Things to do in Ye County

This is a remarkably well-preserved Ming Dynasty county government office, and a fifth-rank one at that—a rare find. Stepping through the gate, I happened upon a live performance of a "court hearing" taking place in the main hall. On the blue brick floor, the magistrate, dressed in black, sat behind his desk. With a slam of the gavel, the bailiffs struck their sticks, their shouts echoing in unison. A woman in red knelt, pleading her grievances, while an elderly man bowed his head and delivered his testimony. Among the onlookers, some held up their phones, and children stood on tiptoe, peering in. The ancient and the modern coexisted in the same hall, yet no one felt a sense of incongruity.

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.

Pingdingshan City is named after the mountain - Pingdingshan. The Peak Park is located on the top of Pingding Mountain in the north of the urban area, and the name of Pingdingshan City comes from this. The Peak Park is 426.5 meters above sea level. The top of the mountain is flat and as flat as a whetstone, with an area of ​​850 acres. The Peak Park under construction has begun to take shape. The Peak Park is built on the top of Pingding Mountain, 427 meters above sea level, with an area of ​​about 0.6 square kilometers. The park has crisscrossing roads, rows of exotic trees, clusters of flower beds, and lawns like carpets. In front of the mountain are large tracts of pine forests, cypress forests, and locust forests, which are dense and vigorous, full of vitality. There are 666 stone steps for climbing, leading directly to the top of the mountain, which is magnificent. Planting trees and grass, supplemented by sculptures, fountains, and garden buildings. The Peak Park has become the best place for residents of the city to relax and vacation and for foreign guests to visit.

There was a slight unpleasantness with the merchant's customer service when making the reservation, as I had booked a guided tour of the Longmen Grottoes, but the merchant's page description was incorrect and I requested a refund, which they refused. I only got a refund after contacting the platform's customer service. Because of this unpleasant experience, I didn't have high expectations for the tour. However, once inside the museum, Mr. Pei's explanation was truly dedicated, and he was a very kind person; it was clear he genuinely loved the experience. Special praise! 👍 He made up for the merchant's shortcomings! 👍

A huge thank you to our guide today, Ms. Feng Ping. Her solid historical knowledge allowed her to vividly and clearly explain the historical stories behind the Shang and Zhou dynasties' ritual systems, diverse cultures, and the custom of "clinking cups and exchanging toasts." The entire three-hour tour was incredibly rich in content. The overall logic was excellent. The opening provided a general overview of the museum, and the content flowed smoothly between the exhibition halls. Her pacing was superb, bringing the profound Central Plains civilization to life. I felt so fortunate to have met Ms. Feng Ping; she's a perfect museum guide in China!

Yuanjue Temple in Hunyuan County, Shanxi Province, was built by Xuanzhen, a monk of the Jin Dynasty, in 1158. It was originally a group of complete ancient buildings centered on the tower, including the main hall, east and west side halls, mountain gate, and the main hall of the west cross courtyard. In the 1930s, the Japanese invaded and demolished all the wooden structures in the temple, leaving only the brick tower. The brick tower is octagonal, with nine floors of dense eaves, all made of bricks, and there are no steps to climb. The four sides are inlaid with brick reliefs, including Kabuki music, warriors, and beasts. On the top of the tower stands an exquisitely shaped iron phoenix, with its head facing west. It can rotate with the wind, acting as a weather vane and also as a lightning protection. It is a famous ancient Chinese wind instrument - the migratory bird (Xiangfeng bird).