Qi County Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in May)

Qiao Family Court yard. We are in Pingyao ancient city, Pingyao, Shanxi province, China. Every corner, every small narrow streets here in Pingyao ancient city hides surprises. What kind of surprise could be expected from one of the richest family of ancient Pingyao? It is really impressive. After entering here it is becoming clear, this family was very rich and had earned a lot of money by the successful trade operations to keep such kind of house and territory for private use. Now this court yard is a tourist spot and interesting museum. This is also good option for taking pictures and opportunity to become more familiar with Pingyao ancient city history. #summervacation#urbanexplorer#roadtrip#museumquest#historicculture

Shanxi people are familiar with the Qiao Family Courtyard because of the Shanxi merchant culture. Foreigners know that the Qiao Family Courtyard is mostly because of the movie "The Red Lanterns Hang High". But the correct way to visit the Qiao Family Courtyard is not just to see the red lanterns. Only! The architectural layout of the Qiao Family Courtyard and the precious cultural relics in the collection are worth reading. So go to the Qiao Family Courtyard, dont just look at the red lanterns. Its more worth seeing than the red lanterns. Its the three treasures in the collection of the Qiaos compound. Each of these three cultural relics is not small, some still unique. Kowloon screen: The object with the dragon naturally can't be separated from the palace. The screen of the Kowloon is flowing out of the palace. Under the chance of coincidence, the Joe family bought a huge sum of money to buy it back. The Kowloon screen is made of huanghuali wood, and the nine dragons on it are alive. A closer look reveals that there are still 72 dragons, so the total is eighty-one dragons. Kowloon Lights: Kowloon Lights Craftsmanship is exquisitely crafted and crafted. The structure is unique and ingenious. It is a luxurious and practical wood carving craft. The Empress Dowager Cixi fled to Xi'an when the Eight-Power Allied Forces invaded, and Qiao's family donated 300,000 silver and the Queen Mother to solve their urgent needs. After the Empress Dowager Cixi thanked his loyalty and rewarded two Kowloon lanterns, the country has yet to find a third flaw. Rhinoceros spectroscopy: There is a rhinoceros mirror in the No. 3 hospital of Qiao's house. It is about one meter in diameter, two meters high and weighs one ton. It uses the hardest rare wood of the wood. The system is a national first-class cultural relic, and it is also the treasure of the town house of Qiao.

Folk Forbidden City - Qiao's Grand Courtyard

Sanjin's Premier Courtyard - Qiao's Grand Courtyard, I first heard of Qiao's Grand Courtyard through the TV series (Qiao's Grand Courtyard), and visiting it today, it truly lives up to its reputation! I am amazed at the wealth of the Qiao family, genuinely rich enough to rival countries! Every brick seems to symbolize wealth. This is precisely what motivates our generation to excel through diligence!

Shanxi celebrates the New Year with vibrant colors and a festive atmosphere in the pear garden!

Datong Spring Festival Gala, a feast of folk culture 🗓As the Spring Festival approaches, the ancient city of Datong is filled with joy, A unique Spring Festival cultural event is being passionately staged! The intangible cultural heritage performances are wonderful, Dragon and lion dances, Jin opera high-pitched performances are extraordinarily lively, Immersing citizens and tourists in the rich traditional New Year atmosphere. Come to Datong for the Spring Festival, ➡Experience a cultural feast that spans a thousand years, Share the beautiful time of reunion, joy, and harmony! ✅Datong Ancient City Lantern Festival The place is full of New Year's flavor, the prosperous fire, the real ancient city wall, various lanterns are hung high, 🏮The colorful lights and the ancient temples⛩ complement each other, the lights are overflowing, Datong is different every year, you must come here to feel the New Year, and there are various 🆓 performances ✅Xinzhou Ancient City Iron Flower The iron flower💥 is a feature of Shanxi, super shocking! When the stars dim, the sound like drumming sounds like a galloping horse, the iron flower explodes in an instant to light up the starry sky, dazzling. ✅Pingyao Ancient City Guessing Lantern Riddles and Paper Cutting Shanxi landmark, stay for one night. Everything to eat and drink is available, experience the extreme guessing lantern riddles, cutting window flowers, eating hot pots, let you feel a different New Year's joy~ ✅Taiyuan Jin Flavor New Year's Eve Dinner On New Year's Eve, have a table full of Jin flavor New Year's Eve dinner, and count down with everyone🎉, the New Year's atmosphere is super strong~ ✅Qiao Family Courtyard Ancient Costume Welcome Ancient costume experience, cross the brilliant life of the young lady of Qiao's Grand Courtyard Must-eat delicacies: Datong Rabbit Head: The color is rosy, the aroma is fragrant, and the taste is spicy Knife-cut noodles: Named for "knife-cut", the noodles are medium-thick and thin, with clear edges and corners, shaped like willow leaves, and chewy Yomi Noodles: Made from yomi, the production is exquisite, it is chewy to eat, and it is high in nutritional value Hunyuan Cold Noodles: "The best in Beiyue", it is "slippery" in your hand, and "cool" in your mouth Pingding Braised Pork: The perennial "protagonist" on the New Year's Eve dinner, a "artifact" for meals Sweet and Sour Meatballs: Sour and sweet are especially good for meals, you will like it once you eat it Shuozhou Oil Fruit: Soft and sweet, you must eat it when you have a happy event Dingxiang Steamed Meat: After eating Dingxiang steamed meat, the new year must be prosperous Linxian Big Stew: The color is tempting, the side dishes are harmonious, the pork is fragrant, and the noodles are smooth Brain: In the food world, it is the existence of bean juice Historical sites: Pingyao Ancient City Yingxun Gate. Ming-Qing Ying County Jingtusi Daxiong Hall Caisson. Jin Ying County Fogong Temple Shijia Pagoda. Liao Datong Huayan Temple Daxiong Hall. Jin Taigu Cao Family Courtyard. Ming-Qing Pingyao Zhenguo Temple Wanfo Hall. Five Dynasties Taigu Drum Tower. Ming-Qing Guangling Shengquan Temple. Qing Lingqiu Jueshan Temple Tower. Liao Guangling Water God Hall. Ming and Qing Taigu Jingxin Temple Stage. Qing Jiexiu Chenghuang Temple. Ming-Qing Jiexiu Xian Shen Building. Ming-Qing Datong City Wall Hunyuan Yongan Temple. Yuan Shuozhou Chongfu Temple Amitabha Hall. Jin Lingshi Wang Family Courtyard. Qing Guangwu Great Wall. Ming

Datong Guangfu Corner Historical and Cultural District!! Not a peep from anyone who comes

💥 The renovation here is not finished yet 💥 It's a large area, and as you stroll around, you'll find surprises 💥 I really like the design of the restrooms, they have set up a rest area and it's very soundproof 💥 I encountered 'A Gallery for One' which is super innovative, and the photos look incredibly beautiful 💥 Looking forward to the complete construction of this area, it surely won't disappoint

Travel Guide to Datong, Shanxi after the Spring Festival

Shanxi Datong! "A new year in the ancient capital, a great unity under heaven." People say that if you want to see cultural relics on the ground, look to Shanxi And if you travel to Shanxi, not visiting Datong Would mean you haven't really experienced Shanxi This is our first time visiting this familiar yet strange ancient city during the New Year The familiar atmosphere of the New Year from our youth The familiar historical and cultural streets The familiar new atmosphere of the New Year in the southeast town... Datong during the New Year is truly different The surprise is its new skin The lively red, the joyous brightness Datong after nightfall Is really moving, charming, and tempting... "A different year in Datong, a big difference" indeed does not deceive 🚗Transportation: Getting around Datong is very convenient There is an airport and a high-speed train station The city is not big, taxis and buses are very convenient Buses can take you directly to many attractions and food streets ⚠️One thing to note during the Spring Festival Local license plates will be restricted from entering the ancient city Make sure to allow extra time for taxis! 🌲Attractions: Datong has so many tourist attractions Last time we recommended and do not regret must-visit The three major grottoes Yungang Grottoes; Datong Nine Dragon Wall; Datong Museum; Datong Ancient City Wall; This time we focus on recommending the new sights and new fun of Datong 2024 ✍️Take notes below: ⭐2024 Datong Ancient Capital Lantern Festival ⏰Time: 2.8-5.18 📍Location: Datong Ancient City Wall The lantern festival is held on the east and south walls of the ancient city, creating a joyful and auspicious festival atmosphere, building the "Ancient Capital Lantern Festival" cultural brand, making the ancient city "come alive and fire up", enriching the cultural life of the masses during the Spring Festival. ⭐Southeast Town Ice and Snow World ⏰Time: 2.1-2.25 📍Location: Southeast Town EAO Urban Art Camp: Consisting of the Polar Ice Sculpture Exhibition and the Joyful Ice and Snow New World, two main themes, creating ice sculptures such as the Temple of Heaven, the Roman Colosseum, the Taj Mahal, the Pyramids, the Chinese Dragon, ice hangings, and ice lanterns, and carrying out activities such as dog sledding, snowmobiling, ice skating tracks, and castle slides, creating a fun and interactive ice and snow carnival world. ⏰Time: February 1, 2024—February 24, 2024 📍Location: Weidu Water World ⭐Datong 2024 Happy Ice and Snow Season Time: 2.1-2.17 📍Location: The moat area on the east side of the ancient city and the north side of Wenyin Lake ⭐2024 Datong Spring Festival Cultural Activities and Performances Time: 2.12-2.24 📍Location: Southeast Town Guandi Temple 🍜Cuisine: Shanxi, as the capital of noodles Datong's cuisine is also famous for its knife-cut noodles, with Renji Middle School Knife-Cut Noodles, Dongfang Shuomian, Xijindao Noodle House, just choose any and you won't be disappointed There are even more recommendations for Shanxi cuisine, Longjuxiang Shaomai House, Kaige Restaurant, Northern Wei Family Banquet, Fenglinge, each restaurant is super crowded

Shanxi celebrates the New Year with vibrant colors and a festive atmosphere in the pear garden!

Datong Spring Festival Gala, a feast of folk culture 🗓As the Spring Festival approaches, the ancient city of Datong is filled with joy, A unique Spring Festival cultural event is being passionately staged! The intangible cultural heritage performances are wonderful, Dragon and lion dances, Jin opera high-pitched performances are extraordinarily lively, Immersing citizens and tourists in the rich traditional New Year atmosphere. Come to Datong for the Spring Festival, ➡Experience a cultural feast that spans a thousand years, Share the beautiful time of reunion, joy, and harmony! ✅Datong Ancient City Lantern Festival The place is full of New Year's flavor, the prosperous fire, the real ancient city wall, various lanterns are hung high, 🏮The colorful lights and the ancient temples⛩ complement each other, the lights are overflowing, Datong is different every year, you must come here to feel the New Year, and there are various 🆓 performances ✅Xinzhou Ancient City Iron Flower The iron flower💥 is a feature of Shanxi, super shocking! When the stars dim, the sound like drumming sounds like a galloping horse, the iron flower explodes in an instant to light up the starry sky, dazzling. ✅Pingyao Ancient City Guessing Lantern Riddles and Paper Cutting Shanxi landmark, stay for one night. Everything to eat and drink is available, experience the extreme guessing lantern riddles, cutting window flowers, eating hot pots, let you feel a different New Year's joy~ ✅Taiyuan Jin Flavor New Year's Eve Dinner On New Year's Eve, have a table full of Jin flavor New Year's Eve dinner, and count down with everyone🎉, the New Year's atmosphere is super strong~ ✅Qiao Family Courtyard Ancient Costume Welcome Ancient costume experience, cross the brilliant life of the young lady of Qiao's Grand Courtyard Must-eat delicacies: Datong Rabbit Head: The color is rosy, the aroma is fragrant, and the taste is spicy Knife-cut noodles: Named for "knife-cut", the noodles are medium-thick and thin, with clear edges and corners, shaped like willow leaves, and chewy Yomi Noodles: Made from yomi, the production is exquisite, it is chewy to eat, and it is high in nutritional value Hunyuan Cold Noodles: "The best in Beiyue", it is "slippery" in your hand, and "cool" in your mouth Pingding Braised Pork: The perennial "protagonist" on the New Year's Eve dinner, a "artifact" for meals Sweet and Sour Meatballs: Sour and sweet are especially good for meals, you will like it once you eat it Shuozhou Oil Fruit: Soft and sweet, you must eat it when you have a happy event Dingxiang Steamed Meat: After eating Dingxiang steamed meat, the new year must be prosperous Linxian Big Stew: The color is tempting, the side dishes are harmonious, the pork is fragrant, and the noodles are smooth Brain: In the food world, it is the existence of bean juice Historical sites: Pingyao Ancient City Yingxun Gate. Ming-Qing Ying County Jingtusi Daxiong Hall Caisson. Jin Ying County Fogong Temple Shijia Pagoda. Liao Datong Huayan Temple Daxiong Hall. Jin Taigu Cao Family Courtyard. Ming-Qing Pingyao Zhenguo Temple Wanfo Hall. Five Dynasties Taigu Drum Tower. Ming-Qing Guangling Shengquan Temple. Qing Lingqiu Jueshan Temple Tower. Liao Guangling Water God Hall. Ming and Qing Taigu Jingxin Temple Stage. Qing Jiexiu Chenghuang Temple. Ming-Qing Jiexiu Xian Shen Building. Ming-Qing Datong City Wall Hunyuan Yongan Temple. Yuan Shuozhou Chongfu Temple Amitabha Hall. Jin Lingshi Wang Family Courtyard. Qing Guangwu Great Wall. Ming

The 'Eighth Day Tour' Ritual

Using Ctrip to record 'measuring happiness with my steps' has been something I've been striving to do for the past two years. Perhaps the Spring Festival was too rushed, and I forgot to log the 'eighth day tour' with my two sisters to Huai Ren to see the lanterns. Today is the 'Dragon Heads-raising Day' in February, which is also commonly referred to as the day 'the year is finally over.' Once the year is over, it's time to put away the festive spirit and settle back into everyday life. 'Ctrip records' won't give up, and I've decided to log the 'eighth day tour' again. After five difficult years, what I wanted most was to repay those who have been kind to me. My two sisters are people I've always cared about, but I've been too busy with work to pay much attention to them. Taking my sisters to see the lanterns in Huai Ren on the eighth day was something I had been planning for days. I got up early in the morning and confirmed the day's schedule with them via video call: lunch at my eldest sister's house, playing mahjong at the office in the afternoon, and setting off to see the lanterns in Huai Ren at five o'clock. We left on time at five in the afternoon; my wife and I drove, chatting and laughing with my sisters, and arrived in Huai Ren in just half an hour. Although the journey was short, it felt like a trip to a different place, as Huai Ren is not part of Datong but belongs to Shuozhou. Huai Ren is our hometown, where our parents once lived, so setting foot on this land feels especially heartwarming. After getting off the highway, the roads began to congest. Once we found a place to park, the street lanterns were already lit. We headed straight for Huai Ren Park, where the lantern festival was being held this year. Entering the park, a variety of lanterns dazzled the eyes. Lanterns filled the trees, lamp posts, sculptures, and flower beds. As the night darkened, the lanterns bloomed with even more enchanting colors. The park grew more crowded, and later, when we tried to take photos in front of the lanterns, we ended up with group photos with other people. This place had become a world of lanterns, an ocean of people. So we left the park and went to another lantern hotspot, Huai Ren Renyi Square. Here, large lanterns were displayed, and since it's the Year of the Dragon, a huge dragon-shaped lantern stood at the center of the square. I think the group photo we took in front of the dragon lantern is the best picture of us siblings together in the past two years. The lucky bag lanterns were beautiful, the Huabiao colored lanterns were beautiful... all the lanterns were beautiful. Today is the eighth day, and tomorrow is the ninth. The ninth day of the first lunar month marks the twentieth anniversary of my mother's passing, so from the moment I stepped onto the land of Huai Ren, my heart was filled with thoughts of my mother. Seeing the lanterns in Huai Ren is also a prelude to the memorial for my mother tomorrow.

When it comes to Shanxi Datong, many people know that the coal industry is very developed. In fact, this city is also the capital of the Northern Wei Dynasty, and it is also the capital of the Liao and Jin Dynasties. The long history of building a city has left Datong with a lot of cultural and architectural heritage, and Huayan Temple is one of them. Huayan Temple was built in 1038 AD, which is the northern emperor-Liaozhongxi seven years. In the early days, it was the royal ancestral temple of the Liao Kingdom. It was not open to ordinary people. Because you are the royal ancestral temple, the architectural community of Huayan Temple is laid out and constructed according to the specifications of the palace. The temple is from west to east, and more than 30 buildings are arranged on the two main lines of the south and the north. Standing on a high point, the panoramic view of the temple is quite a bit like the Beijing Forbidden City. Because it was a Buddhist temple built during the Liao Dynasty, the Buddha statues in the temple reflect the aesthetics of the time. Compared with the thin winds of the Northern Wei Dynasty, the Buddha statues carved in the Liao Dynasty were partial and strong. Huayan Temple is the best-preserved Liaojin temple complex in China. It was destroyed in various periods due to war and other reasons. It has undergone several re-constructions and has its current appearance. Many dynasties in China have changed, and you sing me to the stage, and finally the East-West fusion, East and North culture. Looking at China, there are countless ancient temples, but there are not many historical scales close to Huayan Temple.

On the inner walls of the temple, there is a vivid picture of the story, which is a fairy story of the clouds. They have different expressions and different looks, only indicating the difference in identity between costumes and headwear. The gems in the rhyme of the clouds, the two worlds fly together. Long bowed to the golden body and prayed for a lifetime. No worries, no worries, and the heart is old with Cangshan. Sitting in lotus, accepting the dignified Buddha of worship and prayer. For thousands of years, he sat quietly here, his eyes wide open, and his compassionate tenderness. For thousands of years, he silently listened to the deep desires of his followers, the unsatisfactory realities in the real world, and the secrets of his heart. Then he used his compassionate eyes to penetrate the darkness to bring dawn, and to resolve the troubles and sorrows. .

Listening to Zen Buddhism, Zen tea, this is the bliss of life.

This temple is located in the ancient city of Datong. It was originally built in 1038 AD, which is the seven years of Liaozhongxi. After that, it was unfortunately destroyed in the war. Although the war destroyed the "recorders" of many civilizations, the foundation still exists. In 1140, because of the need to rebuild Buddhism, Huayan Temple was reborn. There are more than 30 buildings in Huayan Temple. The synchronous is distributed on the two main axes of the north and the south. It has a unique layout style and gives visitors a sacred and steady impression. The whole temple has these main tourist attractions: First, the Shanghuayan Temple consists of the Daxiong Hall, the Shanmen, the Temple, the Guanyin Pavilion, the Tibetan Pavilion and the hatchback; second, the Huayan Temple is The Bojiajia Tibetan Temple is the center, and it is composed of the surrounding Liao Dynasty statues, Shijing Building, pavilion-style Tibetan cabinets and Tiangong Pavilion. Third, the Huayan Pagoda is made of 100 tons of pure copper. Because it is a monastery, it must be inseparable from the Buddha. Therefore, the tower contains a statue of Sakyamuni Buddha, Guanyin Bodhisattva, and Jiaozuo Bodhisattva carved with centuries-old incense sandalwood. It is a treasure of Huayan Temple.

Shanxi Museum, you really know how to enjoy yourself! There's even this way to appreciate flowers in spring

Let's highlight the key points: This exhibition brings together masterpieces from famous artists such as Luo Pin, Zhu Da, Zheng Xie, Xu Beihong, and Zhang Daqian, displaying more than 70 exquisite flower and bird paintings! Flower and bird painting is a continuation of our country's traditional cultural development, permeated with profound humanistic connotations. From the Ming and Qing dynasties to the present, flower and bird works have become a medium that conveys emotions more easily than landscape paintings. The exhibition is divided into three units: Unit One | 'New Paulownia, First Appeal - Aesthetic Empathy in Flower and Bird Painting' Flower and bird painting integrates the natural attributes of flowers and birds with humanistic meanings, complementing each other. This is where paintings of the 'Four Gentlemen' - plum, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum - come from. Masterpieces such as Luo Pin's 'Ink Plum', Zhu Da's 'Lotus and Mandarin Ducks', and Zheng Xie's 'Orchid and Bamboo' are on display here. Unit Two | 'Fragrance in Painting - The Form and Spirit Relationship in Flower and Bird Painting' Chinese painting highly values the creation of artistic conception. As an aesthetic concept, artistic conception is an artistic expression of the painter's specific cultural mood, a pursuit of artistic transformation and expression. In Xu Beihong's 'Banana Leaves', Wu Changshuo's 'Agarwood', and Zhang Daqian's 'Lotus', one can explore the inner feelings during creation. Unit Three | 'Romantic Flower Language - Auspicious Meanings in Flower and Bird Painting' Chinese flower language appears in pattern form, becoming a representative pattern with unique Chinese characteristics. The symbolic meanings in flower and bird paintings are roughly divided into two types: using the natural attributes of flowers to reflect cultivation and realm; using relatively fixed pattern forms to express life's aspirations and symbolize auspiciousness and happiness. A world in a flower, a bodhi in a leaf. Different flower languages become artistic expressions of people's pursuit of a beautiful life. Whether refined or worldly, the language of flowers always holds a place of beauty and romance in people's hearts. Exhibition Name: Brilliant Blossoms - The Art of Flower and Bird Painting Address: 4th Floor, Calligraphy and Painting Hall, Main Building, Shanxi Museum, Taiyuan City, Shanxi Province Business Hours: Tuesday to Sunday 9:00-17:00, entry stops at 16:00 Suitable Seasons: All seasons Suggested Visiting Time: 2 hours Ticket: Free Recommended Highlights: This exhibition brings together masterpieces from famous artists such as Luo Pin, Zhu Da, Zheng Xie, Xu Beihong, and Zhang Daqian. Convenience Services: Self-service audio guides, baby stroller rental, wheelchair rental, central air conditioning, etc.

Taiyuan | Shanxi Museum

Visiting the museum requires an advance reservation, especially during holidays, when it's really crowded. However, during the holidays, the Shanxi Museum sometimes arranges for visitors to queue up after 4 pm, and there are a lot of people waiting in line, taking about half an hour to get in. The Shanxi Museum is one of the first batch of national first-class museums, a national museum cultivation object jointly built by the central and local governments, and the largest center in Shanxi for the collection, preservation, protection, research, and exhibition of cultural relics. Representative exhibits include the Marquis of Jin's bird zun, the Houma Covenant, Hu Fu's wine vessel, the animal-shaped goblet, the Meidigou painted pottery jar, the painted goose and fish bronze lamp, the bronze chariot for the footless man guarding the park, the stone sarcophagus from Yu Hong's tomb, and the six-piece jade pendant string. The museum is well planned, with a clear and detailed visiting route, and a rich variety of cultural and creative products. There are a lot of people stamping their visit.

Explore the Shanxi Museum and touch the "Jin Soul"

The Shanxi Museum is located at No. 13, North Section of Binhe West Road, Taiyuan City, Shanxi Province. It is one of the first batch of national first-class museums, and its predecessor was the Shanxi Educational Library Museum established in the eighth year of the Republic of China (1919). The exhibition area of the Shanxi Museum is 13,000 square meters, and the cultural relics warehouse area is 12,000 square meters. It has a collection of more than 500,000 items, featuring bronzes, porcelain, stone carvings, Buddhist statues, murals, calligraphy, and paintings. The basic display is themed around "Jin Soul". The five-thousand-year civilization can be seen in Shanxi. It is said that the three figures Yao, Shun, and Yu were all born in Shanxi. The ancient land of Sanjin has left too many footprints of Chinese civilization, and the Shanxi Museum is also worth your careful appreciation. After browsing, my personal favorite is the Northern Qi green-glazed dragon-handled chicken-head pot (Figure 2), which is 50.5 cm high, with a mouth diameter of 11 cm and a base diameter of 13 cm, unearthed in 1981. The dish mouth is slightly open, with the dragon's mouth holding the lip, the dragon's neck connecting to the belly, a fine high neck, a bulging belly, with three knobs on each side, and a treasure-flower attached below the middle knob; the belly has ridges, with four spread-winged phoenix birds attached below. The overall glaze is bright, and both the shape and material are exquisite, looking particularly textured. Friends who love Chinese civilization and the history of Shanxi, come and explore the Shanxi Museum to touch the "Jin Soul" up close.

The Fen Yang Tai Fu Temple's 28 constellations are actually hidden in the Shanxi Museum

In the Shanxi Museum, I saw the colored sculptures of the 28 constellations from the Fen Yang Tai Fu Temple. At first, I thought they were replicas, but it wasn't until I noticed the "safety belts" on them that I asked the administrator if photography was allowed. The answer I got was "Feel free to take pictures if you like"‼️ 🏯About Fen Yang Tai Fu Temple The colored sculptures + hanging sculptures of Fen Yang Tai Fu Temple hold a place in my heart that is at least in the top ten of all ancient Shanxi architecture. The original Ziwu Pavilion collapsed, but the colored sculptures of the 28 constellations were preserved. Eight of them were "invited" to be exhibited in the Shanxi Museum, while one remains in the temple. 🌟The 28 Constellations 🐉Eastern Azure Dragon: Horned Dragon, Neck Dragon, Root Ferret, Room Rabbit, Heart Fox, Tail Tiger, Winnowing Basket Leopard 🦚Southern Vermilion Bird: Well Wood Badger, Ghost Metal Sheep, Willow Earth Deer, Star Day Horse, Extended Net Moon Deer, Wings Fire Snake, Chariot Water Worm 🐯Western White Tiger: Legs Wood Wolf, Bond Metal Dog, Stomach Earth Pheasant, Hairy Head Day Chicken, Net Moon Crow, Beak Fire Monkey, Three Water Monkey 🐢Northern Black Tortoise: Dipper Wood Hyaena, Ox Gold Ox, Girl Earth Bat, Emptiness Day Rat, Rooftop Moon Swallow, Encampment Fire Pig, Wall Water Deer 🤔Some Questions When I visited Fen Yang Tai Fu Temple, all the colored sculptures were prohibited from photography. What impressed me the most were the 28 constellations, only one of which remained in the temple and was strictly off-limits for photography, claiming that taking pictures would damage the artifacts. So how come it's allowed to take pictures freely in the Shanxi Museum? The treasures left by our ancestors are not to be photographed just because they say so, is such a "regulation" reasonable? Since the Shanxi Museum allows photography, there must be relevant scientific evidence, so why is there such great resistance to taking a picture in the counties and cities below? I love Shanxi But I hate the "regulations" that prohibit photography‼️ Please respect science Let the cultural relics come to life and pass on the cultural context‼️

It's not that the Qiao Family Courtyard isn't good, but the Qu Family Courtyard offers better value for money

The Qu Family Courtyard, located on Dongda Street in Qixian, Jinzhong City, Shanxi Province, was originally built during the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty and has been renovated multiple times. The existing main structures are from the Tongzhi and Guangxu periods of the Qing Dynasty. Back then, the Qu family built 40 courtyards within the city of Qixian. Most of the residences along Dongda Street, Xindao Street, Gaoyuan Gedi, and Duanjia Alley in the eastern half of the ancient city of Qixian belonged to the Qu family. The existing Qu Family Courtyard is only a part of the historical buildings of the Qu family. It was the residence of Qu Yuanchao and Qu Yuangan, covering an area of 5,317 square meters with a construction area of 13,271 square meters. Viewed from above, the Qu Family Courtyard resembles the shape of the character '明'. The 'moon' part on the right forms the five-section courtyard on the east side, the residential courtyard, the opera stage courtyard, and the sedan chair courtyard, while the 'sun' part on the left consists of three quadrangle courtyards and the study courtyard along the western corridor. The entire complex is composed of 8 large courtyards, 19 smaller courtyards, and 240 rooms, with the main courtyard built like a castle. The composition of the Qu Family Courtyard is rich, with clever combinations of railing courtyards, bright tower courtyards, unified tower courtyards, opera stage courtyards, etc., arranged in a well-ordered manner. The rooftops have various shapes, including hip-and-gable roofs, suspended roofs, rolled eaves roofs, and hard roofs. There are tall arched gateways with exquisite watchtowers above. Between the courtyards, there are archways and passageways, with bright towers and unified towers creating a rich transitional spatial form. The Qu Family Courtyard is a microcosm of the entire Jin merchant culture. It preserves a large amount of folk, historical, and artistic information, reflecting profound cultural characteristics and containing deep and complex cultural accumulations. For tourists, the ticket for the Qiao Family Courtyard is 115 yuan, and it's overcrowded; the ticket for the three courtyards of the Qu Family Courtyard is only 16 yuan, and it's basically empty, offering an excellent tourism experience.