Gongyi Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in May)
Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in May)
I've discovered a free and fun ancient village
This is an ancient village from the Ming and Qing dynasties, brimming with a strong artistic and cultural atmosphere. The ancient buildings, deep alleys, and simple stone bridges are all great places for art students to sketch.
⛰【Travel Tips】
📍Detailed address: Haishangqiao Village, Gongyi City, Zhengzhou
🚗Transportation strategy: It is recommended to drive (about 1 hour by car from Zhengzhou urban area)|Free parking space available
🕙Opening hours: All day
💰Ticket: Free🆓
🌟Highlights: The Haishangqiao ancient architectural complex has a long history, dating back to the 27th year of Qianlong's reign. Many of the buildings here are courtyards from the middle and late Qing dynasty. For those walking with children, it's not only a chance for kids to stroll along the mountain paths but also to experience the profound cultural heritage of ancient architecture.
⏳Recommended visiting time: About 1 hour
⚠️Warm tips: There is a parking lot and restrooms at the entrance of the village, and electric vehicles can be charged
Experience the charm of traditional Chinese culture and the tranquility and beauty of rural life at the Sea Bridge
Navigation: It takes 1.5 hours to drive to Haishangqiao Village.
There is a parking lot and restrooms at the entrance of the village. It is better to use the restrooms inside the village as they are cleaner and more hygienic. There is also a charging station for electric vehicles.
Admission: Free
Most of the buildings in the village are ancient cave dwellings from the Ming and Qing dynasties, which are simple, elegant, and magnificent, reminiscent of the idyllic paradise described by the poet Tao Yuanming. It is said that in the valley to the west of the village, there is a spring that is connected to the sea and never dries up, known as the 'Sea Eye'. The spring water gradually forms a clear pond, which cuts off the traffic between the seven ridges and eight gullies to the north and south. To facilitate daily life and work, the villagers built a wooden bridge over the clear pond, hence the name 'Sea Bridge'.
If you get tired from walking around, you can go to the teahouse for a cup of tea, sit down and enjoy the beautiful spring scenery, or take some beautiful photos. This teahouse is very photogenic.
If you get hungry, there are two food stalls at the entrance of the village selling sweet potato noodles, which are surprisingly tasty.
Hidden in the deep mountains is the ancient village of Haishangqiao
This is a Qing Dynasty ancient village site, where there was once a spring in the valley known as the "Sea Eye" that never dried up all year round. People built a bridge to cross it, hence the name "Haishangqiao" (Sea Bridge).
Upon entering the village, you will see a small depression facing south with the north side higher and the south side lower. The east, west, and north sides are surrounded by steep earthen ridges, on top of which are many brick and tile residential buildings. These houses are built against the cliff as quadrangle courtyards, resembling a group of castle-like buildings from a distance, scattered in an artistic manner, creating a very picturesque scene.
The site is currently open to the public for free, and parking is also free. On weekends, you can take your children to visit and broaden their horizons. It is also a base for painting, so those who love art can go there to sketch. Of course, it is also very photogenic, making it a recommended spot for those who like ancient villages to check in and take photos!
Address: Navigate to Haishangqiao Village, Gongyi.
Zhengzhou, Henan - A Hidden Gem for Travelers: Haishangqiao Village
Haishangqiao Village is an ancient architectural village from the Ming and Qing dynasties. Built against the mountain, its layout is well-arranged, featuring the style of northern courtyard houses, mainly composed of cave dwellings built into the mountain, with a simple and solemn color palette.
According to ancient stele records, there is a 'sea eye' in the valley here that never dries up all year round, and the village was named 'Haishangqiao', meaning 'Bridge over the Sea', because of the bridge built over this water feature. To the northeast is Qingdui Mountain, and to the south is a seasonal river channel. The terrain is crescent-shaped, with high mountains and deep gullies, secluded and elegant, and bathed in the morning sun. It is truly a feng shui treasure land where the essence of wind and the convergence of earth's energy meet.
Almost all the villagers have moved away, leaving only these ancient buildings. Now, they are protected by the local government and are being developed as a tourist attraction. Currently, there is no admission fee, and visitors can combine a trip here with other sights in Gongyi. It is especially suitable for photography after the rain, and there is a camping base nearby.
Walking destination: Haishangqiao Village, Gongyi City, Zhengzhou
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Gongyi Grottoes Temple Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in May)
Right in Zhengzhou! Behold the small Northern Wei crossbody bag and the exquisite Feitian stone carvings
Henan Province is not only famous for the Longmen Grottoes but also has many lesser-known grottoes and stone carvings, among which the Gongxian Grottoes are particularly fine.
📍The grotto temple is located in Gongyi, under the jurisdiction of Zhengzhou city, and has a history of about 1500 years. It is the second batch of key cultural relics protection units in the country, with extremely high artistic value and historical significance.
The grottoes were carved during the Northern Wei period (517 AD), with 5 existing caves that are not large in scale but are very exquisite, no less inferior to the Longmen Grottoes.
🌟The highlights of the grotto temple are the 'Emperor and Empress Paying Homage to Buddha' mural and the Feitian stone carving statues.
Currently, there is only one 'Emperor and Empress Paying Homage to Buddha' mural in China, which can be viewed up close here, but be sure to protect the cultural relics, do not touch with hands, and do not use flash photography.
🚂Transportation: The train from Zhengzhou to Luoyang to Gongyi takes less than an hour, which is very convenient. After arriving at the train station, you can take a bus to get there
🎫Ticket price is 30, with a concessionary ticket at 15, and children and the elderly who meet the conditions can enter for free
⌚️Visiting time: About one hour
Gongyi also has the Gongyi Museum and the Northern Song Imperial Tombs, Kang Baiwan Manor, and other attractions that are also worth a visit, and it would take about two days to complete them all.
It is a pity that a county-level city has so many cultural relics and historical sites, but few tourists and insufficient protection of cultural relics. Friends traveling to Henan might as well include Gongyi in their travel list, as it is less crowded and all are essence.
The No. 1 grotto of the grotto temple (Emperor and Empress Paying Homage to Buddha) also has a replica in the Henan Museum, and those who are interested but do not have time can also visit the museum.
Henan | One of the nine major grottoes in the country
❤Recommended reason:
In the late Northern Wei Dynasty, the royal family excavated the Longmen Grottoes, which greatly stimulated the Buddhist statue movement around Luoyang. Among these statues, the Gongxian Grottoes are the most dazzling.
🌟Highlight features:
The Gongxian Grottoes are listed as one of the nine major grottoes in the country, and their flying sky and emperor and queen worshiping Buddha are national treasures.
The Grotto Temple was built in the second year of Xiping in the Northern Wei Dynasty (517 AD), originally named Xixuan Temple, named Jingtusi in the Tang Dynasty, named Shifang Jingtusi in the Song and Ming Dynasties, and renamed Grotto Temple in the Qing Dynasty.
👍Most recommended:
The grottoes are divided into east and west zones. The 1st and 2nd grottoes are in the west zone, and the 3rd, 4th, and 5th grottoes are in the east zone. Except for the 5th grotto, the other four grottoes are square, with a central pillar, niches carved on all four sides of the pillar (mostly one Buddha, two disciples, two Bodhisattvas), and the grotto ceiling is carved with flat chess, with the 5th grotto's caisson carving being the most exquisite. The Buddha's face is round and square, the clothing lines are clear, and the expression is peaceful, which is different from the deep-eyed, high-nosed, and bone-clear images of the early Northern Wei Dynasty such as the Yungang Grottoes.
Although the Gongxian Grottoes are not as majestic and magnificent as the Yungang and Longmen Grottoes, they have commendable aspects in terms of grotto form, theme, and composition.
Exquisite Flying Apsaras and Emperor and Empress Worshiping Buddha | Gongyi Grottoes, Henan
【Seeing Central Plains·Gongyi·Exquisite Flying Apsaras and Emperor and Empress Worshiping Buddha】It was not originally included in this trip, but was added a few days before departure. Fortunately, it was added. This small city located between Luoyang and Zhengzhou hides two national treasures, which brought us a huge surprise!
The Gongyi Grottoes were carved during the reign of Emperor Xiaowen of the Northern Wei Dynasty. Although the scale is far less than the Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang, it is extremely exquisite. Thousands of years have passed, and many parts of the grottoes have been damaged, but they still retain the unique 'Emperor and Empress Worshiping Buddha' and the so-called most beautiful flying Apsaras and other exquisite carvings in China. The grottoes are very small, with only 5 left, and a few scattered tourists. I believe that the Longmen Grottoes in the summer vacation may have been crowded. Lingering and forgetting to return, I have looked at it many times, Gongyi Grottoes, YYDS!
Tips1: Must-see points:
✅ First Grotto: Emperor's Buddha Worship Picture on the East Side + Empress's Buddha Worship Picture on the West Side
✅ Second Grotto: Cliff Buddha and disciples outside the grotto
✅ Flying Apsaras: around the Buddha niche and the top of the grotto (each grotto has)
✅ Thousand Buddha Niches: 999 small Buddhas + 1 big Buddha
✅ Third Grotto: The most beautiful flying Apsaras, musicians and strong men (all below)
✅ Fifth Grotto: A very large lotus flower well on the top of the grotto
Tips2: The bas-relief of 'Emperor and Empress Worshiping Buddha' is located on both sides of the east and west doors of the first, third, and fourth grottoes of the Grotto Temple, with 3 pieces on each side, a total of 18 pieces, which are the only ones in the existing grottoes in the country. Among them, the first grotto is the most exquisite. The left side depicts the scene of the emperor worshiping Buddha. In the picture, Emperor Xiaowen wears a 'crown', wears a 'dragon robe', and has monks in cassocks as guides. Under the guidance of princes, ministers, and close attendants with umbrellas, feather covers (emperor's ceremonial guards with bird feathers as decorations), long swords, and incense boxes, they slowly advance. The picture shows the dignified nobles and the short attendants forming a clear contrast of respect and inferiority.
The right side is the picture of the empress worshiping Buddha. Empress Wenzhao wears a lotus crown, draped in a cloud robe, holding incense in one hand, followed by two noble ladies, walking slowly in the wind under the escort of many palace ladies.
Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in May)
Zhengzhou 100 Free Treasure Attractions - Gongyi Great Wall
Zhengzhou 100 Free Treasure Attractions - Gongyi Great Wall. Did you know? Gongyi hides a mini Great Wall!
Gongyi is a mountainous county-level city under Zhengzhou, where there is a popular attraction, that is the Gongyi Great Wall located 55 kilometers away from Zhengzhou city area, in Linggou Village, Xinzheng Town of Gongyi City. The Gongyi Great Wall is one of the eight fortresses of Fuxi Mountain, built by ancient people on a mountain peak 600 meters above sea level to avoid wars. You can still see the ancient beacon towers, battlements, and households hidden deep in the dense forests.
The mountains are green, and now is the perfect season for spring outings, hurry up and check it out!
Gongyi Little Great Wall
A great destination for family outings, perfect for little ones to get some exercise.
Notice:
1. Driving and parking: There's a short stretch of mountain road with good conditions, just honk when going uphill on a curve. Meeting another car can be a bit difficult, but it's much better than the road to Qian Chi Ta. There's no need to park on the side of the road right away; you can drive up to a T-junction, turn left for two small parking areas, or turn right and go straight for more parking spots, and you can even drive all the way to the end near the foot of the Little Great Wall.
2. Route: Start walking from the first sight of the Little Great Wall, climb up the steps to the top, which takes about forty minutes to reach the small tower. Without children, it can be done in about fifteen minutes. You can return the same way or go down the downhill path, which leads to a slightly uneven dirt road, and then you'll reach the pavilion at the end. If you don't want to go back, you can continue to climb another small peak. Below the pavilion, there's a small house with a blue roof, which is the restroom; if you're concerned about cleanliness, it's advisable not to go.
3. There's no food for sale, only a small stall selling water near the starting point.
4. When walking on the Little Great Wall, safety is still the priority, both for driving and for children. It was noticed that some children were climbing the outer perimeter of the Great Wall, and although it's not very high, there's still a risk. Also, for smaller children, watch out for the low-hanging branches on the sides of the path, which can easily scratch a child's face, especially the eyes.
7. This is a free attraction, no admission fee oh~
Kang Million Estate Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in May)
Henan Kang Million Manor | The home of the rich in ancient times
Kang Million Manor retains the form of loess plateau dwellings and northern quadrangles, and absorbs the characteristics of official, garden, and military fortress buildings. It is a representative ancient architectural group of Central Plains dwellings. Kang Million Manor is over 400 years old and was once the home of the wealthy Kang family.
The prosperity of a family is not only dependent on one generation, but the foundation laid by several generations to achieve a great cause. What is passed down is not the rare treasures and millions of wealth, but the unbroken strict family style and family instructions.
When prosperity becomes the past - Kang Baiwan Manor, Northern Song Imperial Mausoleum Travelogue!
Kang Baiwan Manor, also known as Heluo Kang's, is located in Zhengzhou City, China, and was first built in the middle of the Ming Dynasty, and took shape at the end of the Ming Dynasty and the beginning of the Qing Dynasty!
Kang Baiwan Manor is a large-scale residential manor that has gone through the Ming, Qing, and Republic of China periods. It backs on to Mang Mountain, faces the Luo River, is built according to the mountain, has a beautiful environment, is high and overlooks, backs on the slope and faces the river, the terrain is dangerous, easy to defend and difficult to attack!
Kang Baiwan Manor is stronger than Shanxi Qiao's Grand Courtyard, Wang's Grand Courtyard and other courtyards in terms of scale and the exquisite degree of architecture. It is a typical example of high-platform fortress architecture!
It witnessed the rise and fall of a family's 20 generations; it also left a precious manor cultural heritage for future generations!
Northern Song Dynasty Mausoleum Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in May)
A Journey to Encounter the Ancients (Part III)
Itinerary Change
In the evening, while researching the state of Kaifeng in Lankao, reports indicated that the scenic area was already overcrowded, with vehicles taking two to three hours to enter the city. Thus, I looked up Luoyang and, surprisingly, it was even more popular than Kaifeng.
I decided to change the itinerary, avoiding the big cities and heading directly to Gongyi, located between Zhengzhou and Luoyang, to play. From there, I would head north to plan further.
The Watcher of the Wheat Fields
The Song Tombs in Gongyi are a melancholic place. The tombs of seven emperors from the Northern Song Dynasty are buried here. Due to the wars of the Northern Song Dynasty and the retreat to the south, the Jin Dynasty looted the tombs severely, leaving the Song Tombs almost entirely plundered, with only the stone statues on the Spirit Way remaining. The only intact palace is the Yongzhao Mausoleum in the Song Tombs Park, which is also the tomb of Emperor Renzong of Song.
Yonghou Mausoleum is next to Yongzhao Mausoleum. The palace buildings are gone, but the stone statues on the Spirit Way are relatively intact, surrounding the huge and lonely tomb mound.
In fact, seeking the secluded and exploring the ancient is most appropriate for the season.
A few fitness enthusiasts looked at me, and I chatted with an old man wearing a red armband, learning that Yonghou Mausoleum was the most thoroughly looted. The reason was that the burial records were too detailed, allowing the Jin army to search and loot thoroughly.
Autumn here must be beautiful.
The tombs of other emperors are not far away, some by the roadside, some requiring a few steps off the road, but the most representative are the Yongzhao Mausoleum and Yonghou Mausoleum in the city center.
Kang Baiwan's Mansion
Just past the God of Wealth Festival, I heard that there were many people here that day, hoping to share in Kang Baiwan's wealth. The mansion is twelve kilometers from the Song Tombs, requiring a river crossing, but it is very convenient.
Kang Baiwan's Mansion is the financial deity capital of Henan.
Therefore, there are many visitors. In fact, the mansion can be divided into two main parts: the front is the business office area, with the underground vault being the most interesting. The back is the residential living area, similar to a huge village, with the highlights being the rooms and the large bed where Empress Dowager Cixi stayed when she fled through here.
The mansion is similar to the manors in Shanxi, but not as large. In Henan, it's already quite big.
The Grotto Temple
I didn't know Gongyi had such a grotto temple.
The grotto temple is ten kilometers from Kang Baiwan's Mansion, just a short drive away, with few people, but the visitors are very serious, not the kind of bustling scenic area.
Research indicates that this grotto temple dates back to the Northern Wei Dynasty, carved after the Longmen Grottoes. Although smaller in scale, its artistic value is not to be underestimated. Standing on the outside corridor, the standing Buddha on the outer rock wall doesn't seem very tall, but the interior of the cave is absolutely stunning. In an instant, it feels like being in Dunhuang. Most of the Dunhuang Grottoes are paintings, but here they are all sculptures, with Buddhas on all four sides of the central pillar, auspicious clouds on the ceiling, thousands of Buddhas on the walls, and exotic gods, musical instruments, and Vajra on the dado, all inspiring admiration.
Whether you are an expert or not doesn't matter; the exquisite works alone are enough to amaze you. I praised the folds in the Buddha's robes and the mysterious smiles.
There are not many grottoes, five in total, but not enough time to appreciate them.
As the gatekeeper says, you can finish in an hour or you can look for several days, depending on your perspective and needs on the grottoes.
This place is definitely worth a visit.
Remember, you must come to the Grotto Temple in Gongyi!
Xinxiang
After visiting the grotto temple in the afternoon, we once again studied the route, checking the status of Jincheng in Shanxi and Yuntai Mountain.
Both were overcrowded.
We decided on the spot to continue northward to Xinxiang.
The purpose of going to Xinxiang was to make the most of the two hours in the afternoon to head north. The Xiangtangshan Grottoes, closer to Hebei, were included in the subsequent plan. Unexpectedly, in Xinxiang, we encountered a new scenic spot, an unexpected gain.
The yellow sand is scattered, and the loess buries the soul | Gongyi, Henan, the mausoleum of the Northern Song Dynasty emperors
【Yu Jian Central Plains·Gongyi·The wind and sand are scattered, the loess buries the soul】Don't underestimate Gongyi! The legendary stories of the Yellow Emperor's 'altar sinking wall', Fuxi's performance of the Eight Diagrams, Yao and Shun's 'sacrifice to heaven and abdication', Houyi's shooting of the sun, and King Tang of Shang's 'prayer for rain in the mulberry forest' all took place here; the production kiln site of 'Luoyang Tang Sancai' is here; the birthplace of the poet Du Fu is here; most importantly, Gongyi is the location of the mausoleum of the Northern Song Dynasty! Here lie 7 emperors of the Northern Song Dynasty and famous ministers such as Kou Zhun and Bao Zheng. All the imperial tombs have been robbed, leaving only the stone statues that have stood for a thousand years silently guarding this land, which is really sighing! The mausoleums of the Northern Song Dynasty are scattered, with 7 emperors and 8 mausoleums. The weather is hot, we chose to visit Yongzhao Mausoleum (my favorite Emperor Renzong) in the city and Yongyu Mausoleum in the outskirts of Gongyi, where the stone statues are best preserved. The stone statues are much taller than I imagined, showing the royal style, and the carvings are exquisite, which is the pinnacle of Northern Song stone carving art!
Tips: Among the 9 emperors of the Northern Song Dynasty, except for Emperor Huizong and Emperor Qinzong who were captured by the Jin Dynasty, the remaining 7 emperors and the father of Zhao Kuangyin were all buried in Gongyi, commonly known as the Seven Emperors and Eight Mausoleums, namely Xuanzu (Zhao Hongyin) Yongan Mausoleum, Taizu (Zhao Kuangyin) Yongchang Mausoleum, Taizong (Zhao Guangyi) Yongxi Mausoleum, Zhenzong (Zhao Heng) Yongding Mausoleum, Renzong (Zhao Zhen) Yongzhao Mausoleum, Yingzong (Zhao Shu) Yonghou Mausoleum, Shenzong (Zhao Xu) Yongyu Mausoleum, Zhezong (Zhao Xu) Yongtai Mausoleum.
📝Note tips:
The mausoleums of the Northern Song Dynasty are scattered and far apart, it is recommended to travel by car
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