Life advice: Visit this royal temple before leaving Xi'an

After many visits to the Muslim Quarter, I finally made it to the West Wutai Yunju Temple hidden in the bustling city in early February. Passing through the bustling Sajinqiao, turning into a quiet alley, it's peaceful and beautiful. This West Wutai, built by Emperor Li Shimin to spare his mother the trouble of traveling to the South Wutai to worship Buddha, is a nunnery. Facing west, one ascends from the mountain gate, with each terrace higher than the last. Although the ravages of war have erased one terrace, the remaining four are still considered sacred pilgrimage sites by the people of Xi'an. In the past, when people in Xi'an city went to worship the mountains in the west, they would gather at West Wutai first; after the pilgrimage, they would return to West Wutai to offer incense, completing the ritual with sincerity believed to bring spiritual efficacy. 🌾🌾🌾🌾🌾🌾🌾🌾 When Sajinqiao leads to the alley and you see the tightly closed red doors, don't 🙅 rush back; turn right to see the temple's main entrance. Due to the remnants of the Tang Dynasty city walls, every step feels especially solemn and respectful. The area currently open is the 'front terrace,' with two high terrace relics: 'Lingying Terrace' & 'Wenshu Terrace,' open to the public all year round. 'Middle Terrace': 🈶 'Dizang Terrace,' open to the public on the first and fifteenth of each month. 'Rear Terrace': 🈶 'Guanyin Terrace,' not seen. The visiting order is: Mountain Gate➡️➡️Hall of Heavenly Kings➡️➡️Lingying Terrace➡️➡️Mahavira Hall✅✅Wenshu Terrace➡️➡️Dizang Terrace You can get incense at the front terrace and then kneel and worship all the way. Hall of Heavenly Kings: ▪️Lingying Terrace: The towering brick wall is embedded with inscriptions by Zhao Puchu. Below is a statue of Guanyin, holding a purifying bottle and sprinkling sweet dew. Ladders on both sides lead up. ▪️Mahavira Hall: Encountered monks and nuns performing their practices. ▪️Wenshu Terrace: Ascend via the central pathway, feeling the solemnity of the pilgrimage. ▪️The high terrace in the back courtyard is the Ksitigarbha Hall, which also serves as an office. In front of the hall is Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, with monk's quarters on both sides. // Tips // ❶Accessible by subway Xi'an Subway Line 1 'Sajinqiao' station, exit at B, about 300 meters walk. ❷Accessible by bus Get off at the 'Sajinqiao' bus stop. ❸Tickets and opening hours The temple is free to enter, no reservation required, open daily from 8 am to 5 pm. The back courtyard is only open on the first and fifteenth of each month. ④Nearby attractions: Nearby are Guangren Temple, Lianhu Park, Great Mosque, Douchenghuang Temple, Gao Family Courtyard, Xicang Flower and Bird Market... which can be connected for a tour. ⑤Food: Located on the gourmet street Sajinqiao, you can enjoy Lao Ma's beef pancakes, Lao Jin's egg and vegetable sandwiches, Honghong's sauerkraut fried rice... After visiting the ancient temple, it's time to eat.