Highlights The "King Lanling in Battle" piece is a musical composition that celebrates the valor and military prowess of Gao Changgong. It is solemn, majestic, ancient, and melodious. At the time, Luoyang, an important stronghold of the Northern Qi Dynasty, was besieged by a 100,000-strong army from the Northern Zhou. The emperor of the Northern Qi urgently dispatched troops from all regions to relieve the siege. Gao Su personally led five hundred elite cavalry, broke through the encirclement of the Zhou forces, and advanced straight to the city walls, where he joined forces with the defenders inside to launch a combined attack…
Tianzi Mound is located in Ci County, about 65 kilometers southwest of Handan. It is the tomb of Emperor Xiaojing of Eastern Wei, Yuan Shanjian. Historical records describe Emperor Xiaojing as both literary and martially talented, with noble character. He was later poisoned to death during court intrigue at the age of only 28. His tomb is an earthen mound, topped with the Jade Emperor Hall, as well as the Goddess Temple and Guanyin Temple. Steps at the front and back lead up to the top...
The Zhanghe Three Gorges are located in Baitu Town in the southwestern part of Cixian County, about 40 kilometers from the county seat. The scenic area stretches 20 kilometers along the river, featuring beautiful natural landscapes and unique attractions such as the Bottomless Cave, Divine Ox Peak, Northern Dynasties Buddhist Caves, the Arrow Hole where Wang Mang shot at Liu Xiu, the man-made “Heavenly River” Yuefeng Canal, the Wujiahe Hydropower Station, the rare plant Chinese alpine rush, a spectacular northern cave cluster...
Sleeping Beauty Mountain is located in the western part of Zhongchakou Village, 50 kilometers west of the county town. The mountain consists of multiple peaks, and when viewed from afar, it resembles a sleeping goddess — hence it is praised as the “Goddess’s Spring Dream.” When the sun sets behind the mountains, the crimson orb disappears but the afterglow remains. Looking west against the light, the mountain looks just like a beautiful maiden lying on her back, draped in a veil, lost in a sweet slumber. That’s why it’s called…
The Drum Tower, located in the center of the county town, gets its name from the grand main tower flanked by a bell tower and a drum tower on either side. Hence the name Drum Tower, it is also known as the “No. 1 Tower Under Heaven” and the “No. 1 Tower in Southern Ji.” Built in the 12th year of the Hongzhi reign during the Ming Dynasty (1499 AD), the tower base is rectangular, 8 meters high, and covers an area of 1,380 square meters. There is a north-south arched passageway in the middle...
Yiquan Lake Resort is located 3 kilometers west of the county town, at the source of the Fuyang River and by the Dongwushi Reservoir. The resort's architectural complex is gracefully arranged amidst dense forest vegetation, nestled against hills and beside the water, offering picturesque scenery. The shimmering lake and surrounding beauty complement each other, with small boats dotting the water, creating a refreshing and delightful atmosphere. There are currently 30 distinctive villas, one comprehensive hotel, and special themed gardens...
The tomb of Lian Po, a renowned statesman of the Warring States period, is located in Qiang Village, Nancheng Township, about 15 kilometers northwest of the county seat. During the era of the Seven Warring States, Lian Po of the State of Zhao earned great merit for the nation by “returning the Jade intact to Zhao,” earning him the title of Senior Minister, ranking above the famous general Lian Po. Lian Po was dissatisfied and always tried to embarrass him when they met. Lian Po, always putting the greater good first, …
Lufeng Mountain is located west of Beiwangzhuang Village, Taoquan Township, Cixian County, Handan City, and is one of the higher peaks in the southern part of the Taihang Mountains. It has an elevation of 1,087.7 meters. The mountain features extremely rich forest vegetation and boasts a landscape that combines grandeur, steepness, wonder, and beauty. The scenery is picturesque, pleasant, and tranquil. The 28 Zigzags on the way up from the mountain base to the halfway point...
The North Dynasties Tombs Cluster along the Zhang River near Jiangwucheng in the southwestern part of Ci County features over 130 earthen mounds of varying sizes. This is an ancient tomb complex. For a long time, these mounds were believed to be the seventy-two decoy tombs of Cao Cao. This doesn't seem entirely baseless. Historically speaking, Ye City, the capital of the Six Dynasties located in Linzhang, was adjacent to Ci County and only 15 kilometers from the county seat. After defeating Yuan Shao, Cao Cao made Ye his capital, where he built the Bronze Sparrow Terrace and trained military officers in Jiangwucheng, also in Ci County. Cao Cao was indeed buried in this area near Ci County, not far from Ye City. From a societal perspective, after the Song Dynasty, Cao Cao gradually came to be seen as a treacherous figure in people's minds. Especially after the Yuan Dynasty, the trend of vilifying Cao Cao intensified. In the late Yuan Dynasty, Luo Guanzhong’s *Romance of the Three Kingdoms* portrayed Cao Cao as a cunning and deceitful character. In Chapter 78, it even describes Cao Cao on his deathbed giving the order to “set up seventy-two decoy tombs outside Jiangwucheng in Zhangde Prefecture, so that no one will know where I am buried, for fear my tomb might be excavated.” Since the Song Dynasty, many poems have been written about the decoy tombs, such as: “More than seventy decoy tombs remain, believed to ensure everlasting safety” (Jing Tang); “Why need a forest of tombs for a single coffin? Who else would bear such a burden as you?” (Fan Chengda); “In life, he deceived the people and severed the Han lineage; in death, he deceived them with decoy tombs” (Yu Yingfu). These were all the result of hearsay and misinformation, without any on-site investigation.
Cizhou Kiln Ruins The Cizhou Kiln was one of the famous northern folk porcelain kilns in the Song Dynasty. It is a national key cultural relics protection unit. There are two main sites: one is located around Guantai Town in Ci County, and the other extends from Pengcheng Town to Lingshui Town beneath Nanxiangtang Temple within the scenic area, covering an area of about ten square li. The Cizhou Kiln, originating from the ancient Cishan culture pottery...
The Site of Jiawu City is located in Jiawu Village on the north bank of the Zhang River, south of Cixian County. Before the Tang Dynasty, it was called Wucheng, and was renamed Jiawu City after the Song Dynasty. The site holds significant geographical importance and has been a strategic military location throughout history. During the Three Kingdoms period, after Cao Cao defeated Yuan Shao and occupied Ye City, he frequently operated in this area, using it as a base for training military officers…
The Xiàqīyuán Site
The Main Hall of the Chenghuang Temple is located on West Street in Cixian County. The temple was built in the fifth year of the Hongwu reign during the Ming Dynasty (1372), and the main hall is the only remaining structure from the original complex. The building faces south and covers a construction area of 470 square meters. It has five bays in width and three in depth, with a single-eave hip-and-gable roof covered in glazed tiles. The column layout features both shifted and omitted columns…
Period: Neolithic Age, Shang Dynasty, Han Dynasty The remains of Nancheng Village are located in the northwest of Nancheng Village, Nancheng Township, Ci County, Handan City, Hebei Province. To the north lies the ancient Jian River. The entire site is situated on the terrace south of the main channel of the ancient Jian River, serving as an important relic from the Neolithic Age through the Shang and Han Dynasties. It was discovered during a survey in the summer of 2002, re-examined in the autumn and winter of 2003,…
Tianqi Temple is located in Wuzhuang Village, Huaguan Ying Township, Cixian County, on the east side of the 6-kilometer southern extension of Handan’s Zhonghua Road. It is a municipal-level key cultural relics protection unit. The temple was originally built during the Tang Dynasty at the eastern part of the village. During the Yuan Dynasty, it was relocated to its current site due to changes in the course of the Zhang River. The temple has long been renowned throughout history, with expansions carried out in successive dynasties. Its most glorious period was during the Ming Dynasty, celebrated for features such as “three gates aligned in view and three halls standing side by side.” The mountain gate, bell tower, corridors, and main hall were scattered across the landscape, complemented by the shade of banyan trees, presenting a resplendent and spectacular sight. Later, due to various reasons, it was leveled to the ground, leaving only ruins behind.
Originally named Zhaofu Temple, Fenghuang Temple is located southwest of Shichang Village, Dutang Township, Cixian County, Hebei Province, and was a renowned temple in northern China’s history. Built at the foot of Phoenix Mountain, it is commonly known as Fenghuang Temple by locals. According to existing historical records, the temple was first constructed during the Northern and Southern Dynasties period. In the past, Fenghuang Temple was under the jurisdiction of Zhangde Prefecture in Henan Province and was listed as a subordinate monastery of Shaolin Temple...
Cizhou Tayuan Temple, also known as "White Pagoda Temple," is located in Baita Village, ten kilometers northeast of Cixian County, Hebei Province. It borders Shandong to the east and Henan to the south, enjoying excellent feng shui and surrounded by unique scenery. Historical records indicate that Tayuan Temple was first built during the Eastern Han Dynasty, making it one of the earliest, largest, and most magnificent ancient temples on the plains of China. In the 11th year of the Yongping era of the Eastern Han...
Yiquan Lake in Cixian County, also known as Dongwushi Reservoir Scenic Area, is located in Dongwushi Village, about 7 kilometers west of Cixian County and 30 kilometers southwest of Handan City, Hebei Province. It is a large-scale water conservancy hub project primarily designed for flood control and urban industrial water supply, while also serving functions such as irrigation, power generation, aquaculture, and tourism. The reservoir has a maximum water surface area of twenty thousand...
Yuecheng Reservoir is located at the border between Cixian County in Handan City, Hebei Province, and Anyang County in Henan Province, west of Yuecheng Village, Yuecheng Town, Cixian County. It is a control project on the Zhang River of the Zhang-Wei River system within the Haihe River Basin. The reservoir controls a catchment area of 18,100 km², accounting for 99.4% of the Zhang River basin area, with a total storage capacity of 1.3 billion m³. The reservoir construction began in 1959...
Lavender Manor at Purple Sea Garden is located on the east side of Yiquan Lake Scenic Area in Guanglu Town, Ci County, Handan City, covering an area of 200 acres. It lies to the west of Yiquan Lake Resort and to the east of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project landscape belt. The manor is agriculture-based, characterized by leisure experiences, driven by cultural creativity, and focused on meeting the needs of urban residents. Lavender Manor...