Things to do in Zhengding

This is a Buddhist holy site well worth visiting. The Thousand-Handed and Thousand-Eyed Buddha and the mural of the Reclining Guanyin are historical and artistic treasures that have been preserved intact for future generations to appreciate and understand history! An even greater gain was visiting the memorial hall of Mr. Liang Sicheng, where I learned about the contributions he and Lin Huiyin made to the preservation of historical sites in my country and their transmission in education, so that we, the later generations, can appreciate these historical sites!

Let me first check the treasures of Longxing Temple to make sure they're accurate before adding more words. Longxing Temple in Zhengding boasts six unique features, each considered the best in the country. First, the Mani Hall from the Song Dynasty, constructed without a single nail, is praised by Liang Sicheng as a unique example of ancient architecture in the world. Second, the Guanyin statue inside, seated backwards, with a beautiful face overlooking all beings, was praised by Lu Xun as an oriental goddess of beauty. Third, the Song Dynasty revolving sutra repository, the oldest existing one, can hold two tons of scriptures and can be turned by one person. Fourth, the Longzang Temple Stele from the Sui Dynasty, the ancestor of regular script and the first Sui Dynasty stele. Fifth, the over 20-meter-tall bronze Thousand-Hand Guanyin, the tallest ancient bronze statue. Sixth, the Ming Dynasty bronze Vairocana Buddha. With all six wonders combined, it's well worth a special trip.

📍Zhengding·Rongguo Mansion｜A Dream of Red Mansions Through the Ages, Cao Xueqin Forever I first read *Dream of the Red Chamber* when I was probably only seven or eight years old. My family had a 1972 edition, which my father kept on top of the bookshelf. Kids, the more you forbid them from seeing it, the more curious they become, so I climbed up to the top of the bookshelf and secretly peeked through it, hiding behind piano sheet music. I couldn't recognize all the characters, let alone understand the poems, but I just couldn't put it down. I was obsessed for many years afterward, reading it countless times and devouring many works on *Dream of the Red Chamber* studies. Later, my reading became more diverse, and I gradually put it down. But some things are hard to let go of. For our generation, who wasn't raised on CCTV's *Journey to the West* and *Dream of the Red Chamber*? When I think of Bao and Dai, only Ouyang Fenqiang and Chen Xiaoxu's images come to mind; any other portrayal just doesn't feel right. I've been to the Grand View Garden in Beijing a few times. This time in Zhengding, naturally, I wanted to see Rongguo Mansion at night. This is one of China's earliest film and television shooting bases. In 1983, during the location scouting for the filming of *Dream of the Red Chamber*, Xi Jinping, then Secretary of the Zhengding County Party Committee, strongly advocated for the production team to choose Zhengding as the filming location, transforming what was originally planned as a temporary outdoor set into a permanent building. In 1986, the Rongguo Mansion was completed, and *Dream of the Red Chamber* was filmed there for nearly two months, with approximately 4,000 shots completed there, including key scenes such as "Imperial Concubine's Visit to Her Family" and "Qin Keqing's Funeral." On May 2, 1987, the 36-episode television series *Dream of the Red Chamber* premiered on CCTV. This year, 2026, marks the 40th anniversary of the completion and opening of the Rongguo Mansion. Next year will be the 40th anniversary of the broadcast of the 1987 television series *Dream of the Red Chamber*. Standing here tonight feels like keeping a 40-year promise. Cao Xueqin lived less than fifty years, *Dream of the Red Chamber* was written approximately 270 years ago, the 1987 television series aired nearly 40 years ago, and the Rongguo Mansion was completed 40 years ago. The numbers keep changing. But some things remain the same. Standing before Rongxi Hall, I suddenly recalled the image of myself at eight years old, perched atop the bookshelf, flipping through books. Back then, I couldn't understand the lines, "Full of absurd words, a handful of bitter tears"... Cao Xueqin left posterity a story that will never end. Dream of the Red Chamber will always be read, and there will always be those who push open their doors at night to experience this dream that has lasted for over two hundred years.

Take subway line 1, transfer to line 3, and get off at Gaozhuxia Station. Exit D (there's a long staircase to climb after exiting). You can either take bus 115 or a taxi. A taxi costs 10-13 yuan and takes about 12 minutes. Take bus 115 to Shangjing Pilu Temple Station. After getting off, walk forward for about half a minute. There's a white bridge on your right. Cross the bridge and you'll see Houshe North Residential Area. Don't enter the residential area. There's a white Pilu Temple sign on your left (Figure 1). Turn left and walk to the end of the road for about 1 minute. To return, you can take bus 115 across the street (Figure 2 was taken from the bridge). The bus stop is on the right-hand side of the opposite side, marked with a circle. The bus journey is estimated to take 30 minutes, but the waiting time is long.

The Kaiyuan Temple Bell Tower is a two-story, square-planned, hip-roofed pavilion, 14 meters high, constructed of brick and wood. It retains the simple and solemn style of early architecture and is the only extant example of a Tang Dynasty bell tower in China with a clearly defined date. The upper level of the bell tower was rebuilt during the Qing Dynasty, while the wooden components of the lower level remain from the late Tang Dynasty. The bronze bell hanging inside the second floor, along with the tower itself, is a Tang Dynasty relic. The bell is 2.9 meters high, 1.56 meters in diameter, and 15 centimeters thick, with a simple and ancient design and a deep, resonant sound. Opposite the bell tower stands the Kaiyuan Temple's Sumeru Pagoda, also known as the Wild Goose Pagoda. Originally built in the tenth year of the Zhenguan era of the Tang Dynasty (636 AD), although it has undergone repairs throughout history, its overall style, structure, and proportions have been completely preserved from the original Tang Dynasty appearance. The Sumeru Pagoda is a typical square, multi-eaved brick pagoda from the Tang Dynasty. The pagoda has a square plan, nine stories, and is approximately 42.5 meters high (some say 39.55 meters), with a simple and solemn form. The pagoda's width decreases gently and regularly from bottom to top, with a graceful tapering. Each eave employs a layered, corbelled brickwork technique, simple yet powerful. The first level is relatively high, with a steep stone slab around the base, each side featuring a powerful, sculpted warrior figure in relief at both ends; two examples are shown here. The Sumeru Pagoda and the Tang Dynasty bell tower opposite it form an extremely rare early temple layout of "pagoda and bell tower facing each other." This layout is seen in Tang Dynasty murals in Dunhuang, but is almost extinct in physical examples; Zhengding Kaiyuan Temple is the only preserved instance of this configuration.

Longquan Ancient Town is one of the most interesting ancient towns I've ever visited. Its charm rivals that of Wansui Mountain Martial Arts City in Hebei. However, the only downside is the sheer number of people. Definitely avoid visiting during holidays. It's not fun at all; the overwhelming crowds halve the enjoyment. Even the NPCs (players) are exhausted. But visiting during the off-season will definitely be much more enjoyable. Watch the classic shows and sample some local snacks. It will make your trip to Shijiazhuang even more magical.

The Hua Pagoda at Guanghui Temple in Zhengding County, Shijiazhuang City, is an octagonal brick-carved, pavilion-style pagoda imitating a wooden structure. It consists of a main tower and a series of smaller towers, all built entirely of brick. They sit on a common square base, forming an octagonal plan. Standing 40.5 meters tall, the pagoda boasts a unique shape and a varied structure. From the third floor onwards, the tower's eight sides and octagonal vertical lines feature mural sculptures of dragons, tigers, leopards, lions, elephants, and Buddha statues, resembling a bouquet of flowers, earning it the name Hua Pagoda. Hua Pagodas are a unique type of ancient Chinese pagoda. On March 4, 1961, the Guanghui Temple Hua Pagoda was designated by the State Council of the People's Republic of China as one of the first batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Sites. The Guanghui Temple Hua Pagoda's unique shape is considered by experts to be unique both domestically and internationally, making it a highly recommended item.

【Environment】 🚗There is a parking lot in front of the city wall, and it is free. It is much better than the domestic attractions where you have to park your car far away and take a paid shuttle bus. It saves a lot of energy. 🏠It is not very tiring to climb the city wall. You can overlook the ancient city of Zhengding from above. The scenery is pretty good. The display board introduces the history of the ancient city of Zhengding and the attractions in the ancient city. Some pavilions on the city wall are still under repair. . 【Service】 🚾There is a public toilet under the city wall. It is very clean and has air conditioning and sofas for tourists to rest. 🍵There is a direct drinking water point, which provides direct drinking water of different temperatures. It is very convenient, unlike most domestic ones that can only enjoy this service at the tourist service center.

The Yuan Dynasty stone lions of Tianning Temple in Zhengding Ancient City have stood guard for a thousand years. Lions are guardians in Buddhism, possessing the power to ward off evil and suppress misfortune. These two stone lions are in a crouching position, their forelimbs supporting their weight, their hind limbs bent, their backs straight, with three tufts of whiskers under their chins and their manes spiraling down to their necks. They lack the mystical ferocity of Han and Tang Dynasty stone lions, and the docile gentleness of Ming and Qing Dynasty stone lions. Considering the prosperity of Tianning Temple during the Yuan Dynasty, these stone lions are likely a work from that period. These two stone lions stand quietly here, as if telling a story from a thousand years ago. They have no ornate appearance, no exaggerated movements, simply silently guarding this land and this temple. Looking at them, one can almost feel a sense of tranquility and peace, inspiring awe.

The Mani Temple is located within Longxing Temple in Zhengding County, Hebei Province. Originally built during the Sui Dynasty, the temple received its current name during its reconstruction in the early Song Dynasty (1052 AD). Despite renovations during the Ming and Qing dynasties, the main structure remains similar to the Song Dynasty's "Construction Code," and its overall layout retains a Song Dynasty style. The Mani Temple's unique architecture is unique in China.