Highlights: The main explored bottom of White Horse Fairy Cave’s entrance is about 500 meters in straight-line distance, with a relative height difference of 168 meters between the cave mouth and the bottom. Experts call it “the most perilous cave in North China.” Introduction: White Horse Fairy Cave is located in Wangyingzhuang Township, Lishi City, featuring beautiful scenery and a pleasant environment. This cave belongs to the Liulin Spring Basin, …
Highlights: Climb to enjoy panoramic views of the city’s new look. Introduction: Fengshan Taoist Temple is nestled on the mountainside of Fengshan, north of Lishi City. Originally named “Tianzhen Guan,” this ancient site boasts picturesque scenery and unique traditional architecture. Historical records indicate that the temple was built during the Yuan Dynasty but was later destroyed in war. It was rebuilt in the first year of the Jingtai era (1450) of the Ming Dynasty. The temple is divided into upper and lower courtyards, featuring key structures such as the Jade Emperor Tower in the Yellow Register Altar, the Three Pure Ones Hall, the Sun Immortal Hall, the Reading Tower, the Three Officials Tower, the Thunder God Hall, and the White Cloud Cave (also known as the Chen Tuan Hall). Supporting structures include the Temple of Guan Yu, the Temple of the Earth God, and the Five Roads Temple. The Jade Emperor Tower features a double-eaved hip-and-gable roof with a four-rafter-three-cantilever and heart-skipping structure. The Reading Tower is built atop three brick cave chambers. The White Cloud Cave has a width of three bays and a depth of two bays, with a hanging gable roof, seven-purlin construction, and double-tiered bracket arms with single downward cantilevers. Inside the cave is a nearly 30-square-meter Ming Dynasty mural titled “The Painting of the Miraculous Response During the Construction of Wudang Mountain Temples.” The upper part of the mural depicts the “Ten Manifestations of Deities,” while the lower part shows a “Bird’s-Eye View of Wudang Mountain,” illustrating various scenic spots including the Eight Palaces and Ten Peaks. It is a historically, scientifically, and artistically valuable complete mural. On the 26th day of the first lunar month each year, the temple hosts its annual Fengshan Temple Fair. In the days leading up to and following the fair, pilgrims flock to the mountain from all directions. The entire temple complex is illuminated with bright lights, filled with the scent of incense, the sound of firecrackers, and the noise echoing through the city—this event is commonly known as “Meeting the Immortals.”
The Maomaozhuang Han Tombs Cluster (Fifth Batch of National Heritage Sites) Era: Eastern Han Dynasty Location: On the second terrace west of Maomaozhuang Village, Chengguan Town, Lishi District The tomb cluster spans an area of approximately 2 square kilometers. In the winter of 1990, the Shanxi Provincial Institute of Archaeology conducted the first scientific excavation of three Han Dynasty stone relief tombs, unearthing 42 stone reliefs. In the spring of 1993, another three...
The Lüliang Han Dynasty Stone Reliefs Museum is located on Longfeng South Street in Lishi District, Lüliang City. It officially opened on October 19, 2002, and is affiliated with the Lüliang Municipal Bureau of Cultural Relics and Tourism. The museum covers an area of 2.6 hectares, with a building area of 7,360 square meters. Its architectural style combines modern design with Han Dynasty-inspired decorations, including a replica Han Dynasty gate. The museum...
About 50 kilometers from Lishi District in Shanxi Province, on the eastern side of Yunding Mountain, lies Xihua Town Grassland—a vast natural grassland spanning over 20,000 acres. Nestled among mountains at an altitude of over 2,000 meters, this high-altitude, cool, and humid region has an average annual temperature of 6–8 degrees Celsius. As summer arrives, the entire grassland bursts into bloom with…
Lüshi Baofeng Mountain is located in the southern part of Guihua Village, Xiaoshentou Township, about 25 kilometers east of Lüshi City. Also known as Baopen Mountain, Baofeng Mountain features precipitous cliffs, dense forests, and verdant slopes stretching for dozens of miles covered with pine and cypress trees that remain green all year round. Even a slight breeze can send rustling sounds echoing through the entire valley. The Baofeng Mountain Taoist Temple was first built during the Yuanshi era (1–5 AD) of Emperor Ping of the Han Dynasty...
Lishi Confucius Temple (listed in the fourth batch of provincial-level protected cultural heritage sites) Era: Yuan and Qing dynasties Address: Old Town, Lishi District Originally built in the early Yuan Dynasty and renovated in the seventh year of the Hongwu reign during the Ming Dynasty (1374), with subsequent repairs carried out during the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty, the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty, and the Tongzhi reign of the Qing Dynasty. The existing structures include the Dacheng Hall, East Corridor, and West Corridor. The Dacheng Hall is a Yuan Dynasty structure, built on a 2-meter-high stone rectangular platform...
Tianzhen Temple (Sixth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units) Era: Ming to Qing Dynasties Address: Fengshan, north of Lishi District, commonly known as Fengshan Taoist Monastery. Originally built during the Song Dynasty to enshrine Chen Xiyi, a Taoist master of the Song Dynasty, and his disciple, the Ming Dynasty Taoist priest Sun Yunji. It was destroyed by fire during the Yuan Dynasty and underwent major repairs and expansions during the Hongwu, Xuande, and Jingtai reigns of the Ming Dynasty. The monastery is divided into upper...
Lüliang Gymnasium is located at the foot of Fengshan Mountain in the urban area of Lishi District, Lüliang Municipal Government. It consists of two main structures: the competition hall and the training hall. The competition hall can accommodate 4,000 spectators and is capable of hosting various sports events such as basketball, table tennis, badminton, and volleyball. The underground level of the competition hall can be used as a fitness club and a sports mall. The second floor can host exhibitions...
Kuixing Tower, also known as Kuixing Lou, is located east of Sucun Village in Xiaoyi City, along the northwest Second Ring Road. Built during the Qing Dynasty, it is a municipal-level key cultural relic protection unit. The tower stands 20 meters tall and has four floors, all of which are enclosed rooms. The first and second floors both feature a semi-circular arched door facing south and a rectangular vaulted chamber. The third floor is a hexagonal brick room with corbelled eaves, while the fourth floor is...
The Three Sovereigns Temple, located in the middle of Sanhuangmiao Street in Jiama Village, Xiaoyi City, Shanxi Province, is a provincial-level key cultural relics protection unit. It was expanded and renovated multiple times during the Ming and Qing dynasties, but the earliest existing architectural structures date back to the Yuan Dynasty. Experts widely agree that it is rare in China to find a Three Sovereigns Temple that retains its original site, appearance, and complete temple complex. The temple stretches from north to south…
Shengxi Lake Forest Park is an ecological leisure park primarily featuring plant landscape designs. It stretches from the Zhangjiazhuang Reservoir Dam in the west to 200 meters east of Yingbin Road Bridge in the east, borders Fanjiazhuang in the south, and adjoins Zhangjiazhuang in the north. The park spans 1,600 meters from east to west and 700–900 meters from north to south, covering an area of 1,500 mu. The estimated investment is 210 million yuan…
In Xiaoyi, the Wujiling Ridge of Beichuan stretches for a hundred li to Xiabao, where a solitary peak rises abruptly, resembling a fledgling phoenix and known as Fengshan (Phoenix Mountain). There, verdant cypresses and pines flourish amid picturesque landscapes of lucid waters and lush mountains, and the treasured Puzhao Temple is nestled in the midsection of this mountain. The exact founding date of Puzhao Temple varies in legend. The iron bell in the temple’s bell and drum tower bears the reign title of “Jin Dading,” and according to the original inscriptions in the temple...
Cisheng Temple, also known as Faxing Chan Monastery (granted by imperial decree in the seventh year of the Taihe era during the Jin Dynasty), is one of the tourist attractions in Shanxi Province. Located in Sucun Village, Gaoyang Town, Xiaoyi City, it was designated as a provincial-level cultural relics protection unit by the People's Government of Shanxi Province on June 10, 2004. Cisheng Temple was originally built in the ninth year of the Tianhui era during the Jin Dynasty. In the mid-Ming Dynasty, it was relocated northward and the Grand Buddha Hall was renovated...
The Chunyang Palace (commonly known as "Lüzu Temple") was built between the 14th year of the Hongwu reign and the 3rd year of the Tianqi reign during the Ming Dynasty. It is located in Qiaobei Village, about a hundred meters west of the southern gate of the ancient town of Xiaoyi, covering an area of over 1,100 square meters. The main hall houses a statue of Lü Dongbin, featuring vivid golden fish-colored clay sculptures and a complete set of ritual objects. The side halls contain statues of Laozi and the God of Wealth, respectively. …
The Xiaohe Wetland is one of the major projects under Shanxi Province’s 2014 Comprehensive Reform and Transformation Initiative, as well as a flagship project of this initiative. It is located in the southwestern part of the urban area, stretching from the Zhangjiazhuang Reservoir Dam in the east to the Baibiguan Bridge in the west, from South Scenic Road and the riverside scenic footpath in the south to Shidai Avenue in the north. The planned total area is 5.47 square kilo…
Tianqi Temple (Fourth Batch of Provincial-Level Protected Sites) Era: Yuan Dynasty Address: Zhongwangtun Village, Wutong Town, Xiaoyi City Tianqi Temple is located in Zhongwangtun Village, Wutong Town, Xiaoyi City, Shanxi Province. In June 2004, it was designated as a provincial-level cultural relics protection unit by the People's Government of Shanxi Province. The existing structures of the temple date back to the Yuan Dynasty, with a major renovation carried out in the 39th year of the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty...
Linhuang Tower, also known as the Shakyamuni Dharma Relic Stupa or the Ashoka Pagoda, is located east of Daxiaobu Village, Daxiaobu Township, Xiaoyi City. In 2004, it was designated as a provincial-level cultural relic protection unit by the People's Government of Shanxi Province. The tower was originally built in the third year of the Renshou era during the reign of Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty. Major renovations were carried out in the fifth year of the Qingli era during the reign of Emperor Renzong of the Song Dynasty, the first year of the Yuantong era of the Yuan Dynasty, the ninth year of the Chongzhen era of the Ming Dynasty, and the tenth year of the Yongzheng era of the Qing Dynasty. The existing tower is a reconstruction from the Qing Dynasty. Due to years of neglect, the tower developed cracks in its walls and began to lean. In 2004, the Xiaoyi Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government undertook restoration and reinforcement work on the tower in order to protect this historical and cultural heritage, adhering to the principle of “not altering the original appearance.”
Zhongyang Tower, located on the central street of the ancient county town in Xiaoyi City, Shanxi Province, is a national key cultural relics protection unit. According to surviving inscriptions, the tower was first built during the Han and Wei dynasties when the seat of Zhongyang County government was located here, hence its name. It collapsed due to an earthquake in the seventh year of the Yuandade era, but the exact date of its reconstruction remains unknown. In the seventh year of the Qing Tongzhi era, it was struck by lightning and caught fire, and was later rebuilt in the first year of the Xuantong era. After the liberation, …
The Longtian Sacred Temple was built to enshrine Guan Yu, a great general of the Shu Kingdom during the Three Kingdoms period. It has become a major part of traditional Chinese culture, closely intertwined with people’s lives, and is revered alongside Confucius, the “Sage of Literature,” as the “Martial Sage” Guan Gong. A Guan Di temple showcases the local folklore and customs of that region; a statue of Guan Gong serves as a moral role model and spiritual anchor for millions; an ancient bluestone stele tells a moving tale of loyalty and righteousness.