Zhijin Ancient Architectural Complex

　　Zhijin Ancient City features beautiful scenery with clear mountains and rivers, numerous crisscrossing streams, and a diverse array of well-preserved historical sites. These include Buddhist temples, Taoist shrines, Confucian temples, academies, guildhalls, ancestral halls, government offices, pagodas, springs and wells, bridges and ferries, ancient roads, residential houses, shops, workshops, and more, distributed across small marble hills and along the Guancheng River that flows through the city.

　　Most of the ancient buildings in Zhijin were constructed as stilted buildings leaning against cliffs or caves, or situated near water and springs. Most were built after the "return of native chieftainships to the central government" (改土归流), with over ten structures—including the Martial Temple, Confucian Temple, Doumu Pavilion, Longxing Temple, Dongshan Temple, God of Wealth Temple, City God Temple, Horse King Temple, Black God Temple, Yan Emperor Temple, and Ksitigarbha Temple—constructed between the fifth (1666) and tenth (1671) years of the Kangxi reign alone. Subsequent constructions led to the current ensemble known as the "Four Nunneries," "Four Pavilions," "Four Ancestral Halls," and "Eight Great Temples."

　　The Huaxiang Bridge is located in the middle section of the Guancheng River in Chengguan Town. Originally named "Shexiang Bridge," it was first built in the 21st year of the Hongwu reign (1388) and renovated in the 18th year of the Shunzhi reign (1661). Running east-west, it spans the Guancheng River. This three-arch stone bridge is about 18 meters long, 4.7 meters wide, with a main arch span of approximately 15.7 meters and a height of around 10 meters.

　　The Dongshan Temple is located at the eastern end of Gongye Road in Chengguan Town. Built in the eighth year of the Kangxi reign (1669) and renovated in the fifth year of the Guangxu reign (1879), it faces west and was built along the mountain's contour. It consists of the Mountain Gate, Front Hall, Main Hall, Bell and Drum Towers, and Guanyin Pavilion, covering an area of about 15,000 square meters with a construction area of about 2,000 square meters. The surviving structures include the Mountain Gate, Front Hall, Main Hall, and Bell and Drum Towers. The Front Hall, oriented east-west, is five bays wide (21.5 meters) and three bays deep (8.7 meters), featuring a post-and-lintel wooden structure with a suspended hip-and-gable roof and blue tiles. It has a 2.1-meter-deep front porch with diagonal backrest railings. The Main Hall, also called the Fandi Palace, is five bays wide (16.7 meters) and three bays deep (7.8 meters), also with a post-and-lintel wooden structure, suspended hip-and-gable roof, and blue tiles. To its left is the Bell Tower and to its right is the Drum Tower.

　　The Huilong Nunnery is located on the southern side of the eastern section of Qingquan Road in Chengguan Town. Built in the eighth year of the Kangxi reign (1669) and expanded/renovated in the 13th year of the Guangxu reign (1887), it faces south and consists of the Front Hall, Rear Hall, Right Meditation Room, Left Mountain Gate, and Deyue Tower. Covering an area of about 360 square meters with a construction area of about 240 square meters, the Rear Hall is three bays wide (10.84 meters) and four bays deep (8.51 meters), with surrounding porches and a mixed raised-beam and post-and-lintel suspended hip-and-gable roof with blue tiles. Inside is a Sumeru pedestal shrine. The Front Hall is three bays wide (10.8 meters) and four bays deep (8.5 meters), also with surrounding porches and a mixed suspended hip-and-gable roof with blue tiles. The Deyue Tower is three bays wide (8.36 meters) and five bays deep (6.24 meters), with surrounding porches about 1 meter deep and a double-eave hip-and-gable roof with post-and-lintel construction.

　　The Yan Emperor Temple is located on the northeastern side of the middle section of Chengnan Road in Chengguan Town. Built in the 10th year of the Kangxi reign (1671), it faces south and consists of the Main Hall and Theater Stage. The Main Hall is five bays wide (about 19 meters) and 19.5 meters deep, with a post-and-lintel wooden structure, suspended hip-and-gable roof, and blue tiles, plus 1.9-meter-deep double-step porches in front and back. The Theater Stage is two stories, nine bays wide (9.12 meters) and 7.12 meters deep, with a double-eave hip-and-gable roof and post-and-lintel construction.

　　The Taiping Bridge is located on the western side of the middle section of Yanhe Road in Chengguan Town. Built during the Kangxi era, it runs east-west, crossing the Guancheng River. This two-arch stone bridge is about 28 meters long, 13 meters wide, with the western main arch spanning about 23 meters and a smaller eastern flood relief arch atop a ramp, with an arch height of about 8 meters. Marble relief balusters and railings were added in 1976.

　　The Risheng Bridge is located on the western side of the middle section of Yanhe Road in Chengguan Town. Built in the 54th year of the Kangxi reign (1715), it shares the symbolic meaning of "sun and moon ascending" (日月升华) with the downstream Yuehua Bridge downstream, hence the name "Risheng" (Sunrise). Completed in the 13th year of the Qianlong reign (1748), it connects the eastern and western ends of the bridge and is the foremost of the five bridges over the Guancheng River, referred to as the "Upper Water Pass." Renovated in the 13th year of the Guangxu reign (1887), it is a single-arch stone bridge running east-west across the river. About 20 meters long, 5 meters wide, with a span of about 14 meters and an arch height of about 5 meters.

　　The Tongsheng Bridge is located on the middle section of Yanhe Road in Chengguan Town. Also called "Yongan Bridge" due to its location near the northeastern river mouth by Yong’an Gate in the north of Chengguan Town. Legend says insufficient allocated funds led local scholars (童生) to donate money for its construction, hence the name. Commonly known as "Lower Water Pass," it was built in the 13th year of the Qianlong reign (1748) and completed the next year (1749). Renamed "Chongxing Bridge" after expansion in 1962. A single-arch stone bridge running east-west, about 25 meters long, 7 meters wide, with a span of about 19 meters and an arch height of about 12 meters.

　　The Doumu Pavilion is located on the southern side of the middle section of Yanhe Road in Chengguan Town. Built in the sixth year of the Kangxi reign (1667) and renovated in the 18th year of the Qianlong reign (1753), it faces west and originally comprised the Pavilion, side pavilions, Main Hall, Zhuge Temple, and side halls, covering about 300 square meters. Now only the three-story, triple-eave hexagonal pyramidal-roofed structure with blue tubular tiles remains. The first floor is rectangular (11.75m x 8.15m), the second square-ish (9.5m x 6.3m), and the third hexagonal. Its brackets, latticed windows, and wind vents feature exquisite wood carvings.

　　The Xiaojie Dragon King Temple is located at Sifangjing in the southern Xiaojie area of Chengguan Town. Built in the early Qing period, it faces east and consists of the Mountain Gate, Main Hall, and Guanyin Pavilion, covering about 300 square meters with a construction area of about 260 square meters. The Main Hall is three bays wide (9.8m) and three bays deep (8m), with a mixed raised-beam and post-and-lintel suspended hip-and-gable roof and blue tiles, plus 1.82m and 1m deep front and rear double-step porches. It has latticed windows. The Guanyin Pavilion is three bays wide (7.78m) and three bays deep (6.2m), with a double-eave hip-and-gable roof and latticed windows.

　　The Zhongji Bridge is located east of Sanjia Village in Sanjia Bai-Miao Township. Built in the first year of the Yongzheng reign (1723), it runs north-south, crossing the Nagong River. A single-arch stone bridge, about 4m long, 2.5m wide, with a span of about 4m and an arch height of 2.5m.

　　The God of Wealth Temple is located on the eastern side of the southern section of Chengbei Road in Chengguan Town. Built in the early Qing period and renovated in the 48th year of the Qianlong reign (1783), it faces south and consists of the Mountain Gate, side halls, and Main Hall, covering about 630 square meters with a construction area of about 400 square meters. The Main Hall is five bays wide (20.8m) and three bays deep (15.5m), 13.96m tall, with a four-story, quadruple-eave hip-and-gable roof and blue tiles. It has porches on the east, south, and west sides and latticed windows.

　　The Nanmen Pagoda is located 3 kilometers south of Chengguan Town. Built during the Qianlong reign, partially destroyed in 1966, and restored in 1997. A conical white marble pagoda with a base diameter of about 6m and a total height of about 14m.

　　The Nan Pagoda is located at the eastern end of Gongye Road in Chengguan Town. Built in the 38th year of the Qianlong reign (1773), it is the "Stupa of Chan Master Cun Shang Hui Can He Xing, the 37th Patriarch of the Linji School," erected by his disciples Xing Zong, Xing Ci, Xing Zhong, and their successors Hai Cheng, Hai Tang, Hai Xing, and great-grandson Ji. The first tier bears a poem by Shi Jing, He Xing’s dharma brother: “Repeated practice needs no distant quest; within resides a monk. The Amitabha Pagoda spans three thousand realms, forever flowing in the East.”

　　The Bei Pagoda is also at the eastern end of Gongye Road in Chengguan Town. Built in the second year of the Jiaqing reign (1797), it is the "Spirit Stupa of Chan Master Cun Zhong Xi Ci, the 38th Patriarch of the Linji School," built by his junior Cun Zhong, disciple Fa Yu, and successors. The base is hexagonal, three-tiered and narrowing upward, with 0.61m-long base edges. The first tier is square, the second hexagonal and bulging, the third and fourth bulging with six-sided eaves. The finial is a hexagonal spire with a gourd top.

　　The Baiyi Nunnery is located east of Baiyu Alley in Chengguan Town. Built in the 60th year of the Qianlong reign (1795) and renovated in the seventh year of the Jiaqing reign (1802), it faces west and has a mixed raised-beam and post-and-lintel flush-gable roof with fire walls. The surviving Front Hall and Main Hall are both three bays wide (10.89m) and four bays deep (7.42m), with latticed windows and a square courtyard.

　　The Xingsheng Bridge is located at Xiaodongmen in Chengguan Town, also called "Banbian Bridge." Built in the 15th year of the Jiaqing reign (1810), it runs northeast-southwest, crossing the Liangjiang River. A two-arch stone bridge connecting riverbanks, about 7m long, 2.5m wide, with spans of 2m and 1m. Northwest side features stone dragon railings about 1m tall. A four-sided stele on the northwest riverbed bears the engraved characters "Namo Amitabha" (六字) on its north and south faces, each 0.12m square. The east face records bridge construction; the west lists donors.

　　The "Qiyi Xielao" Archway is located south of Chengguan Town. Built in the sixth year of the Daoguang reign (1826) to honor the centenarian couple Xiong Yongzuo and his wife for reaching 100 years together, having five generations under one roof. North-south oriented, four-pillared, three-bayed, three-story, white marble structure, about 10m tall and 13m wide. South face reads "Qiyi Xielao"; north face "Baishou Tongdeng." Contains couplets, including: “A century of harmony; five generations at your knee,” and “Celebrating a hundred years, blessed by imperial honor.” Carved motifs include "Immortal riding a crane," "Queen Mother on a phoenix," and others. Destroyed in 1966.

　　The Longxing Temple is located on the western side of the southern section of Chengfang Road in Chengguan Town. Built in the sixth year of the Kangxi reign (1667) and renovated in the 18th year of the Daoguang reign (1838), it faces south and originally had a Front Hall, side halls, and Rear Hall. Now only the Rear Hall survives, three bays wide (13.1m) and two bays deep (9m), with a mixed raised-beam and post-and-lintel hip-and-gable roof and blue tiles. It has a 1.9m-deep front porch with fine bracket carvings.

　　The Zizhu Nunnery is located on the eastern side of Zizhu Road on Tiger Hill in Chengguan Town. Built in the 46th year of the Kangxi reign (1707) and renovated in the 19th year of the Daoguang reign (1839), it faces north and is three bays wide (11.6m) and two bays deep (7.2m), with a double-eave hip-and-gable roof and post-and-lintel structure. The platform is about 1m high, with latticed windows and upturned eaves.

　　The Guan Di Temple is located on the northern side of the southern section of Chengnan Road in Chengguan Town. Built in the early Qing period and originally beside the prefectural office (now the county government), it was moved outside South Gate in the fourth year of the Kangxi reign (1665) by Prefect Liu Yong. Renovated in the 28th year of the Kangxi reign (1689), the 58th year of the Qianlong reign (1793), and the 21st year of the Daoguang reign (1841). Faces west and consists of the Front Hall, Moon Terrace, Rear Hall, and side rooms, covering about 980 square meters with a construction area of about 650 square meters. The Front Hall is five bays wide (21.15m) and six bays deep (11.61m), with a suspended gable roof and blue tiles, plus 1.98m-deep porches. The Moon Terrace is 13.85m long, 6.92m wide, and 0.65m high, with a central square stone mosaic and marble borders. Stone lions flank the terrace.

　　The Bao’an Temple is located north of Sanjia Village in Sanjia Bai-Miao Township. Built in the 24th year of the Daoguang reign (1844), it leans against a rocky peak and includes the Main Hall, Guanyin Pavilion, Earth Mother Temple, and meditation rooms. The Main Hall is three bays wide (12.2m) and three bays deep (8.2m), with a double-eave suspended hip-and-gable roof and post-and-lintel structure, plus 1.3m-wide porches. The Guanyin Pavilion is built into a natural cave, three-tiered with a hexagonal pyramidal roof. The Earth Mother Temple is three bays wide (17.3m) and three bays deep (7.3m), with a suspended gable roof.

　　The Shoufo Temple, also called "San Chu Palace," is located on the eastern side of the middle section of Zhiqian Road in Chengguan Town. Moved to its current site from the south in the 56th year of the Qianlong reign (1791) and renovated from the 21st to 25th years of the Daoguang reign (1841–1845). Faces east and consists of the Main Hall, Theater Stage, side rooms, and memorial archway, covering about 900 square meters with a construction area of about 610 square meters. The Main Hall is five bays wide (21.28m) and six bays deep (16.2m), with a flush-gable roof and blue tiles, plus 1.84m-deep double-step porches. A stele recording the renovation is embedded in the gable wall.

　　The Yuhuang Pavilion is located on the northern side of the middle section of Yuping Road in Chengguan Town. Built in the 29th year of the Kangxi reign (1690) and renovated in the Jiaqing and Daoguang reigns. Faces west and originally included the Front Hall, Rear Hall, and meditation rooms. The surviving Rear Hall is two-story, five bays wide at the ground level (17.49m) and three bays deep (10.2m), with a suspended hip-and-gable roof and blue tiles. The front eaves have brick arches.

　　The Huilong Bridge is located in Chengguan Town. Built in the mid-Qing period, it runs east-west, crossing the Guancheng River. A two-arch stone bridge, 20m long and 4.4m wide, with a small eastern flood relief arch. Repaired in 1974, replacing slab railings with balusters.

　　The Dragon King Temple is located on the south side of Longtan in Qingquan Road, Chengguan Town. It was initially built in the mid-Qing Dynasty, faces north, and consists of the main hall, two side wings, and the mountain gate. Covering an area of about 800 square meters, with a built-up area of approximately 300 square meters, the surviving main hall has five bays in both width and depth, measuring about 19.1 meters in total width and over 11 meters in depth. It features a mixed raised-beam and through-tenon structure with a suspended gable roof and blue tiles. The front and rear corridors are 3.5 meters and 2.9 meters deep, respectively. It has lattice windows and doors.

　　The General Yangsi Temple is situated by Shuangyantang in Chengguan Town. Built in the mid-Qing Dynasty, it faces east and is constructed with a through-tenon wooden structure and a suspended gable roof. It has three bays in width, measuring about 10 meters in total width, and three bays in depth, spanning approximately 5 meters. It features lattice windows and doors.

　　The Confucius Temple is located on the south side of the middle section of Wenhua Road, Chengguan Town. Initially constructed in the 5th year of the Kangxi reign (1666), it has undergone multiple reconstructions and renovations, with a major rebuild during the Tongzhi era. The temple faces south and spans 169 meters from north to south and 47.5 meters from east to west, covering a total area of 8,027.5 square meters with a built-up area of 2,586 square meters. It includes structures such as the memorial archway, Lingxing Gate, Dacheng Gate, Tianzi Platform, Dacheng Hall, and Chongsheng Shrine. The surviving structures include the Lingxing Gate and Dacheng Hall. The Lingxing Gate is a four-pillar, three-bay, three-story gate, with the central plaque inscribed with “Lingxing Gate” (in relief), flanked by “Golden Sound” (left) and “Jade Resonance” (right). The gate stands 5.41 meters high and 22.5 meters wide. The Dacheng Hall has five bays in width, measuring 18.25 meters in total width and 9.16 meters in depth, featuring a flush gable roof with blue tiles. The beam lintels are carved with reliefs of the Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea and dragon-phoenix motifs. The hall displays four plaques inscribed with “Model Teacher for All Ages,” “Sustainer of the People,” “A Match for Heaven and Earth,” and “Sage of Supreme Accomplishment.” The Confucius Stele is made of white cotton stone, square at the top, standing 3.25 meters tall, 1.08 meters wide, and 0.25 meters thick. Its top is inscribed with “Praise for the Supreme Sage and Teacher Confucius” in seven characters, carved during the Tongzhi period. The Four Worthies Praise Steles (Yan, Zeng, Si, and Meng) are also made of white cotton stone, all square at the top, with each stele featuring a regular script inscription in relief praising Yanzi, Zengzi, Sizi, and Mengzi respectively, all carved during the Tongzhi era.

　　In 2006, the Zhijin Ancient Architectural Complex was included in the sixth group of Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level by the State Council as a set of ancient buildings dating from the Yuan to the Qing Dynasties.