Yuncheng Tourism
Yuncheng in Shanxi Province is the birthplace of Chinese Nation.Endowed with the soul of Chinese Nation, the fertile land nears the Yellow River, as well as the resources in Salt Lake, and it used to the hometown to emperors, the birthplace of China, and the root of Chinese people.Since the ancient time, it was the place where the men of letters and the gifted talents were born.Nowadays, the city boasts a prosperous busine and the people live a happy life.
Yuncheng boasts a profound history and magnificent landscape.The historical site and relics, the national sceneries are dotted on the area like the stars in the sky or the dots on the cheboard, forming its extreme abundant tourism resources.
There are majestic natural landscapes.Taking the Salt Lake, Hukou Waterfalls of Yellow River as the representative, and the renowned ancient ruin and structures, such as Guandi Temple, Yongle Palace and Pujiu Monastery etc., which boast great value in the terms of appreciation, sight viewing and art.The Salt Lake
The winding Yellow River has nurtured the civilization of China while the Salt Lake in Yuncheng nurtures the Salt culture of China.Located in the basin in the south of Shanxi Province, the Salt Lake was formed in fourth age of Cenozoic.As the land rose into the mountain and a large number of minerals which are mainly composed by salt were left behind.
After a long period in deposition, a natural salt lake came into being.The salt lake in Yuncheng enjoys the same popularity with the Dead Sea in Israel which was renowned in the world.Taking a bird‟s eye, the fields are cro linked in the lake and thousands of silver islets like a piece of jade dotted around the Zhongtiao Mountain.
The silver light reflected from the surface made the salt lake reputed as “silver lake”.The Yongle palace
Located to the east of Longquan Village about three kilometers to the north of Ruicheng county, Yongle Palace was originally set up on the historical site of the capital of Wei Kingdom in Western Zhou dynasty.As an ancient building which boasts some influences towards home and abroad, it is word renowned for its mural painting.
The murals in conservation share same popularity with those in Mogao Cave in Dunhuang.
Yongle Palace was formerly a Taoist temple, set up for worshipping Lv Dongbin, one of eight immortals in Taoism with the original name of “Dachunyang Longevity Palace”.It was later renamed to Yongle palace for its location in Yongle Village of Ruicheng town.
Firstly started in the second year of Dingzong‟s period in Yuan dynasty, the overall construction lasts more than 110 years, including the construction of the mural paintings until the 18th in Zhizheng‟s period of Yuan dynasty.
In the palace, the temples and halls which are scattered around in a low density are grand and majestic.
Except for the gate, four splendid halls made in Yuan dynasty are lined along the middle axis, namely, Dragon and Tiger hall, Sanqing Hall, Chunyang Hall, and Chongyang Hall.
These buildings of Yuan dynasty are excellent heritages in the ancient architecture of China.They are unique in the plain layout for that there are no wing halls on the east and west.
In term of the architecture structure, it adopted the methods used in Song, Liao and Jin dynasties and formed its own style.As the main body of the Yongle Palace, Sanqing Hall or Wuji Hall boasts a large scale.
In the term of art of architecture, colorful paintings, as well as the decoration of the statues, the hall is regarded as a refining art ware.The walls inside the hall were hung with the giant murals which are reputed as the elaborate art ware in mural paintings.It is names Chaoyuan Picure, which depicts the scene when all the divinities went to pay the God.
The art in paintings plays a vital role in the history of the development of art in folk.
In 1963, when the duplicates of the murals paintings were on road to Japan, these paintings cause a sensation.Chunyang Hall was also named as Huntian Hall or Lvzu Hall.And it was made especially for worshipping Lv Dongbin, who was named Chunyangzi.The height of this hall is similar that of the Sanqing.However, its scales is only second to it.The ceiling of the hall is of single cave, the sculptures of curved dragons are placed on the both side of the Kelly gra.
The last hall on the middle axis is named “ Chongyang Hall” or “Ximing Hall”.The hall houses the statues of Wang Chongyang, the founder of Quanzhen sect of Taosim as well as his seven disciples, hence was named “Quanzhen Hall”.
Yongle palace is one of the birthplaces of Taosim and it has been under construction for over 100 years.The majestic scale and the careful arrangement make it very precious art heritage in Taosim.In special, the grand and exquisite murals make people amazed.
According to the claics, steles and tablets in the hall, Yongle Palace was said to be the birthplace of Lv Dongbin.After his death, locals rebuilt his residence into “Lv‟s ancestral house”.At the end of Jin dynasty, the story of Lv Dongbin became much-told and more and more people came to worship so that the ancestral house was enlarged into a Taosit temple.However it was burnt down in the third year of Taizong‟s reign of Mongolia.Preserved Yongle Palace was established in Yuan dynasty when Qiu Chuji, the leader of Quanzhen Taoism, was appraised by the emperor.The emperor ordered to upgrade the temple into palace and appointed Pan Decheng to preside the construction.
After 15 years, the main body of the palace was finished in the third year in Zhongtong‟s reign and the murals were finished in the 18th year in Zhizheng‟s period.
The construction lasted for over 110 years which is even the period of Yuan dynasty.Although there are some renovations in Ming and Qing dynasties, its original landscape has never changed.After the liberation, for the reason that Yongle Palace was located in planned drought area in Irrigation Project of Sanmen Gorge, on the decision of the state council, Premier Zhou Enlai agreed to set aside over two million Yuan to remove the palace.
The project lasted for seven years and eventually all the structures and murals were move here as a compact, which enables this historical site preserved nowadays.Guandi Temple Guandi Temple in Heizhou is 20 kilometers to the southwest to the city proper of Yuncheng.
Firstly established on the beginning of Sui dynasty, the temple has come through many times of renovations and projects for enlargement with a total coverage of about 18,576 square meters, it is the biggest temple among all the Guandi Temples around the country, reputed as the crown for the temple, for enshrining and worshipping Guan Yu.
The temple in Heizhou Town is in a style of a palace, surrounded by cyan bricks and red walls.The gatehouses are majestic with carved beams and painted rafters, rows upon rows of halls and mansions feature unturned eaves and Dougong brackets.
Guandi Temple of Heizhou was firstly built in the ninth year in Kaihuang‟s reign in Sui dynasty, and was rebuilt in the seventh year in Xiangfu‟s period in Song dynasty.After that, it has been destroyed and rebuilt for several times.
The architecture in preservation now is the result of a ten-year-project started from the 41st year in Kangxi‟s reign in Qing Dynasty, after it‟s burning down by the fire.By the street lined from the east and the west, it was divided into the south and north part, taking an area of over 66,600 square meters.The south part of the street is named Jieyi Garden, which is comprised by Jiayi Archway, Junzi Archway or Gentlemen‟s Archway, Sanyi Mansion, Lotus Flower Pond, and the artificial rockery etc, structures.The garden features a luxurious peaches forest imitating the scene when three heroes became blood brother in the peach garden in the claic story of the Romance of Three Kingdom.It was said that this stony meteorite is the incarnation of Guan Yu.He was ever the powerful support to the authorities of Shu and Han Kingdom.Although he was dead in Dangyang, his soul has tuned into the spirit stone and kept on bleing the authorities.
Countle ancient tablets and steles as well as the cyprees tre are gorgeous and imposing.The complex of the temple is comprised by two parts, namely Jieyi Garden and the main temple.The main temple is also comprised by the yard in the front and the palace in behind.
From the Duan Gatehouses, the Zhi Gatehouse, Front Gate, Imperial Library, Chongning Hall, Chunqiu Mansion or Spring and Autumn Mansion etc structures are lined in order.On the both sides, the stone archway, wooden archway, Bell House, Drum House，Knife House, Seal House, the eastern and western Lodge are symmetrically and strictly arranged.
There are many Guandi Temples in China.However, this one is the largest.As Guanyu was born in Changping village of Heizhou Town, the temple was hence named as the ancestral Temple for Guandi.It echoes with the Confucius Temple in Qufu which is the hometown of Confucius in Shangdong Province, forming the originations for the worship to the saints in culture and military.
Wu Gate is a five-entry gatehouse with single eave and stone corridor with sculptures.Two sides on the stone neat railings are carved out with all kinds of aspersion patterns and about 114 interesting figures.
In the south of the house, are the pictures for Zhou Cang and Liao Hua, who are the famous generals in the period of Three kingdoms.Croing the gatehouse and a wooden archway, we arrive to the Imperial Library.With a former name of „Bagua Mansion‟ or “Eight Diagrams Manson”, and it was renamed for the memory of the stele inscribed by Emperor Kangxi in the 27th year of Qianlong‟s period in Qing dynasty.
The Mansion is not tall but is refining.The tablet pavilion and the Bell Pavilion are facing with each other in the east and the west to the north of the Imperial Library.In the Tablet Pavilion with double eaves and spire is a jade tablet in the 12th year in Yongzheng‟s reign in Qing dynasty.Guanque tower
Along the mountain sink the last rays of sun, Towards the sea the Yellow River does forward go.If you would fain command a thousand miles in view, To a higher story you are expected to go.
The much told verse of “ on the stork tower” by Wang Zhihuan in Tang dynasty depicts a scene.When the poet took a bird‟s eye on Guanque Tower or Stork Tower situated in Yongji county of Shanxi Province.It was named in the ancient for there were ever storks taking rest on the tower.
In Northern Song dynasty, a great general named Yu Wen ordered to set up a tower to safeguard the land outside the Yellow River.For its imposing body, unique framework and majestic vigor, men of letters in succeive dynasties would like to ascend the towers, recite poems and expre their emotions, which is so encouraging for the Chinese nation is widely known.Although it is only 20 characters, it represents the splendid vigor for the landscape in the north of China, integrating the philosophic ideas harmoniously in the scenery becoming a claical verse.The poem was made for the tower while the toer got famous for this poem.While Tengwang Tower got famous for Wangbo, Yueyang Tower by Fan Zhongyan, Huanghe Tower by Cui Hao and Li Bai, the Guanque Tower or Stork Tower is renowned by Wang Zhihuan.The Yellow River area is one if the earliest birth places of civilization of mankind.The ancestors of Chinese nation have created a glory history.
On the second floor of Guanque Tower, 12 compartments depict the story and tales of locals by means o fpictures, paintings, waxworks, and scenes, si that we could see with our eyes the profound history of the culture and history in the east of Yellow River.Si-ma Guang is a prominent talent who was already very clever in his childhood.The story that he had ever broken a big jar for saving a drowning boy, was made into picture in the ancient and was widly spread in the capital and Luoyang.Si-ma Guang was a person with moral uprightne and made significant achievements in the study of history.His “Zhizhi tong jian” or “comprehensive mirror for aid in government ” was consider one of the earliest historical works in history.
The tales on Guanque, Concubine Yang, and the stories such as the Godde‟s making up the sky, Huang Ti‟s fight against Chi You are living harmoniously with thw ancient archeological art.The harmony between the tales and the buildings, the space and the tome, the history and the future, enriches the Stork Tower a traditional and profound culture background, which makes the tower an elegant historically renowned tower.
The third floor of the tower adopts advanced technologies such as the sound, light and electricity to reappear the procedures in making salt, casting iron, raising silkworm and brewing alcohol etc, by the means of waxworks and scenes, representing the profound Chinese civilization and the development in the technology of iron casting in mid Tang dynasty.The folk art performance, shadow play, scior-cut and new year picture represent the diligence and the wisdom of local people, as well as the rich folk art activities.Since its establishment, the Stork Tower as a historically famous tower has attracted countle men of letters, litterateurs, and celebrities as well as the tourists from around the country since Sui and Tang dynasties for its advanced position and majestic outline.Looking out from the window, you could enjoy the rolling could and peaks.The tourists bury themselves in the good scenery in front of the tower, the good surroundings outside and the town itself, and recall the figures and the tales in the past.
The Stork Tower is a myth, a story and a dream.The tower coming through many times in rise and fall, has witneed the great changes happened on the land of Puzhou, depicted the brilliant civilization in the east area of the Yellow river, represented the new hopes for the future.After enjoying the deposition of Chinese culture, the visitors ascending the Stork Tower let their imaginations fly.Hukou waterfall
Situated in Qinjin Valley in the middle reaches of Yellow River with the west of hukou Villey of Yichuan County of Shaanxi province, the east of Ji County of Shanxi province, the kettle Spout Fall or Hukou waterfall is the county‟s second biggest waterfall after Huangguoshu waterfall in Guizhou province.
The two banks of the waterfall is planked by verdant peaks.When the mightly Yellow River flows through mountains and gorges to Hukou, the billowy water streams with a width of over 300 meters narrow suddenly into only a bit over 50 meters, falling 30 meters into a deep riverbed liked a hers of galloping horses, transforming the quite river into a turbulent one.The riverbed here is like an enormous teapot absorbing all the rushing water, so the waterfall is named Hukou waterfalls.( kettle spout Falls)
Hukou waterfalls boast a magnificent vigor.The surroundings of the waterfall feature a unique scenery, hence it eas listed into scenic area under the protection of the state.
There are many wonders at Hukou waterfall, such as smoke from the river, boasts on land, rainbows in the sunshine, and so on.In Hukou the water falls to the deep pond from a relating high place, stirring the mist which rises high into the air like surging heavy smoke coming out of the river.You can see various shapes of rainbows formed by the rising mist, refracted by the sunshine from different angles.Sometimes rainbows are arched, cutting into the river from the sky like a dragon playing with water sometimes they are colored ribbons lying acro the river; some times they become colorful maes which change second by second.The thundering sound can be heard from quite a distance.The view of Hukou waterfalls changes according to the seasons.In spring the frozen ground thaws and the stalactites of snow fall into the pond like the mountains collapsing and the earth cracking up.In summer and autumn there is much rainfall.With the rains, the river rushes and the yellow waves seem to reach the sky.In winter Hukou waterfalls gives the visitors another new look.On the surface of the silvery ice waterfalls, cool water flows down.Litter silver icicles hang on the cliffs around the waterfalls.It presents you a distinctive natural landscape of the northern region of China.The width and the height of Hukou waterfall can not boast as large.However, the volume of its rushing currents is tremendous.In withered period of winter, its volume per second reaches 150 to 300 cubic meters.
The frozen river with little flowing streams gave people a sense of elegance.At the beginning of April, the volume per second dramatically increases to over 1,000 cubic meters, and even 8,000 for peaks as soon as the river unfreezes.At this time, the big water flow will rush down with the sound like the roaring of lions or tigers.In summer, the volume of currents increases to the range from 1,000 to 2,000 cubic meters.At this time, the water level in the lower reaches will sink so that the fall got bigger.Giant waterfall drops down with a stunning sound and the water sprays splashed out eject into the sky like arrow.In no time the sprayers turn into little beads which turn into a hazy white fog eventually.In raining seasons of fall, the water in the rivers flow here so that the river volume reaches to over 3,000 cubic meters.All the waterfalls connect into one.The roaring waves are rolling with a thundering sound.A poet named as Guang Werran got inspiration from the majestic scenery of Hukou waterfalls and he wrote an imposing verse, which goes that the wind is blowing, the horse is blaring and the Yellow River is roaring.The solemn Yellow River is the mother river for the descents of Yan-di and Huang-di, as well as the Epitome of Chinese Nation.The Hukou waterfall which is full of various postures and magnificent sceneries if the representative of Yellow River, as well as the high light of Chinese Nation, of all ages, countle men of letters, and literatures would like to praise the Yellow River by verse, which has represented he words in the heart of the Chinese people.
