Wenchang Palace

　　    Wenchang Palace is situated at the foot of Shanping Mountain in Xiapai Village, Hexi, approximately 4 kilometers from the county town. It was constructed in the early Yuan Dynasty (1179 AD) and gradually expanded over the years. By the Hongwu period of the Ming Dynasty (1368), the entire complex had been completed. The main hall is roofed with glass tiles that shimmer brilliantly under the sunlight, giving it an even more magnificent and solemn appearance. The west courtyard includes 16 single-story rooms, while the eastern building, the Kuisheng Hall, has 12 rooms on both upper and lower floors, housing a statue of Kuisheng. The north and south buildings also consist of 12 rooms on two levels, all topped with gray tiles. Apart from the main hall, which features statues of Wenchang and five attendants, the other figures are painted portraits. Inside the statue of Lord Wenchang, there is a sealed scripture volume personally sealed by the 10th Panchen Lama. On either side of the main hall are statues of the Horse King and a divine horse and mule (referred to as the "thousand-li steed"). The complex also includes a bell tower, drum tower, three ornamental archways, and a total of over 80 rooms. With its meticulous layout, exquisite structure, carved beams and painted rafters, staggered pavilions, rich elegance, and majestic presence, it has a history of over 800 years.