Nuquan Town is located in the western part of Yu County, Hebei Province, at 114°02′6″ east longitude and 39°048′ north latitude. It is just 3 kilometers west of the provincial border between Hebei and Shanxi. The town comprises 16 administrative villages with a total population of 16,649, including 2,342 non-agricultural residents, covering an area of 57.3 square kilometers. Within the town area, there are 8 administrative villages…
Yu County boasts a long history. Paleolithic sites dating back a million years and numerous Neolithic sites have been discovered in the Hulu River Valley. During the times of Yao and Shun, it belonged to Jizhou; in the Shang and Zhou dynasties, it was the state of Dai. During the Qin, Han, Three Kingdoms, and Western Jin periods, it was known as Dai Commandery. In the second year of the Daye era of the Northern Zhou Dynasty (580 AD), it was renamed “Yu Prefecture,” a name that has been used throughout the dynasties up to the present — a history of over 1,420 years...
Feihu Valley is located at the junction of the Hengshan Mountain Range and the Taihang Mountain Range, with an average elevation between 1,500 and 2,500 meters. Multiple periods of orogenic movements in history have created its diverse mountain forms and spectacular natural scenery. A local folk song goes: “Speak of Yu Prefecture, talk of Yu Prefecture, Yu Prefecture is truly unique. …
It is said to have been established during the Han Dynasty, but is believed to have been built in the Northern Wei Dynasty. The pagoda is located at the center of the temple complex and served as an object of worship. The temple flourished from the Northern Wei to the Liao Dynasty. When the Yu Prefecture city was built in 580 AD (the second year of the Daye era of the Northern Zhou), the pagoda was named after the temple. Nan’an Temple was once a renowned temple in the Yan-Yun region with a long history, hence the saying in Yu County that “Nan’an Temple existed before Yu Prefecture.”
Also known as the Jingbian Tower, the Jade Emperor Pavilion is located on the northern city wall of Yuzhou County. Built hundreds of years ago, the pavilion has withstood wind and rain erosion, wars, and conflicts. Despite multiple renovations and reconstructions, it still stands intact atop the high city wall. The existing structure retains the architectural style of the Ming Dynasty, showcasing the exceptional craftsmanship and wisdom of ancient artisans. It is...
The Site of Daiwangcheng is located around the site of the Daiwangcheng Town government office, approximately 20 li east of Yu County in Hebei Province. It is a heritage site dating from the Spring and Autumn Period to the Han Dynasty. Forty li south of the ancient city lies a spur of the Hengshan Mountain Range, characterized by its rugged terrain. The site has an oval layout, stretching 3,400 meters from east to west, 2,200 meters from north to south, with a perimeter of 9,265 meters. The city walls...
Shakyamuni Temple is located on the west side of South Gate in Yu County, Hebei Province, and was built during the Yuan Dynasty (1271–1368) and Ming Dynasty (1368–1644). Also known as the Reclining Buddha Temple, Shakyamuni Temple in Yu County features grand architecture including the Hall of Heavenly Kings, Middle Hall, and Reclining Buddha Hall. According to research by the National Cultural Heritage Administration, provincial cultural heritage bureaus, and the Provincial Ancient Architecture Research Institute, the Middle Hall exhibits architectural characteristics of the Yuan Dynasty. The hall is three bays wide, with a single-eave hipped roof covered in clay tiles. Covering a floor area of 141.05 square meters, the roof is notably gentle in slope, with upturned eaves and four wing corners—especially visible from the side. The overhang of the roof is 1.5 meters, and the bracket sets under the eaves are exquisitely proportioned and styled, lending the hall a solemn and dignified atmosphere. It is recognized as a national-level cultural heritage site.
The Changping Granary is located to the west of the Drum Tower in Yu County, Hebei Province. The Yu Prefecture Changping Granary, formerly known as the Fengyu Granary, originally had 11 granary buildings with a total of 55 rooms. It was renovated during the Daoguang era of the Qing Dynasty (1821–1850), preserving the layout of that time, and at its peak stored 35,000 dan of grain. The ancient granary complex covers an area of 7,700 square meters, and only four granary buildings remain today. They are built of brick and wood…
Period: Neolithic Age, Shang Dynasty, Warring States Period Located on the Donggang Plateau in Xihexian, Yu County, Hebei Province, west of the Sanguan River. The surrounding terrain is flat, with abundant exposed relics. The site mainly features remains comparable to the Yangshao Culture, as well as those related to the Longshan Culture, Lower Xiajiadian Culture, and Warring States Culture. Gray soil layers and ash pits are visible on the exposed cliff faces of the site, with the thickest gray soil layer reaching up to 5 meters. The Sanguan Site includes residential structures from the Yangshao Culture period, all of which are rectangular semi-subterranean dwellings with circular vertical hearths inside. The walls and floors of these dwellings were coated with clay mixed with straw, then fired to create hard, smooth surfaces. Five postholes were found within the dwellings, one in the center and one at each of the four corners.
Period: Neolithic Age, Shang Dynasty. The Zhuangke Site is located north of Zhuangke Village, Changning Township, Yu County, Hebei Province. This site covers a large area and boasts extremely rich cultural content, featuring remains from the Yangshao, Longshan, Early Shang, Lower Xiajiadian, Han, and Liao periods. The southern terrace of the site has the richest remains, with a cultural layer up to 5 meters thick, where ash pits can be seen on the exposed cliffs...
Era: Neolithic Age The Shai Zi Ling Luo Site is located 200 meters east of Shai Zi Ling Luo Village, Xiagongcun Township, Yu County, Hebei Province. It is a Neolithic site covering an area of 100,000 square meters. Archaeological discoveries in 1979 included stone tools, pottery kilns, and sandy gray pottery, making it one of the important sites for studying the Longshan Culture. …
Chongtai Temple is located in Yongquanzhuang Township, Yu County. It is the largest, oldest, and best-preserved ancient temple complex in Zhangjiakou City, and has been designated as a national key cultural relic. In 1998, the Zhangjiakou Municipal Government approved the reopening of the temple. Chongtai Temple was built during the Liao Dynasty. The temple covers an area of 6,680 square meters and has…
Shazipo Laojun Temple is located on a sand dune in Shazipo Village, Nuquan Ancient Town, Yu County. It is a Ming and Qing dynasty structure. The temple faces south and features key buildings arranged along a central north-south axis: a theater stage, the mountain gate, the front hall (Sanqing Hall), the rear hall (Beiji Xuan Palace), as well as east and west side halls. The mountain gate of Laojun Temple has a five-rafter beam structure and a flush gable roof. Inside the mountain gate…
Gucheng Temple is located northeast of Dagucheng Village, Songjiazhuang Town, Yu County, Hebei Province, and is a Ming Dynasty structure. The Ming Dynasty water-land murals in the Sakyamuni Hall of the temple are considered a unique highlight within the county, featuring an unusual layout and design — notably, the Maitreya Palace is situated behind the main Buddha hall, which is quite rare. In 2013, Gucheng Temple was designated as a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit. Currently, only one main hall (passage hall) remains, …
The Ancient City Wall of Yu County is located in Hebei Province. Originally built in the second year of the Daye era of the Northern Zhou Dynasty (580 AD), the existing wall was reconstructed in the tenth year of the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty (1377 AD). It spans seven li and thirteen bu in circumference, stands thirty-five chi high, is forty chi wide at the base and twenty-five chi wide at the top, with crenellations six chi tall. The wall features three gate towers, four corner towers, and twenty-four watchtowers, each with five...
Tianqi Temple in Yu County, Hebei Province, is located at No. 14 Shengli Road, outside the Dongguan area of Yu County town. It faces south with its back to the north and currently consists of two structures: the Offering Hall and the Main Hall, covering an area of 559 square meters. It was first built in the 27th year of the Wanli reign during the Ming Dynasty. The Main Hall is the principal building of the complex, measuring five bays wide (19.1 meters), four bays deep (11.8 meters), and 7 meters in height, with a construction area of 22…
Yu County Guan Di Temple is located outside the southern gate of Yu County in Hebei Province and is the largest existing Guan Di Temple in the area. Covering an area of 1,620 square meters, all the existing structures are in the Ming Dynasty architectural style. The temple faces south and currently consists of three main halls: front, middle, and rear. Directly to the south is a reverse-facing theater stage. Original structures such as the mountain gate, bell and drum towers, Zhuge Tower, and side rooms have been lost. The four remaining buildings are distributed along a single north-south axis.
The Jinhé Temple Hanging Nunnery Pagoda Complex dates back to the Yuan and Ming dynasties. Located in the Jīnhékǒu Valley of the Xiao Wutai Mountains in Yu County, Hebei Province, it currently preserves six memorial stupas of successive abbots, all built with a brick-imitating-wood structure. The architectural style, form, and characteristics are typical of Liao Dynasty architecture. Among them, Stupa No. 4 is the memorial stupa of Zizhong Zhenggong, the 24th lineage holder of the Linji School of Buddhism. Locally...
There are two sky grasslands in Hebei Province. One is the South Sky Grassland in Laiyuan County, and the other is the North Sky Grassland in Weixian County. The North Sky Grassland is located 13 kilometers south of Weixian County town and about 35 kilometers northwest of Laiyuan County town. It lies in the Hengshan Mountain Range at the junction of Laiyuan and Weixian counties, as well as the border area between Shanxi and Hebei provinces. There is a massive...
The Yu Zhou Office is now located in the southwest corner of the ancient city of Yu County, Hebei Province. It was built around the seventh year of the Hongwu reign during the Ming Dynasty (1374 AD) and served as the administrative seat of Yu Zhou during both the Ming and Qing dynasties. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, it was repurposed as the county government and subsequently suffered damage. In 2009, the county government invested hundreds of millions to rebuild it. Although the reconstructed building does not fully resemble the original, it largely follows the original architectural style. The "Yu Zhou Zhi (Annals of Yu Zhou), Shunzhi 16th Year (1659 AD)," Volume 1, features a map of the county town indicating the location of the Yu Zhou Office in the southwest corner. The administrative office layout map further details the internal structure of the Yu Zhou Office.