Shanxi Self-Driving Tour: Day 5 - Zhen Guosi Temple, Shuanglin Temple, Xinzhou Ancient City.

Day 5 Self-driving route: Xinzhou Ancient City➡️ Zhen Guosi Temple➡️ Shuanglin Temple➡️ Pingyao Restaurant Places to visit: ▶️ Zhen Guosi Temple, located in Haodong Village, Pingyao County, Shanxi Province, was first built in 963 during the Tianhui era of the Northern Han Dynasty. Originally named "Jingcheng Temple", it was renamed "Zhen Guosi Temple" during the Jiajing era of the Ming Dynasty, and the name has been used ever since. Zhen Guosi Temple's Hall of Ten Thousand Buddhas is one of the oldest surviving wooden structures in China. It was built in 963 during the Tianhui era of the Northern Han Dynasty. The inscription "Built in the 7th year of Tianhui of the Great Han Dynasty" can still be clearly seen on the beams of the hall. It is known as a "thousand-year treasure". It is one of the three surviving Five Dynasties buildings in Chinese Buddhist temples. Zhen Guosi Temple currently has more than 100 surviving murals, including 52 murals of Buddha's life story, located in the Three Buddha Hall at the end of the central axis. P1-P9 ▶️ Shuanglin Temple was originally named Zhongdu Temple. The oldest surviving stele in the temple is the "Aunt's Stele" from 1011 during the Dazhongxiangfu era of the Northern Song Dynasty. It has been around for more than 1,400 years. The temple consists of ten halls, which together house more than 2,000 painted sculptures from the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. Experts have praised it as a "treasure house of oriental painted sculpture art". The Thousand Buddha Hall on the east side houses more than 500 painted sculptures, accounting for a quarter of the total in the temple. The main statue is the Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, with a serene and charming face and a relaxed and natural posture. On the left and right sides are statues of Weituo and Yecha. The Weituo statue is full of personality, with a combination of martial arts and literature. It is a rare masterpiece of Ming Dynasty painted sculpture. The main statue in the Bodhisattva Hall is the Thousand-Hand Thousand-Eye Avalokitesvara, sitting cross-legged in the center. The hand gestures are ever-changing, and there are more than 400 Bodhisattvas hanging around, all walking on colorful clouds. P10-P17 ▶️ Xinzhou City was first built in 215 AD during the Jian'an era of the Eastern Han Dynasty and has a history of more than 1,800 years. The Xiurong Academy, Taishan Temple, Guan Yu Temple, and streets within Xinzhou Ancient City are perfect for a leisurely stroll. The ancient city is home to a variety of Shanxi-style cuisine, and the night view is also quite beautiful. It is a small city perfect for relaxation and leisure. P18-20