Impression of Taiyuan—Taiyuan Tour for Three Days

With the development of Transportation, it is convenience to travel Taiyuan, though it is far away from Guilin. After talking with my friends, I decided to travel Taiyuan.

 

At dusk day I arrived in Taiyuan, this is Taiyuan Wuyi Square in the evening, out of the station along the Yingze Street West.

Taiyuan is an ancient city, but the legacy sites in the city is not much, Chenghuang temple was rebuilt recently. According to historical records, Taiyuan Chenghuang temple was built in Ming third years of Hongwu period (AD 1370). Now Chenghuang Temple only has the drum tower, bell tower and Dongpei palace three buildings, the drum tower and bell tower building styles are similar, as a pair of twin towers.

 

 

Liuxiang Lane (Willow Lane), legend has it that the Ming first emperor Zhu Yuanzhang leaded troops to battle at the Yuan army military fortress – Taiyuan. Ming General Chang Yuchun in order to get the details of Yuan army who stationed in Taiyuan and know the situation in Taiyuan city, he sneaked into Taiyuan city. But Yuan army ambushed all around. General Chang in the urgent situation killed a way out General Chang was rescued, he deep thanked the old woman for help. When he left, he conveniently removed a willow branch in the courts toMrs Liu and said: “old mother, here soon was going to war. As to ensure your safety, please sticked it on the street gate, after seeing willow branches, the Ming army will be able to protect you.” In a few days, the Ming army attacked Taiyuan. Mrs Liu afraid that her neighbors would be hurt, she told all the neighbors to insert the willow branches on the door first. According to the General Chang commanded, after seeing willow branches his soldiers protected the house with willow brance.

 

After the war, the neighborhood wanted to thank Mrs Liu, also in order to be in memory of the recovery of Taiyuan, they implanted willow branches in front of the side street. The branches then took root, sprouted, and became green. With the passage of time, willow branches grew up and became a small willow, big willow and then old willow. From spring to summer, from summer to autumn, the small alley was filled with willows. Then, a beautiful name “Lixiang Lane” (Willow Lane) came to Taiyuan.

Now Liuxiang is Taiyuan's bustling business district, there are many shops and stores in the lane.

 

 

It was drizzle, but we still drove to Jinci Temple.

Jinci temple, formerly was the king shrine (Tang Shuyu temple), in honor of the king of Shanxi and his queen mother. It is located in the southwest of Shanxi Taiyuan, the temple has dozens of building, the environment is quiet comfortable and in tastefully laid out, which is famous for its beautiful scenery, the magnificent buildings, and superb art statue. It is a collection of ancient Chinese buildings, gardens, sculptures, murals, stone inscription art as one of the unique and precious historical and cultural heritage, is also the architecture, landscape, sculpture art center. There are three Amazings in Jinci Temple: Cypress of Zhou dynasty and locust tree of Tang dynasty, Nanlao Spring (hard to become old spring), and Maid Statue.

 

 

One of Jinci Temple Amazing: Cypress of Zhou dynasty and locust tree of Tang dynasty. There are more than 20 trees of national treasure trees in Jinci temple.

 

 

Shuijing Stage (Performance Stage) of carved dragon phoenix on the double-hipped roof.

 

Fengsheng temple, it was a Tang dynasty General Wei Chijing's villa. Fengsheng temple dagoba is 38 meters high, seven layers of octagonal.

 

 

Ming dynasty Wang Qiong Temple. This is a male ginkgo tree, and the right is a female ginkgo. Wang Qiong temple is located in Jinxi academy on the west side. Inside the temple, there is shrine in the middle with Wang Qiong statue dressed, and beside are 6 servants painted sculpture. Statues are relics in the Ming dynasty.
 

Jinxi academy built bin tenth years of Jiajing period (1531), formerly was the Ming dynasty official department minister Wang Qiong (Jinxi) villa, called “Jinxi garden”, later renamed “Jinxi academy” and became the school, also would be county class examination room. The existing building is reconstructed on the old site in recent years.

 

The third day was Sunday, early in the morning just pass by Taiyuan Catholic Cathedral, I am not religious, but curious about its unique architectural style.
 

Three days tour was over, the general feeling of Shanxi was a region with fairly strong folk culture. Until now every family handle wedding, birthday celebration activities are quite grand, some even celebrate for several days, it is very lively.

Taiyuan, the distant impression…Thank again for the hospitality of my friend.