Not Europe! 16 National Protected Sites, This Little-Known Shanxi City ||.

||。Not Europe! 16 National Protected Sites, This Little-Known Shanxi City || After the popularity of Black Myth: Wukong, many hidden gems in Shanxi should be discovered, and "Xinjiang, Yuncheng" is one of them. It was once the capital of the Jin State and one of the six historical and cultural cities in Shanxi (the other five are Datong, Pingyao, Daixian, Qixian, and Taiyuan). The first Gothic Catholic Church in Shanxi and one of the four major Gothic Catholic Churches in China is located here. You can easily walk around the county town and see all the essence of ancient architecture. There are also some surprises nearby, such as the only agricultural mural in China at Jikui Temple and the most beautiful Guanyin statue at Fusheng Temple. 🗺 City Walk, about 4 kilometers, walking tour takes about 4 hours Longxing Temple➠Xinjiang Catholic Church➠Jiangzhou Hall➠Jiangzhou Three Floors➠Three Officials Temple➠Jiangzhou Confucian Temple➠Longxing Temple ❶Longxing Temple The landmark building of Xinjiang, built in the Tang Dynasty, has left many national treasures after several dynasties. The Bi Luo Stele, Yuan Dynasty statues, and the Longxing Temple Pagoda rebuilt in the Qing Dynasty are the three highlights of Longxing Temple. There are also two relocated brick-carved tombs and a 10 yuan entrance fee. ❷Xinjiang Catholic Church Xinjiang is the earliest place in Shanxi where Catholicism was introduced, dating back to 1620. The contrasting Chinese-style building next to the church is the former Ming Palace. You can visit during daily mass. ❸Jiangzhou Hall The use of column reduction and relocation techniques makes the hall very spacious and bright. Archaeological discoveries in front of the hall reveal cultural layers from the Tang Dynasty onwards, covered with tempered glass. The rough pillars and ruins of the Yuan Dynasty echo with modern technology, which is very interesting. The newly built City God Temple is next door. ❹Jiangzhou Three Floors The Drum Tower, Bell Tower, and Music Tower are located on a slope next to Jiangzhou Hall. This area is being planned as the new ancient city of Xinjiang. It is less crowded and more pleasant on non-holidays. ❺Three Officials Temple Cao Xueqin once lived in Xinjiang. The Three Officials Temple is believed to be the prototype of the Gourd Temple in Cao Xueqin's Dream of the Red Chamber. The ancient building houses 14 Yuan Dynasty polychrome sculptures. It was once closed to the public, but is now open again! ❻Jiangzhou Confucian Temple The double-eaved hip-and-gable roofed Dacheng Hall is very beautiful. Here, you have walked through the ancient architectural remains of Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism, and Catholicism in Xinjiang. 🗺 Nearby Highlights Fusheng Temple: Admire a beautiful collection of Yuan and Ming polychrome sculptures, including the most beautiful Guanyin statue, the dynamic Ming King, and the graceful Bodhisattva attendants. Jikui Temple: Here is the only known agricultural mural in China, showing a farmer subduing a locust spirit as tall as a man. Unfortunately, Jikui Temple is closed after being open for seven days during National Day. It is currently under construction and will soon be open again. 🔖 Practical Tips 🍁 Autumn is the best season to travel to Xinjiang. The weather is clear, and you can easily take photos of Longxing Temple Pagoda and the Catholic Church together. I recommend having a hot pot in Xinjiang after a day of travel, it's so comfortable! 🚄 Take a high-speed train from Yuncheng North Station to Houma West Station, and transfer to bus No. 36 to reach Xinjiang.