The Tianning Temple Twin Pagodas are located on the earthen rampart south of Pingding County in Shanxi Province. According to the Pingding Prefecture Records: “The temple woods, with plaque inscribed by Grand Tutor Cai Jing, house a Mahavira Hall, and the twin pagodas stand opposite each other to the east and west.” Both the Ming and Qing dynasties saw restorations. Though the temple structures are now dilapidated, the twin pagodas remain intact. Set atop a high site, the pair stands out strikingly. The pagodas are of the pavilion style, with an octagonal…
The former site of the Mashan Military Conference of the 129th Division of the Eighth Route Army is located at Machayan Temple in Mashan Village, Donghui Town, Pingding County. It was the site of the first major military conference held in 1937 when the 129th Division of the Eighth Route Army crossed the Yellow River and advanced into the Taihang Mountains. The conference was presided over by Liu Bocheng, who was then the division commander. The Mashan Military Conference Memorial Hall mainly...
Mazhayuan Temple Era: Jin and Qing Dynasties Address: Mazhayuan Temple, Mashan Village, Donghui Town, Pingding County, Yangquan City The temple faces south and was built in an unknown period during ancient times. Originally a two-courtyard complex, only one courtyard remains today. The original layout is unclear. The current central axis runs from south to north, consisting of the Heavenly King Hall and the Middle Hall. Side structures include side gates, east and west side halls, and wing rooms. The beam framework of the Middle Hall...
The Great Iron Bell (First Batch of Provincial Cultural Relics) Era: Song Dynasty Location: East of Cangshan Village, Changchi Town, Yushe County Originally part of the main hall of the West Temple in the county town of Yushe, it was later moved to the Da Wang Temple for preservation and is now hung in the bell pavilion of the South Cave at the Cangshan Shrine. Cast in the sixth year of the Xuanhe era of the Song Dynasty (1124). Height: 210 cm, Diameter: 286 cm, Circumference: 900 cm…
Cangshan Shrine (Third Batch of Provincial-Level Protected Sites) Era: Ming and Qing Dynasties Address: East of Cangshan Village, Changchi Town, Yu County Originally named Yugou Mountain, Cangshan is said to be where Cheng Ying of the State of Jin during the Spring and Autumn Period hid the orphan of the Zhao family, hence the name "Cangshan" (Hidden Mountain). The exact founding date of Cangshan Shrine is unknown. It was renovated in the 12th year of the Dading era of the Jin Dynasty (1172), and has been repaired repeatedly through the Yuan, Ming, and Qing Dynasties. The shrine site...
Fugui Temple is located at the northern foot of the main peak of Wanhuashan Mountain in Yuxian County, Yangquan City, Shanxi Province. It consists of two cave-style shrine rooms. The exact date of its construction is unknown, but according to an inscription on the crossbeam of the main hall, it was renovated in the second year of the Yuan Dynasty's Yanyou era (1315 AD). It underwent multiple repairs during the Ming and Qing dynasties. The temple faces south and has a two-courtyard layout. A raised platform stands prominently in front of the mountain gate, flanked by symmetrical stone steps, featuring a unique architectural design...
Potoshan Temple (Potoshan Temple, listed in the Sixth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units) Era: Yuan to Qing Dynasties Address: Potou Village, Beixiazhuang Township, Yu County The original construction date is unknown. A Yuan Dynasty stone pagoda inside the temple records that it was rebuilt in the seventh year of the Zhi Zheng era of the Yuan Dynasty (1357). Renovations were carried out during the Ming Dynasty’s Tian Shun era, the Qing Dynasty’s Kangxi era, and the sixth year of the Republic of China. Potoshan Temple faces south and has a total area of 3…
The Thousand Buddha Temple Cliff Carvings are a county-level key cultural relics protection unit, located on Qianfo Mountain in Nanxingdao Village, Xiaojiahui Township, Yu County. The Thousand Buddha Temple carving complex dates back to the Ming Dynasty or earlier. Although its quantity cannot compare with the Yungang Grottoes, it is the only site in the Shuozhou region with the longest time span and richest content of carvings. This discovery...
Qing Shi Temple Qing Shi Temple, originally named Shi Jiao Temple, is located about one li north of Zhaimenzhi Village in Shangshe Town, Yu County. It was first built in the 17th year of the Wanli reign during the Ming Dynasty (1544 AD), and was relocated in the 22nd year of the Daoguang reign during the Qing Dynasty (1842 AD) to a large bluestone on the north side of the village—hence its current name. The temple currently houses a main hall with three rooms, one room each on the left and right side halls…
Longtang Waterfall is located in Longtang Village, 87 kilometers northeast of Yu County in Shanxi Province and 4 kilometers northeast of Zhaojiacha Village, Liangjiazhai Township. The area features continuous mountain ridges and overlapping rocky barriers. The source of the waterfall lies at the tripoint of Wutai County in Shanxi, Yu County, and Pingshan County in Hebei Province. In the distance, a silvery thread of water flows from the northeastern mountain stream, meandering downstream, gradually growing in volume. After about 2 kilometers, it reaches the edge of the waterfall — Heilong Pool. From there, the water drops 24.5 meters from Heilong Pool into Dalong Pool. Exiting the pool, the water flows calmly for 12 meters before cascading into Erlong Pool, which is 1.5 meters high. Both of these pools are semi-circular in shape. The water then flows another 10 meters smoothly out of Erlong Pool before plunging into Sanlong Pool, which is 32 meters high. This pool has a jar-like shape, with a narrow opening and a wide belly. The overflow from this pool flows about 7 meters downhill, gathering into a large pool at the foot of the mountain before continuing down the valley. Viewed from afar, the waterfall, after several drops, resembles a thrown silk ribbon scattering pearls — a spectacular and breathtaking sight.
The pristine Hutuo River rafting is located in the Hutuo River Eco-Tourism Economic Zone, Liangjiazhai Township, 60 kilometers north of Yu County, Shanxi Province. Along the route, the area boasts dense pristine vegetation, stunning scenery, and fresh air, earning it the reputation as the largest natural oxygen bar in North China. The rafting course starts at the Han Dynasty Imperial Dock and ends at the Hutuo River Hot Spring Resort, passing through Nine Bends and Twelve Scenic Spots, with a total length of...
Jianfu Temple is located to the west of Baitupo Village, 16 kilometers east of Yu County. It was first built in the fourth year of the Dading era of the Jin Dynasty (1164 AD). An extant Jin Dynasty stele inscribed with the temple’s bestowed name states: “According to a petition by Monk Zhiwu of Baitupo, Yu County, Taiyuan Prefecture, this monastery previously had no official name. Having submitted the required documentation, it was specially ordained by imperial decree as Jianfu Monastery.” The temple underwent multiple renovations during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Within the temple…
Cao Village Tianqi Temple is located in Shangcao Village, Xiacao Township, Yu County. Commonly known as the Second Temple, its exact date of construction is unknown. The temple faces south and has six surviving ancient structures. The overall layout consists of two traditional quadrangle courtyards, one on the east and one on the west. In the west courtyard, the main hall is situated to the north. It has three bays, is 12 meters wide and 9 meters deep, with a ridge ornament (chiwei) that stands 3.5 meters high. The roof is a single-eave hip-and-gable style. The front and rear eaves feature...
Sanxing Temple (Fifth Batch of Provincial-Level Protected Sites) Era: Jin Dynasty Location: Within the government compound of Yu County, Yangquan City The temple faces south and its founding date is unknown. Only the main hall from the Jin Dynasty remains. Originally used as a township government auditorium, an inscription on the tubular tiles indicates that the main hall was renovated in the 21st year of the Republic of China (1932). The main hall is five bays wide and eight rafters deep, with a single-eave hanging gable roof...
Located in Houzhuang Village, Xipan Township, Yu County. According to the Qianlong edition of the *Yu County Annals*, it was built in the early Tang Dynasty. In the 21st year of the Qianlong reign, it was relocated to its current site and has undergone multiple renovations since. The temple covers an area of 1,988 square meters. It faces south and features a two-courtyard layout, with the mountain gate, passageway hall, and main hall aligned along the central axis, flanked by east and west side halls, wing rooms, and bell and drum towers...
Qiuyou Temple is located east of Yizhaokou Village, Liangjiazhai Township, 59 kilometers north of Yuan County, Shanxi Province. According to inscriptions, the temple complex was grand in scale and featured a complete architectural system. The main structures included twelve halls: the Mount Tai Temple, Jade Emperor Tower, Zhenwu Hall, Heaven and Earth Temple, Mingling King Hall, King Temple, Sangharama Temple, and others. The most well-preserved existing structure is the Zhenwu Hall. The hall...
The “Sanjian Mountain Eco-Tourism Natural Scenic Area” is located in Ximaiheyi Village, Beixiazhuang Township, approximately 26 kilometers northeast of Yu County, Shanxi Province. In front of the village flows the Yinhe River, the source of the Wen River, while to the rear lies the majestic Sanjian Mountain, the main peak of the historically significant Baima Mountain in Shanxi. The mountain rises abruptly on three sides, with eastern and western peaks standing opposite each other and the northern peak steep and sheer like a screen—hence the name “Sanjian Mountain” (Three-Peak Mountain).…
The Camel Trail is located in Yuxian County, Shanxi Province. The route twists and turns along the mountain, with roads winding up and down the slopes, resembling the undulating back of a camel—hence the name "Camel Trail." The ancient village built against the mountains features buildings of varying heights crisscrossing in all directions. Nestled amidst lush greenery, entering the village feels like stepping into a maze. There is no urban noise or congestion here, …
Located in Zhongshe Beicun Village, Shangshe Town, Yu County. The exact date of its establishment is unknown. According to an inscription on the purlin beam of the main hall, it was renovated in the second year of the Yuan Dynasty's Yanyou era (1315), and underwent multiple repairs during the Ming and Qing dynasties. It covers an area of 936 square meters. The temple faces south and has a single-courtyard layout, with a front hall and main hall along the central axis, flanked by side halls and wing rooms on the east and west. The main hall...
Shuishen Mountain, also known as Loyal Maiden Mountain, is located about 5 kilometers northeast of Yuan County’s county town, at an elevation of 1,200 meters. Surrounded by three peaks, the mountain features undulating ridges and lush pine and cypress trees. Midway up the mountain stands a temple—the Shrine of the Loyal Maiden, also called the “Shrine of the Holy Mother,” locally referred to as the “Grandma Temple.” Legend has it that after Zhao Kuangyin’s Chenqiao Mutiny, the daughter of Chai Rong, the last emperor of the Later Zhou Dynasty…