Foguang Temple is located on the northern peak of Yunlong Mountain, a scenic national forest park in the western part of Heshun County. Covering an area of over 10,000 square meters with a built-up area of 7,000 square meters, the temple broke ground in July 2008 and was completed on August 1st of this year. It was newly constructed with investment from Chen Laigui, a private entrepreneur from Heshun County. The temple as a whole...
The map of Heshun resembles a beautiful butterfly, as well as a lion holding its head high. The county town sits right at the heart of the butterfly and the lion. To the west of the town lies the picturesque Yunlong Mountain, whose main peak, Motian’ao, stands at an elevation of 1,548 meters, resembling a dragon’s head held high, trailing a winding stream of beautiful water. The two Zhang Rivers steam and shimmer in the clouds, strikingly resembling a dragon moving through the mist—hence…
Qinggang Temple Qinggang Temple is located at the foot of Phoenix Mountain, east of Fengtai Village in Yixing Town, about four kilometers east of the county town. Nestled against the mountain and facing the water, it enjoys a serene environment and is part of the “Unique Scenery of Fengtai,” one of the ten scenic spots of Heyi. It has been a popular destination for travelers throughout history. Due to its long history and years of neglect, the temple buildings have become dilapidated, stone inscriptions are scattered, and its original construction date remains unrecorded in historical texts…
Tianchi Temple is located four kilometers west of Qianyao Di Village in Weima Township. The site is described as having “steep, rugged rocks, winding serene paths, a highland basin resembling a heavenly pool,” from which the temple derives its name. Though modest in scale, the temple complex is quite majestic. Its founding date is unknown, but the earliest Ming Dynasty renovation stele dates back to the tenth year of the Jiajing era (1531). Subsequent renovations were carried out in the fifteenth year of the Chongzhen era, the twenty-ninth year of the Kangxi era, the sixth year of the Xianfeng era, the twelfth year of the Tongzhi era, and the twenty-fifth year of the Republic of China. The current structures largely retain the architectural style of the Ming Dynasty. Originally a Buddhist temple, it was later converted to enshrine Sakyamuni, Confucius, and Laozi, and the main hall was renamed the “Three Teachings Hall.” The entire temple complex forms a traditional quadrangle covering an area of 680 square meters. The main hall stands 8.2 meters tall, with a width of 10 meters, a depth of 9 meters, and eaves extending 1.5 meters. It features a single-eave hip-and-gable roof covered with tubular and flat tiles. The bracket sets under the eaves are sturdy, using a single-tiered bracketing system with double bows. Four exposed columns face south; the central bay is fitted with lattice doors, while the side bays have low sill walls below and lattice windows above. The roof structure is supported by three beams, with beams and brackets adorned with colorful paintings of dragons and phoenixes. Inside the hall, two rear columns support the altar platform, which is built behind them. All clay sculptures have been destroyed, but some murals remain, depicting themes related to the teachings of the Three Teachings: Laozi, with white hair and a ruddy complexion, a kind expression, holding a duster, wearing a straw hat backwards, riding a blue ox, accompanied by a young attendant; Confucius, with a tall hat and long beard, a solemn expression, holding bamboo slips, depicted vividly. The murals feature smooth, simple, and realistic lines, reflecting the traditional northern folk painting style of the Ming and Qing periods.
Xiangshan Temple Xiangshan Temple is located on a mountainside one li west of Dafotou Village, Weima Township, Heshun County. It was first built in the third year of the Xining era during the Northern Song Dynasty, boasting a history of approximately 1,800 years and considerable cultural heritage value. It is designated as a county-level cultural relics protection unit. The temple buildings back onto a hill ridge, with clear streams flowing on the east and west sides. Within the courtyard stand two towering ancient pine trees. Currently…
The Eighth Route Army Shiguai Conference Memorial Park is located in Shiguai Village, Hengling Town, Heshun County, covering an area of 100 acres. The memorial park consists of four parts: First, the memorial monument, which stands 19.45 meters tall, symbolizing the victory of the Anti-Japanese War in 1945; second, the memorial hall, with a total area of 1,400 square meters, featuring four exhibition halls covering 900 square meters…
Former Residence of Kong Xiangxi (Third Batch of Provincial-Level Protected Sites) Era: Qing Dynasty Address: Shangguan Lane, Taiyü County Originally the residence of the fallen gentry Meng Guangyu from Taiyü. Construction began during the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty and was completed in the Xianfeng reign. In the 19th year of the Republic of China (1930), Kong Xiangxi purchased it for 20,000 silver dollars and carried out minor renovations. In 1934, when Chiang Kai-shek stayed here…
Sanduo Hall is located in Beizhuang Village, about 5 kilometers southwest of Taigu County, and was established as a museum open to the public in October 1995. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, at the height of their prosperity, the powerful Shanxi merchant family Cao built magnificent residences, represented by four grand courtyards symbolizing “Prosperity, Wealth, Longevity, and Happiness.” The existing Sanduo Hall is one of these, taking the form of a “Longevity” character-shaped residence...
Baiyan Site (First Batch of Provincial-Level Protected Sites) Era: Neolithic Location: On the riverside terraces northwest of Baiyan Village, about 15 kilometers northeast of Taigu County. The site borders the Wuma River to the south. It stretches approximately 830 meters from east to west and 430 meters from north to south, covering a total area of about 350,000 square meters. Discovered in 1956. From 1980 to...
Yuanzhi Temple (Yuanzhi Temple [Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units]) Era: Ming Dynasty Address: Fanshi Town, Taigu County The temple was originally built during the Zhenguan era of the Tang Dynasty and was renovated in the ninth year of the Tianhui reign of the Jin Dynasty (1132). It underwent multiple restorations during the Ming and Qing dynasties, with most of the existing structures dating from those periods. The temple complex covers an area of approximately 9,000 square meters and currently consists of over seventy halls, laid out across two courtyards. From…
Former Site of Shanxi Mingxian School (Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units)
Taigu Drum Tower (Fourth Batch of Provincial-Level Protected Sites) Era: Ming Dynasty Address: Center of the cross street in the old town of Taigu County Built in the 43rd year of the Wanli reign during the Ming Dynasty (1625), it was renovated during the Kangxi and Qianlong reigns of the Qing Dynasty. The drum tower is a two-story, triple-eaved wooden structure with a pavilion design, standing 20 meters tall. It is built on a square brick-arched platform that is 8 meters high, …
Anchan Temple (Sixth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units) Era: Song to Ming Address: Within the compound of Taishi Affiliated Primary School, Anchan Temple Lane, southwest corner of the old town, Taigu County The temple’s founding date is unknown. It was rebuilt in the fourth year of the Xianping era of the Song Dynasty (1001), renovated in the third year of the Yanxing era of the Yuan Dynasty (1317), and refurbished again during the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty. Only the Scripture Depository Hall and the Rear Hall remain today. …
Boundless Temple (Sixth Batch of National Heritage Sites) Era: Song to Qing Dynasties Address: Inside Puci Temple, southwestern corner of Taigu County The temple site was originally Baita Village. During the Northern Qi Dynasty, the county seat was relocated here. The temple was founded in the eighth year of the Taishi era of the Jin Dynasty (272 AD), originally named Boundless Temple. It was renovated during the Zhiping era of the Northern Song Dynasty and renamed “Puci Temple.” In the fifth year of the Yuanyou era of the Northern Song Dynasty (109…
ZhenSheng Temple (ZhenSheng Temple [Sixth Batch of National Heritage]) Era: Jin to Qing Dynasties Address: Pifu Village, Fan Town, 40 km east of Taigu County Originally built in the second year of the Zhenglong era of the Jin Dynasty (1157), it underwent multiple renovations during the Ming and Qing dynasties. The main hall's overall beam framework and architectural components still retain their original Jin Dynasty appearance. The stone cave (the temple’s entrance gate) is a Qing Dynasty relic. In addition, the temple preserves...
The white pagoda is located within Puci Temple in the southwest corner of TaiGu County, Shanxi Province. The temple site was originally the village of BaiTa, where the county seat was relocated during the Northern Qi Dynasty. The temple was first built in the eighth year of the TaiShi era of the Jin Dynasty (272 AD), originally named Boundless Temple. It was renovated during the ZhiPing era of the Northern Song Dynasty and renamed “Puci Temple.”
Tianning Temple is located on the summit of Dafoshan Mountain, ten kilometers southeast of Taigu County, in the city of Taigu. It was first built in the 11th year of the Wanli reign during the Ming Dynasty (1584 AD), and underwent subsequent renovations in the 39th year of the Qianlong reign and the 27th year of the Daoguang reign during the Qing Dynasty. Tianning Temple faces north and is divided into the main courtyard, east courtyard, west courtyard, and south courtyard, comprising a total of 41 halls and pavilions, covering an area of 6,680 square...
Xincun Miaojue Temple (Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units) Era: Ming to Qing Dynasties Address: In Xincun Village, Yangyi Township, Taigu County Xincun Miaojue Temple is located in Xincun Village, Yangyi Township, Taigu County. It faces south and originally consisted of two courtyards and a west courtyard. The surviving part of the temple includes one courtyard, which is 40 meters wide from east to west and 40 meters long from north to south, covering an area of 1,600 square…
Meibao Agricultural Sightseeing Park is one of the most harmonious and charming eco-economic and cultural leisure tourism areas in the hometown of Shanxi merchants — the Jin Taigu Leisure Tourism Area. With a long and profound history, Taigu County was historically known as the “Golden Taigu,” “Little Beijing,” “Dry Port,” and “China’s Wall Street.” Meibao Ecological Park is located...
Mengmu Culture Square is a key cultural industry project in Taigu County. To date, the statue of Mengmu has been completed, and the 20,000-square-meter Mengmu Culture Square along with its landscape greening have been finished. Photo by Jia Yongsheng…