Things to do in Sheqi

The student package is such a great deal! The Shanxi-Shaanxi Guild Hall and the Fire God Temple are absolutely stunning. The carved beams and painted rafters, the brick and wood carvings, the glazed screen walls, the flagpoles and stone lions—every single one is a masterpiece, a treasure!

The Sheqi Shanxi-Shaanxi Guild Hall, originally named the Shanxi-Shaanxi Fellow Townsmen Guild Hall, also known as the Shanxi-Shaanxi Temple and Guan Gong Temple, and formerly called Dingyuan Society, is located at No. 9 Yongqing Street, Shedian Town, Sheqi County, Nanyang City, Henan Province. Construction began in the 21st year of the Qianlong Emperor's reign (1756) and was completed during the reigns of the Jiaqing, Daoguang, Xianfeng, Tongzhi Emperors, and finally the 18th year of the Guangxu Emperor's reign (1892), spanning 137 years under six emperors. The main buildings of the Sheqi Shanxi-Shaanxi Guild Hall consist of a screen wall, a hanging mirror tower, a stone archway, a main worship hall, and a spring and autumn tower. More than 130 pavilions and towers remain, all paved with bluish-white marble both inside and out. The buildings are decorated with exquisite stone carvings, wood carvings, cast iron, and ceramic sculptures, exhibiting the grandeur of palaces and temples, the opulence of merchant guild halls, and the elegance of southern folk gardens. It is a typical example of Qing Dynasty folk architecture. In 1963, the Sheqi Shanxi-Shaanxi Guild Hall was listed as a provincial-level key cultural relics protection unit. On January 13, 1988, the Sheqi Shanxi-Shaanxi Guild Hall was designated as a third batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units by the State Council of the People's Republic of China. The iron flagpole is 15 meters high and weighs over 50,000 jin (approximately 25,000 catties). It sits on a Sumeru pedestal made of bluestone, with carvings of celestial horses, qilin, lions, and other mythical beasts on its waist. An iron lion stands atop the pedestal, and the flagpole passes through the lion. The flagpole has three cloud-shaped brackets (large, medium, and small), each with four wind chimes. Dragons intertwine between the cloud-shaped brackets, and each is topped with a phoenix poised for flight. The glazed tile screen wall is a mysterious wall in Chinese courtyards, used to block wind, gather energy, and protect privacy. The screen wall of the Shanxi-Shaanxi Guild Hall is composed of 476 glazed tiles forming three separate scenes: "Double Dragons Playing with a Pearl," "Carp Leaping Over the Dragon Gate," "Qilin Fighting Beasts," and "Fishing, Woodcutting, Farming, and Reading." These scenes are ingeniously combined into a single, magnificent composition. The Grand Hall of Worship is the main building of the guild hall, consisting of a main hall and a worship hall. It is 40 meters long, 22 meters wide, and 23.14 meters high. Two stone carvings, each 2 meters high and 1 meter wide, with a single-eaved gable roof, stand on either side of the hall. The left side is inscribed with "Eighteen Scholars Ascending Yingzhou." The image depicts Du Ruhui, Fang Xuanling, Yu Zhiyu, and others braving hardships, riding horses along a rugged path to Yingzhou, a place admired by all.

The first stop of our museum tour was the famous Palace Museum in my country. As soon as we stepped into the museum, it was as if we had traveled through time and space and arrived at the magnificent ancient dynasty. The architecture of the Palace Museum itself is a work of art, with red walls, yellow tiles, carved beams and painted buildings. Every detail reveals the majesty and style of the royal family.

The Longmen Grottoes are renowned for their beautiful scenery and rich historical significance. Construction of the grottoes began in the 17th year of the Taihe reign of the Northern Wei Dynasty (493 AD) and continued until the Northern Song Dynasty. Among them, the Vairocana Buddha statue is considered a pinnacle of Tang Dynasty stone carving art. Legend has it that the Buddha's face was modeled after that of Empress Wu Zetian! She has stood quietly on the banks of the Luo River for over 1400 years.

Overall, it was pretty good and I was quite satisfied. Many of the performances were quite good. The only downside was that it was a bit uncomfortable in the hot summer. It was much better in the spring and autumn when the temperature was more pleasant.

When the fog dissipates, you can see the shape of the mountain; when the fog is thick, you can feel the soul of the mountain. The most moving thing about Laojun Mountain is never the exposed peaks, but the myriad imaginations hidden in the clouds.

It's very worthwhile, but it's also very crowded, which might slightly detract from the overall experience. However, the people are incredibly welcoming, and there are many beautiful spots for taking photos. The food is also affordable and inexpensive, which kids enjoy. I'll definitely go back when it's less crowded.

It's a really fun place. It's huge inside with lots of delicious food stalls, like bringing the eateries from several neighborhoods into the park. The dining options are even more concentrated than in the city center. It truly combines eating, playing, and sightseeing all in one place. No wonder it's a 3-day pass; you could easily spend 3 days straight without getting bored.

You need to go early; a thorough visit will take about three hours. It's best to research Zhuge Liang beforehand, as many rubbings require historical knowledge. There's also a Bagua (Eight Trigrams) maze to play in. The Wuhou Temple is ancient and charming; walking on the moss-covered steps, you can listen to the wisdom of the ancients. In our time, what we need is to calm our minds and read more.