hall, Wanfo Hall, was rebuilt to resemble its original structure. The temple complex is divided into front and rear courtyards, with a rigorous layout.

Inside the mountain gate is the Hall of Heavenly Kings, which houses statues of the Four Heavenly Kings, with bell and drum towers on the left and right. The central structure of the front courtyard is Wanfo Hall, and the eastern and western corridors contain over twenty stone steles, most of which record the history of the temple. The rear courtyard includes the Guanyin Hall, Dizang Hall, and Sanfo Tower.

Apart from the Guanyin Hall, all other halls contain statues. These figures are proportionate, with dignified and graceful facial features, and vary in style according to their respective themes. The walls of the Sanfo Tower feature murals depicting stories of Shakyamuni. These paintings are exceptionally imaginative, with clear scenery and vividly portrayed figures, representing some of the finest Ming dynasty mural art.

Wanfo Hall is the oldest structure in the temple. Beneath the ridge beam of the hall is an inscription reading “Constructed in the third month of the year Guihai, the seventh year of the Great Han Tianhui era.” The hall is three bays deep and wide, nearly square in plan, with a single-eave hip-and-gable roof and far-reaching eaves. The total height of the bracket sets exceeds two-thirds of the column height, which is very rare. The interior roof framework features six-rafter beams, with six purlins above and large cantilevered brackets below, giving the hall an open and airy feel.

The sculptures inside the hall hold significant artistic value. There is one Buddha, two disciples, four bodhisattvas, two heavenly kings, and two offering bodhisattvas—eleven statues in total—all with full, rounded faces and slightly curved bodies, retaining the sculptural characteristics of the Five Dynasties period. In the courtyard of Wanfo Hall stand two famous locust trees, the Dragon Locust and the Tiger Locust, and a stone stele titled “Record of the Dragon Locust at Zhenguo Temple” is embedded in the wall. There is also a broken stele from the Mingchang era of the Jin dynasty, whose calligraphy is exquisitely executed with the flair of the Wang brothers. (National Cultural Heritage Administration)

Address: Haodong Village, Pingyao County, Jinzhong City (approximately 15 km northeast)

Type: Historic Temple

Recommended Visit Duration: 1–2 hours

Phone: 0354-5848041

Opening Hours:

Monday–Sunday, 8:30–18:00, with slight adjustments possible depending on the season.

Ticket Information:

30 RMB. Currently, the site has long been operating at a ticket price of 24 RMB. Price fluctuations are subject to daily announcements.

Guta Town: Guta Town, the seat of the Pingyao County government, is located at the southern end of the Taiyuan Basin. It borders Qi County to the east, Wenxi County to the north, Fenyang to the west, and Jiexiu to the southwest. To the south, Pingyao Ancient City lies adjacent to Qinyuan, while to the southeast it neighbors Qinxian and Wuxiang. It serves as the political, economic, and cultural hub of the county. The UNESCO World Heritage Site—Pingyao Ancient City—is situated in the central part of our town. Guta Town is one of the most dynamic and economically robust towns in Pingyao County. It borders Yebi Township and Duan Village Town to the south, Zhongdu Township to the west, Nanzheng Township to the north, and Yebi Township and Hongshan Town to the east. The Guta Town government is headquartered in Xicheng Village, overseeing Dongcheng, Xicheng, Nancheng, … More detailed information about Guta Town++

Further Reading:

· Third Batch of Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level