Things to do in Hunyuan

This has been by far my best temple experience. Booking tickets online was very competitive needing hours of planning and flexibility. The temple was far from the city and we took the tourist bus and had some difficulty finding the bus stop. The line to climb the temple was long and it was busy inside the temple. Despite it all, the experience in the temple was worth every effort. It is very unique temple, very beautiful, ancient, and not specific to one religion. We still felt the spiritual environment despite the crowds.

I've visited 3/5 of the Five Sacred Mountains and Three Great Mountains. Hengshan Mountain isn't difficult to climb, but it's still quite tiring. The scenery is beautiful, and the mountain itself is very unique, especially the section of road leading to the summit. The most distinctive feature is the four-legged staircase. I also climbed the Hanging Temple on Hengshan Mountain, so happy!

Overall, it's quite good. The Yuan Dynasty architecture has been restored to Ming and Qing Dynasty styles, and the sculptures are located in the center of Hunyuan County. Entering through the archway, there's an ancient pagoda nearby, and several halls to explore. The space is fairly large, ending at a cultural and creative shop. After exiting, you can circle back to the exit and walk back to the Drum Tower archway. The Ming Dynasty murals are fantastic. There's a well-done small museum near the exit. The cultural and creative products are just average, lacking the distinctive features of Yong'an Temple. I think it needs improvement.

The highlight is that it hides many national treasure-level ancient buildings such as the Yuan Dynasty murals of Yong'an Zen Temple and the Jin Dynasty brick pagoda of Yuanjue Temple. The ancient streets and alleys retain the original ecological atmosphere, and the cheap food experience is excellent when paired with authentic Hunyuan jelly and other cheap delicacies.

Just a few hundred meters from Yong'an Temple is Yuanjue Temple, where only this octagonal, nine-story, multi-eaved brick pagoda from the Jin Dynasty remains. The Sumeru pedestal features figures of musicians, reflecting ethnic minority characteristics. Only one level of the pagoda has open space, containing Buddha statues and murals. It is said to be poorly preserved and not open to the public. Only one small door on the first floor can be opened; the remaining four are decorative stone doors. The back of the four doors, which can be opened, features a carving of a woman opening a door. I last saw this at the Ancient Tomb Museum. Furthermore, the windows with railings on the sides are also non-openwork decorations. The small metal bird atop the pagoda is said to be the only surviving "wind-following bird" in China, still able to change direction according to the wind. I'm very curious about the type of base that supports its turning. In the 1970s, this brick tower was used as a water tower (I heard this from the guide, and there are photos in the exhibition hall, but I don't quite understand), while the current Bell Tower and Drum Tower were originally men's and women's bathhouses... There are guided tours available at the entrance for 100 yuan, lasting about half an hour.

The Hunyuan Prefecture Office recreates the scene of ancient government offices handling cases. It is located in the center of Hunyuan City, with convenient transportation and only a wall away from the Confucian Temple. Hengshan Mountain can be seen from the courtyard of the Hunyuan Prefecture Office.

The area around the wooden pagoda is relatively flat, making it easily visible upon arrival, and it exudes a strong sense of historical weight. Unlike artifacts hidden in the homes of the wealthy or buried in the tombs of emperors and nobles, this wooden pagoda, situated in the countryside, allows one to feel its presence throughout history, suggesting that generations may have stood here. Young birds flit about around the ancient pagoda, their light leaps creating a charming contrast with the passage of time.

I climbed Mount Heng, and it was very tiring. It took me about two hours to reach the summit, which was quite nice. It was just that it was snowing and quite cold 🥶, so you should bring a jacket when climbing.

Transportation to the Badaling Great Wall has become much more convenient. It's easy to take the high-speed train directly from Qinghe or Beijing North Station. There's a very long escalator between the train station exit and the exit, so remember to allow plenty of time when returning, as ticket checking closes much earlier than usual, and you might not be able to get in then.

Absolutely great palace even seen, all is incredible everywhere well maintained, almost incredible