Jinci Temple

Background

Jinci lies about 25 km southwest of Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, at the foot of Xuanweng Mountain, at the source of the Jin River. It preserves more than 100 buildings, sculptures, terraces and bridges. The Sacred Mother Hall was built in the Tiansheng era of the Northern Song (1023–1032); among its 43 Song painted statues, the Sacred Mother sits in the centre with 42 life-sized female attendants on either side, each with a distinct expression. In front of the hall stands the Zhou Cypress, about 3,000 years old, and a Tang locust tree is also ancient; the Yuzhao Feiliang is a cross-shaped Song stone bridge. The Sacred Mother Hall, Yuzhao Feiliang and Xian Hall are known as Jinci's three national-treasure buildings, while the Zhou Cypress, Nanlao Spring and the Song attendant statues are called the "Three Wonders of Jinci". Jinci is a temple honouring Tang Shuyu, founder of the state of Jin. Tang Shuyu was a son of King Wu of Zhou and younger brother of King Cheng; his son Xie moved the capital and renamed the state Jin. The temple's origins go back a long way: it is already recorded in Li Daoyuan's Commentary on the Water Classic from the Northern Wei, and it was expanded in later dynasties. Xian Hall was built in the eighth year of the Dading era of the Jin dynasty (1168). In 1961 Jinci was listed in the first batch of Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level. Its waterways and gardens blend together, making it one of China's earliest surviving temple gardens.

Local customs

Walk inward from Shuijing Terrace and Huixian Bridge, first seeing the four iron figures on Jinren Terrace, then Xian Hall and the cross-shaped deck of Yuzhao Feiliang. Enter the Sacred Mother Hall to study the Song painted statues, come out to see the Zhou Cypress and the Tang locust, and finally sit for a while by Nanlao Spring, with a visit to the stele exhibition of the Jinci Museum.

Travel tips

• Allow two to three hours for the whole garden. In summer there are many mosquitoes, so bring repellent
• steps and waterside stones are slippery in rain, so wear non-slip shoes. For tickets, go by the official rates.
• From downtown Taiyuan, buses such as 804 and 856 go directly to Jinci Park, and a taxi takes about 40 minutes. Drivers can take the Taiyuan Ring Expressway to the Jinci exit
• there is a car park at the entrance. Spring and autumn are best, with lush flowers and trees and clear spring water. In summer the green shade makes it a pleasant escape from the heat. In winter there are few visitors, and the ancient cypresses and halls take on a special mood in the snow.