Things to do in Jinzhou

Overall, it's alright. If you get up early, you can walk from the scenic area gate to Bijia Mountain at low tide; at high tide, you can take a speedboat. Once you reach Bijia Mountain, you need to hike, and it's not far to Sanqing Pavilion. Climbing Sanqing Pavilion requires walking uphill, passing through Pangu Square.

Fengguo Temple, first built in the ninth year of the Kaitai era of the Liao Dynasty (1020), is a national treasure praised by Liang Sicheng for its millennium-long history. Free from the hustle and bustle of commercialization, the entire main hall itself is a living museum of Liao Dynasty artifacts. The Mahavira Hall is the largest surviving nine-bay Liao Dynasty hall in China, its 48 massive wooden pillars joined entirely by mortise and tenon joints, without a single iron nail. The ingenious architectural structure of the Liao Dynasty craftsmen has allowed the hall to withstand earthquakes and wars, standing for a thousand years. The attendant bodhisattvas in the hall are the most captivating, their crowns and robes possessing graceful lines. The gold leaf paintings have peeled away with time, revealing the simple clay body; when the sidelight shines obliquely, the statues are half-lit and half-shadowed, their mottled and damaged appearance possessing a beauty refined by time—a testament to the saying "imperishable despite ruin." Forty-two Liao Dynasty flying apsara paintings remain on the beams, their brushwork still retaining Tang Dynasty style, making them extremely precious and rare. Over the course of a thousand years, it has endured numerous calamities. The legendary unexploded shell that landed inside the temple in 1948 adds a layer of historical weight to the ancient temple. Without the bustling crowds, Fengguo Temple stands quietly and desolate. Only by standing beneath the massive trees and ancient Buddha statues can one truly feel the faith and craftsmanship hidden within the painted beams and sculptures of the Khitan artisans.

The scenery is beautiful, the ticket price is cheap, and you can drive your own car in, which is great. However, the roads in the scenic area, especially the walking paths, should be improved; some parts are in bad condition and quite dangerous. Also, the attitude of some staff at the cable car station needs improvement.

Who else has been a loyal fan for 17 consecutive years? Me? Haha 😃 A journey of tranquility. Stepping through the mountain gate, I felt inexplicably at peace. The air was fresh, the environment was beautiful, everything was wonderful. Seeing Qingyan Temple getting better and better these past few years makes me so happy 😁 May we all get better and better 👌🏻

I'm so happy to have the opportunity to visit Fengguo Temple again. It's truly beautiful, especially since it just reopened after renovations in October. Overall, it's very nice, and I highly recommend and love it. I'm planning to visit the Ten Thousand Buddha Caves later; I hope it will be a wonderful experience as well. Today has been a wonderful day because of this wonderful trip.

The highlight is the breathtaking panoramic painting gallery titled "The Capture of Jinzhou," which creates an immersive battlefield experience through a 122-meter circular painting and sound, light, and electricity special effects. It also offers a wealth of precious cultural relics and free guided tours, allowing visitors to deeply experience the history and revolutionary spirit of the Liaoshen Campaign. The memorial tower and weapons park outside the museum are also worth seeing [__LINK_ICON].

We hiked on October 6th. It wasn't crowded. Children's tickets need to be purchased on-site at the scenic area. There were many performances and interactive programs, which were quite interesting and provided a great experience. There's no cable car, and the mountain isn't high or steep, making it suitable for both the elderly and children. We hiked at a leisurely pace, starting at 9:30 am and ending at 2 pm, including rest and lunch time. The glass walkway costs 30 yuan per person separately, and parking is 20 yuan per vehicle with no time limit. There are also some private parking lots outside the scenic area for 5 or 10 yuan.

There are many travel photography places at the entrance, the prices are not expensive and you can choose. The scenery includes the Little Potala Palace, the Little Great Wall, and the Little Temple of Heaven. It is too far to take photos at the Temple of Heaven in Beijing. This time you can take photos at a close distance.

Located in the core area of ​​the Jehol Biota, the Yixian Sino-German Paleontological Museum houses many precious fossils and also offers a simulated excavation experience. The museum is small but packed with valuable information, and it's quiet and not crowded. It's a convenient stop after visiting Fengguo Temple to experience the wonders of life in western Liaoning millions of years ago.

It's not as good as when it was first opened. In recent years, some places have been changed and some have been closed. You can just take a look at it when you have time.