Northern End of Temple Street, Jiexiu 032000, China
Opening times:
Open tomorrow at 08:30-12:00,14:30-17:30Currently Closed
Recommended sightseeing time:
2-3 hours
Phone:
0354-7292652
Experience the beauty of ancient Shanxi architecture | Rent Kongxiang photography equipment.
Speaking of ancient architecture, the beauty of glazed components is a must-see.
✅ Glazed components were used in the royal courtyards of the Ming and Qing dynasties, and are the facade of palace architecture, reflecting the majesty, solemnity, and style of the royal family.
✅ Shanxi, known as the "hometown of glazed art", is a major producer of glazed components in China. From architectural ridge decorations, shadow walls, archways, pavilions to pagodas, from seagull beaks weighing several tons to small animal pieces, the shadow of glazed components can be seen everywhere.
✅ Guangsheng Temple Feihong Tower, Zhangbi Ancient Castle Kongwangxing Temple's Ming Dynasty tricolor glazed components and peacock blue glazed components stele and Hou Tu Temple, Yuncheng Yongle Palace, etc. are all representative works of Shanxi ancient architecture!!!
Allen Susan Sue
The most beautiful glazed building in ancient China, known as the 'Ancestor of Taoism'
👋Hi, darlings! Today, I strongly recommend an amazing spot to you all—Jiexiu Houtu Temple😎!
Jiexiu, a place renowned as the 'Hometown of Three Sages, Land of Glaze', is truly full of surprises😜, and Houtu Temple is undoubtedly the most dazzling jewel among them✨.
This temple was built during the Northern Song Dynasty, over a thousand years ago😮! Yet, it has miraculously withstood the test of time🛀 and still stands intact today, which is truly astonishing👏! When you step inside, you can genuinely appreciate the superb level of ancient architectural art👍, and you will involuntarily marvel at the infinite wisdom and outstanding talents of our ancestors😃!
Speaking of Houtu Temple, you absolutely cannot miss its stunning glazed decorations🎊! They are truly breathtaking😍. The colorful glaze adds a solemn and majestic feel to the entire temple, while also making it look dreamlike, as if it came straight out of a fairy tale🧚♀️. Every time I see these glazed decorations, I feel like I am traveling through time, witnessing the splendor and magnificence of that era🌟.
Every corner of Houtu Temple is rich with stories📖. Every plant🌳, every brick🧱, carries heavy historical memories, silently telling the tales of the past🎞️, making one deeply immersed and enchanted😌.
Darlings, if you, like me, are deeply interested in history and culture and are fond of such charming places, then you must visit Jiexiu Houtu Temple to experience it for yourself🤗! Trust me, once you come here, you will be deeply attracted and reluctant to leave😘!💕
danielstream
Jiexiu Glazed Tile Masterpieces (Jiexiu)
One of the must-see attractions in Jiexiu, not only for its exquisite glazed tiles but also for its unique architectural structure. Most of the glazed components displayed in the city museum come from here.
Jiexiu, known as the hometown of glazed tiles, has a distinctive manufacturing process. It is said that many of the glazed tiles used in the Forbidden City were fired by craftsmen from Jiexiu. According to records and inscriptions, the Houtu Temple in Jiexiu was first built during the Northern and Southern Dynasties or even earlier. The existing Houtu Temple complex, except for the Sanqing Tower which is from the Yuan Dynasty, mostly dates back to the Ming and Qing Dynasties. It is also one of the largest and best-preserved palace-style temples dedicated to Houtu in China.
The glazed tiles in Houtu Temple include products from the Zhengde period of the Ming Dynasty to the Jiaqing and Daoguang periods of the Qing Dynasty. These glazed tiles feature unique patterns, a full range of colors, and a radiant luster. While ordinary buildings typically have glazed tiles in only yellow, green, and blue, the glazed tiles in Houtu Temple come in more than a dozen colors, including green, yellow, purple, white, and blue, making them treasures of the glazed tile art in Shanxi.
The entire architectural area is vast. Besides Houtu Temple, there are also the Lüzu Pavilion, Guandi Temple, and Tushen Temple lined up to the east, each with a stage in front, forming a complete and well-preserved ensemble. However, compared to Houtu Temple, the other temples are relatively less impressive .
Surprisingly, such a beautiful ancient architectural complex is free to visit, but note that it is closed during lunchtime, so don't go there only to find it closed .
agleam.brianna
Weekend citywalk this time comes to the City of Glazed Tiles
——Jinzhong Jiexiu
▪ The most beautiful glazed archway in China: Taihe Rock Archway
▪ Jiexiu Museum: 2-meter-high 'Three Dragon Chiwen', adorable 'Eye-catching Yellow Glazed Ridge Beast'
▪ Houtu Temple: The best-preserved treasure among Chinese temple glazed buildings, known as the 'Treasure House of Glazed Architectural Art'
▪ Xianshen Lou: The only existing Zoroastrian building
Jiexiu is truly a place where you can see various glazed buildings everywhere
Look at Shanxi for above-ground cultural relics!
I hope everyone who comes to Shanxi can visit Jiexiu once
'Jiexiu Glaze' is no longer just a regional decorative style, but has deeply embedded itself as a cultural symbol in the museum of ancient Chinese architectural art.
Turner_Harper_13
I won't allow anyone to not know about this treasure city 'Jiexiu'
Stroll through the 'Hometown of Chinese Glazed Tiles' and experience the culture of the Three Sages.
🚗 Jiexiu 2⃣ Days 1⃣ Night Travel Guide
Day 1: Houtu Temple - City God Temple - Xian God Tower - Jiexiu Museum
Day 2: Mianshan Scenic Area
✅ Houtu Temple
A large group of ancient buildings, the glazed tiles inside are exquisite, a must-visit place
✅ City God Temple
Few parts are open to the public, you can enter for a visit by registering
✅ Xian God Tower
The only remaining Zoroastrian building in China, one of the famous towers in Shanxi, the wind chimes are melodious and crisp
✅ Jiexiu Museum
The basement has a glazed tile exhibition, and there is also the internet-famous emoji 'Glazed Tile Ridge Beast'
✅ Mianshan Scenic Area
A 5A scenic spot, very large, with mountains, water, and culture, highly recommended. Here are the spots I am interested in:
👉 Qixian Valley - Jie Gong Ridge
👉 Zhengguo Temple - Yunfeng Temple
👉 Tianqiao
👉 Daluo Palace
👉 Longtou Temple
👉 Shuitaogou
Tips❗️ ❗️ ❗️
1⃣ Accommodation can be conveniently found near Jiexiu Station
2⃣ No reservation needed for city attractions, enter with ID
3⃣ City attractions are closed from 12:00 to 14:30 for lunch break, and closed on Mondays
4⃣ There is a direct bus from Jiexiu Station to Mianshan Scenic Area, about 30 minutes
5⃣ Unlimited bus rides within Mianshan, recommended to tour from back to front
6⃣ Climb up from Qixian Valley and descend from Jie Gong Ridge, no need to retrace steps, both spots can be enjoyed
7⃣ Take the elevator up from Zhengguo Temple to tour Zhengguo Temple, then proceed to Yunfeng Temple in order, walk the zigzag path to Yunfeng Temple, no need to retrace steps
8⃣ It is recommended to take the elevator up at Zhengguo Temple within the scenic area
9⃣ Shuitaogou is an 8 km round trip, depending on personal stamina, recommended to visit if time permits
'Glaze' in Jiexiu, let's admire the 'Tiles' together
Come to 'Jie' and start a magical journey!
Avery_Parker72
Jiexiu Houtu Temple: A unique primitive worship in Shanxi
Jiexiu Houtu Temple
This is a deity that is related to everyone. Simply because it is called Houtu; simply because the birth and growth of every life are connected to the earth that it venerates.
Houtu is said to be a descendant of the ancient Emperor Yan, she governs yin and yang, nurtures all things, and thus is known as the Mother of the Earth. Glazed tiles, typically used in imperial buildings and the mansions of the nobility, are exceptionally employed in the ancient architectural complex of the Jiexiu Houtu Temple in Shanxi.
Before the Northern and Southern Dynasties, the Jiexiu Houtu Temple already existed, with a history of about 1,600 years. The existing buildings were mostly repaired during the Ming Hongwu to Qing Daoguang periods.
In front of the main hall hangs a horizontal plaque with the inscription 'Thick Virtue Carries Things', penned by the famous ancient Chinese epigrapher Mr. Zhang Han in 1998. The dougong brackets under the eaves, replacing the use of sparrows, are also very distinctive, with exquisite carvings.
All the glazed products in the temple are of pure and bright colors, with accurate and vivid shapes, and are the best-preserved treasures among Chinese temple glazed art. They are recognized by the architectural community as a 'treasure house of glazed architectural art'.
It reflects the simple beliefs of the ancestors of the Chinese Han nationality and their understanding of strength and beauty, permeating the aesthetic view that combines ancient Chinese philosophy and art.
NIA MALONE
Houtu Temple | The City of Colored Glaze is a female temple that governs the mountains and all things within
After being overwhelmed by the aesthetic of colored glaze in Jie Xiu's City of Colored Glaze, one can't help but feel a bit 'fatigued', but Houtu Temple is still among the finest of the fine.
🫶🏻Houtu, also known as the Earth Mother, is the mother of all things that presides over the land and rivers, and also governs the fertility of yin and yang. The worship of the Earth Mother can be traced back to matriarchal societies, but it has also evolved through different dynasties. The southern part of Shanxi, where this temple is located, was originally an area where Houtu worship was quite prosperous. The scale and sequence of the Houtu Temple also reflect its significant status. The original construction date is unknown, but most of the existing buildings are relics from the Ming and Qing dynasties.
Houtu Temple has a longitudinal double-axis structure, with a graceful entrance sequence that is narrow and long. After the Hall of the Three Pure Ones, the space suddenly opens up, and the five-bay-wide Houtu Hall makes one look up in admiration, feeling the warmth, grandeur, and inclusiveness of Houtu as a female deity.
Inside Houtu Temple, the colored glaze artifacts are gorgeous and rich, full of innovative changes. My favorite is still the wind boards on the back-to-back stage of the Hall of the Three Pure Ones and the hanging fish decorated with grapes 🍇, which break away from the traditional colored glaze patterns and have a sense of life, perfectly combining with the location of these ancient architectural components.
Although counted as a Taoist temple and absorbed into Taoist beliefs, Houtu worship should still be considered more as a category of folk belief. I also really like the meaning pointed to by Houtu belief, which can match the discourse of women's awakening today. I hope it will be understood and known by more people
massdramatic
Houtu Temple, a stunning ancient architectural complex
Located in Jiexiu County, Jinzhong City, Shanxi Province, it is an hour's drive from Taiyuan by high-speed rail. The area has a deep cultural heritage, not only passing down the legend of the Cold Food Festival, but also boasting a stunning ancient Taoist architectural complex - Houtu Temple.
The exact time of the temple's establishment is unknown, but its current scale was expanded during the Zhengde period of the Ming Dynasty. It is a Quanzhen Sect temple, dedicated to the Goddess Houtu.
There are many angles in the architectural complex that are very photogenic, but the simplicity and heaviness unique to Shanxi's ancient architecture cannot be perfectly interpreted by photos. Only by being in the temple can you feel the shock that ancient architectural art brings to us.
The entire architectural style is rough, but it does not lose the beauty of the details. The white and purple grape sculptures on the side of the stage are lifelike, making people drool. The Ming Dynasty colored sculptures in the Sanqing Hall are also exquisite, but unfortunately, photography is prohibited inside the hall. In addition, you can see a brick and stone structure building that looks like a kiln - the Beamless Hall.
Houtu Temple is located in Jiexiu City, and can be reached by bus. The visit takes 2-3 hours.
Br00klyn N3ls0n
The Hou Tu Temple in Jiezhou, Shanxi, is a masterpiece of glazed art, with its peacock blue color being particularly vibrant
The Hou Tu Temple is located on Miaodi Street in Jiezhou City, Jinzhong City, Shanxi Province, and is a Taoist Quanzhen Sect temple building. The main buildings include the Three Purities Tower, Hou Tu Temple, Lu Zu Temple, Guan Di Temple, and Tu Shen Hall. Among the existing buildings, the Three Purities Tower was built in the Yuan Dynasty, and the rest are Ming and Qing Dynasty buildings.
The Three Purities Temple houses a collection of thousands of colored statues from the Ming Dynasty, known as 'All Saints Chao Yuan', which are a combination of standing and wall sculptures of Taoist deities. The temple worships the 'Mother Earth Goddess' from ancient Chinese mythology, who is in charge of yin and yang reproduction, the beauty of all things and the beauty of mountains and rivers, and is known as 'Hou Tu Niangniang' among the people.
The Hou Tu Temple is famous for its intricate glazed decorations found throughout the building, and is known as the 'Chinese Glazed Art Architectural Museum'. Various glazed decorations can be seen throughout the temple, such as the glazed kirin on the shadow wall in front of the temple, the yellow, green, and blue glazed tiles on the roof, and the dragon-shaped beasts on the eaves, all of which shine together. In particular, the 'peacock blue' glaze, which has remained vibrant after hundreds of years, is rare in China.
The architectural style of the Three Purities Tower is very special. It is a double-storey building formed by connecting two buildings. The latter half is a reverse theater, with distinctive architectural features. The shadow walls on both sides of the theater are decorated with dragon and lion glazes, which are symmetrical.
At the hanging points of the building, you can see exquisite colorful phoenixes playing with peonies, and there are huge and lifelike deep purple grapes on the Bo Feng board. Despite years of wind and rain, they are still rich in color. This makes the overall building a colorful and radiant three-dimensional glazed painting.
📍Detailed address:
Hou Tu Temple: No. 99 Miaodi Street, Jiezhou City, Jinzhong City, Shanxi Province
Tickets: Free admission
Ph03n1x_@rc@n3
The colorful clouds disperse easily and the glass is fragile | Hou Tu Temple in Jie Xiu, Shanxi
【Jin Shan Jin Mei·Jie Xiu·Colorful Clouds Disperse Easily and Glass is Fragile】I didn't do enough homework, when I arrived in Jie Xiu it was Monday, and places like Hou Tu Temple were surprisingly closed. I was unwilling to accept this, so I rested for a day and visited again the next day, but I had already entered a glass world.
The craftsmanship of the glass products in various parts of Jie Xiu Hou Tu Temple is exquisite, and the color does not fade over time. The green, golden, and peacock blue colors complement each other. The roof slope of the Sanqing Building is made up of patterns formed by yellow and green glass tiles. The golden lotus ridge tube, ridge brake, treasure bottle, treasure bead, immortal, beast, etc., are dazzling and dazzling. The cross-hipped roof on both sides of the wind board, hanging fish, and grass are all decorated with various glass pieces, which are lifelike and colorful. The purple and white glass grapes decorated on the wind board of the screen wall are vivid and lifelike, and they are rare art treasures.
The shadow wall, mountain gate, over hall, side hall, bell and drum tower, Hou Tu main hall, Niang Niang hall, Guan Di temple, every building of the ancient architectural complex of Jie Xiu Hou Tu Temple is topped with gorgeous glass decorations, which are exquisite and spectacular, majestic, golden and brilliant, and colorful.
Figure 9 is the Xian Shen Tower not far from Hou Tu Temple. I visited it by the way. It is one of the four famous towers in San Jin, and it is extraordinary.
Tips: Historical records show that at the beginning of the 4th century AD, the Tuoba clan of the Northern Wei Dynasty established its capital in Pingcheng (Datong), and began to use glass products when building palaces, swallowtails, beasts, and palace towers. Therefore, Shanxi is one of the birthplaces of glass, and Jie Xiu glass has its own system in Shanxi during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The roofs of the eight ancient temples in the architectural complex of Jie Xiu Hou Tu Temple are all decorated with colorful and exquisite glass. The glass tile pieces (including cat heads and drips) and exquisite ridge decorations, and the tower lion bottle, beast swallowtail, immortal auspicious bird, etc., each design is exquisite, the shape is lifelike, the glaze is delicate and firm, and it does not change color after hundreds of years. Because of the variety of glass products and the full range of colors, it is known as the "Chinese Glass Art Architecture Museum", which can be called the name to the truth.
LORETTA CONNER
The Charm of Ancient Architecture Across a Thousand Years - Exploring the Hou Tu Temple in Jiexiu, Shanxi
📍Location: The Hou Tu Temple, a historic Quanzhen Daoist architectural complex, is located in the northwest corner of Jiexiu Ancient City in Shanxi.
✅Photography Tips: The best time to shoot is in the early morning or at dusk, when the light is soft. No ticket is needed for free visit! 🌅
On the morning of the 15th of the second month of the Gui-Mao Rabbit Year, I came here with my Canon 5D4 to record the grandeur and intricacy of these buildings.
The Hou Tu Temple, an ancient architectural gem that has witnessed more than 1500 years of history. Its creation can be traced back to before the Southern Dynasties, and it is the largest and best-preserved palace-style temple in China. The temple faces north and south, adopts a longitudinal double-axis north-south enclosure layout, with grand halls and compact layout.
Not only does it inherit the traditional architectural thinking of our country, but it also incorporates Daoist aesthetics and values, forming a unique architectural style. The roof of the temple is covered with colorful glazed ornaments, which are the essence of the architectural art of the Hou Tu Temple.
The Sanqing Tower in the temple is the tallest and most complex building in the complex, rebuilt in the 14th year of Zhengde of the Ming Dynasty. It integrates hall, platform, and tower, and is a masterpiece in the history of ancient architecture in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The cross hip roof of the Sanqing Tower is cleverly connected with the hip roof of the Hou Tu Temple theater building, presenting a scene of varied and complex structure.
Every detail in the temple shows the exquisite craftsmanship of the craftsmen, whether it's the towering ridge beasts, pavilions, or the exquisite lotus ridge tubes and glazed ridge decorations, all highlight the grandeur and solemn elegance of the ancient temple group. It is known as the "China Glazed Art Museum", and the name is well-deserved.
In this ancient building, I seem to have traveled through time and space, feeling the weight of history and the charm of art. Every brick and tile tells a thousand-year-old story, and every change of light and shadow reproduces a moment in history. If you also love ancient architecture, then the Hou Tu Temple is definitely worth a visit. 🏰📸
SONNY PADILLA
The 'Sanjin Liuli Art Museum' introduces the Hou Tu Temple
Hou Tu Temple is a temple building of the Taoist Quanzhen School, with the main building being the Three Purities Tower. The offering tower and the stage are integrated, and the glazed roof is a cross-hipped style, which is very delicate and special.
The Hou Tu Temple can be traced back to the Northern and Southern Dynasties or earlier more than 1500 years ago, and most of what we see today are the remaining buildings from the Ming Hongwu to the Qing Daoguang period.
🍁What to see in Hou Tu Temple?
Hou Tu Temple is the most beautiful, most colorful and highest craftsmanship temple in the local area, and it uses the highest-grade yellow glazed tiles.
The glaze of general buildings only has three colors: yellow, green, and blue, but the glaze of Hou Tu Temple has as many as a dozen colors. Not only is the shape rich, beautiful and vivid, but it also has not faded after hundreds of years of wind and rain.
The exquisite glazed screen at the entrance is a Kylin playing with eight treasures, which was fired during the Qing Daoguang period.
The Three Purities Tower, also known as the Bagua Tower, built in the 11th year of Ming Zhengde, is a three-in-one platform tower, which is the essence of Hou Tu Temple.
The stage is at the back of the Three Purities Tower, and the passage is at the bottom of the stage, which is very magical. There is a stage in the temple, which is used to repay the gods.
The glazed grapes on the wind board of the stage screen are exquisite and lifelike, and the hanging fish and grass are also very beautiful. If you zoom in on the photo, you can even see a little mouse stealing grapes...
The main hall of Hou Tu Palace, where Hou Tu Niangniang is worshipped, has a roof entirely made of yellow glazed tiles, which is magnificent.
There are also more than a thousand early Ming Dynasty Taoist colored sculptures in the Hou Tu Temple, which are also of great artistic value.
🍁Hou Tu Temple
Address: No. 99, Miaodi Street, Southeast Street, Jiezhou City, Jinzhong
Opening hours: Tuesday-Sunday 8:30-12:00, 14:30-17:30
Ticket: 10 yuan (no reservation required, buy tickets at the door)
The entrance is a citizen leisure square, it's not easy to park, you can only find a place on the side of the road.