Heritage with Related Tags
Coro and its Port
Coro has a unique Caribbean earthen architecture, the only extant example of a blend of local traditions with Spanish Mudejar and Dutch building techniques. Coro was one of the first colonial towns (founded in 1527) and has some 602 historic buildings.
Beijing Xuannan Cultural Museum
The predecessor was Changchun Temple, the "first temple in the capital". In 2002, the Xuanwu District Government and the Cultural Relics Bureau began to thoroughly renovate Changchun Temple. In addition to preserving the original architectural pattern, it was built into a cultural museum that is both a cultural relic and has outdoor and indoor exhibition areas. It was opened to the public in 2005. The museum vividly displays cultural content through the restoration and reproduction of three-dimensional cultural relics and typical scenes, breaking the traditional flat exhibition mode dominated by pictures and materials. The museum is themed on Xuannan culture and has 8 exhibition halls: "Long-lasting Xuannan", "Xuannan Scholars' Hometown", "Heroic Footprints", "Liyuan Scenic Spots", "South City Paradise", "Hundred Years of Business", "National Unity", and "Xuannan Cultural Protection and Development Achievements". Changchun Temple was built in the 20th year of Wanli in the Ming Dynasty (1592). It was built by Emperor Shenzong of the Ming Dynasty for his biological mother, Empress Dowager Xiaoding Li, to support Master Shuizhai. Emperor Wanli named it "Changchun", which means health and longevity, and it was sometimes called "the first temple in the capital". After the middle of the Qing Dynasty, Changchun Temple began to decline. In 2002, the Xuanwu District Government formulated and implemented a protection plan for Changchun Temple, investing nearly 200 million yuan. In 2005, Changchun Temple-Beijing Xuannan Cultural Museum was opened to the public, and the Changchun Temple scenic area became a beautiful landscape showing the style of Beijing's ancient capital.
Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison
Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison is an outstanding example of British colonial architecture, consisting of a well-preserved old town built in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, which bears witness to the expansion of Britain's Atlantic colonial empire. The site also includes the nearby military garrison, which consists of numerous historic buildings. The site's meandering urban layout demonstrates the different approach to colonial town planning compared to the Spanish and Dutch colonial cities in the region, which were built on a grid plan.
Historic and Architectural Complex of the Kazan Kremlin
The Kazan Kremlin was built on ancient ruins dating back to the Muslim period of the Golden Horde and the Khanate of Kazan. In 1552, Ivan the Terrible conquered Kazan and made it a Christian diocese in the Volga region. The Kazan Kremlin is the only surviving Tatar fortress in Russia and an important pilgrimage site, consisting of a group of outstanding historical buildings dating from the 16th to the 19th centuries, incorporating remains of earlier buildings from the 10th to the 16th centuries.
Historic Centre of Morelia
Founded in the 16th century, Morelia is an outstanding example of urban planning, combining Spanish Renaissance ideas with Mesoamerican experience. The city's streets fit perfectly into the hillside and still retain their original layout. More than 200 historic buildings, built of the region's unique pink stone, reflect the city's architectural history, combining medieval spirit with Renaissance, Baroque and Neoclassical elements. Morelia was the birthplace of several important figures in independent Mexico and played an important role in the country's history.
Odessa Historic Center
The historic centre of Odessa, part of the Black Sea port city developed on the site of Khazimbe, is a densely built area planned according to classicist guidelines and characterized by buildings of two to four storeys and wide vertical streets lined with trees. The historic architecture reflects the city's rapid economic development in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The site includes theatres, bridges, monuments, religious buildings, schools, private palaces and tenement houses, clubs, hotels, banks, shopping centres, warehouses, the stock exchange and other public and administrative buildings designed by architects and engineers, mostly from Italy but also from other nationalities. Eclecticism is the main feature of the historic city centre architecture. The site bears witness to the city's highly diverse ethnic and religious communities and is an outstanding example of cross-cultural exchange and the development of a multicultural, multiethnic Eastern European city in the 19th century.
Mining Area of the Great Copper Mountain in Falun
The most striking feature of the landscape is the Great Pit of Falun, which shows copper mining activity in the area since at least the 13th century. The 17th-century planned town of Falun, with its many fine historic buildings and the remains of industry and life in the many settlements spread over a wide area of the Dalarna region, vividly illustrates what was for centuries one of the world's most important mining regions.
Historic Centre of São Luís
This historic city was founded by the French in the late 17th century, occupied by the Dutch and then ruled by the Portuguese. Its core area has completely preserved its original rectangular street layout. Due to the economic stagnation in the early 20th century, a large number of fine historical buildings have been preserved, making it an outstanding example of an Iberian colonial town.
Old town of Regensburg with Stadtamhof
This medieval town on the Danube in Bavaria has many buildings of outstanding quality that bear witness to its history as a trading center and its influence on the region since the 9th century. The large number of historic buildings spans approximately two thousand years and includes ancient Roman, Romanesque and Gothic buildings. Regensburg's 11th to 13th century architecture, including the market, town hall and cathedral, still determines the character of the town, which is characterized by tall buildings, dark narrow alleys and strong fortifications. These buildings include medieval noble houses and towers, a large number of church and monastery complexes and the 12th century Old Bridge. The town is also famous for its ruins, which bear witness to its long history as one of the centers of the Holy Roman Empire that turned to Protestantism.
Wahuang Palace
The Wahuang Palace is the largest and earliest ancient building in my country dedicated to the ancient goddess Nuwa. It was another palace built by Emperor Wenxuan of the Northern Qi Dynasty, Gao Yang, when he traveled between Yecheng and Jinyang. It is a national key cultural relic protection unit and a national AAAA-level scenic spot. The Wahuang Palace was originally built with three stone chambers and several statues of gods. After generations of repairs and reconstruction, there are 135 buildings, covering an area of 760,000 square meters, divided into two groups of buildings on the mountain and on the mountain. At the foot of the mountain, there are Chaoyuanguan, Tingzan Palace, Guangsheng Palace and stele archways. Going up the 18-turn stone path, you can reach the highest Wahuang Palace.
Imperial College (Confucius Temple)
The Imperial College was the highest institution of learning and educational administration established by the state during the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, also known as "Taixue" and "Guoxue". It was first built in the 24th year of the Yuan Dynasty (1287 AD). It was extensively renovated and expanded during the Yongle and Zhengtong periods of the Ming Dynasty. In the 48th year of the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, a group of royal buildings, "Biyong", were added, forming the current regulations. The overall building of the Imperial College faces north and south, with three courtyards, covering an area of more than 27,000 square meters. The Jixian Gate (the main gate), the Taixue Gate (the second gate), the glazed archway, the Biyong Hall, the Yilun Hall, and the Jingyi Pavilion are arranged in sequence on the central axis. Students who studied in the Imperial College in ancient times were called "jiansheng". The Imperial College not only accepted students from all ethnic groups across the country, but also received foreign students. It played an active role in cultivating talents of all ethnic groups in China and promoting cultural exchanges between China and foreign countries. The main building of the Imperial College has been well preserved for more than 700 years. It is the only intact site of the highest institution of learning in ancient times. The Imperial College is famous for its long history, unique architectural style, and profound cultural connotation. The Confucius Temple covers an area of 22,000 square meters and has three courtyards. The buildings on the central axis are the First Teacher Gate, the Great Success Gate, the Great Success Hall, and the Chongsheng Temple. There are stele pavilions, kitchens, animal husbandry pavilions, and well pavilions on the east side of the front courtyard; there are stele pavilions and Zhizhai Hall on the west side, and there is a Zhijing Gate connected to the Imperial College. On both sides are 198 steles with inscriptions of Jinshi from the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, engraved with the names, native places, and rankings of 51,624 Jinshi, which are precious physical materials for studying my country's imperial examination system. Outside the Great Success Gate are the Qianlong Stone Drum and two related Qing Dynasty stone tablets. The main buildings in the central courtyard are the East and West Verandas and 13 Imperial Stele Pavilions; the Chongsheng Temple in the backyard is an independent courtyard, forming a complete ancient building complex of the Confucius Temple in Beijing.
Beijing Huguang Guild Hall Grand Theater
The Grand Theater of Huguang Guild Hall in Beijing can be said to be a well-known historical theater in Beijing. It was first built in the early 19th century and is now located in the southwest of Hufangqiao, Xuanwu District, Beijing. The architectural style of the Grand Theater reflects the magnificence of the inner courtyard of the imperial palace. It is an ancient building with carved beams and painted rafters, and has the style of a royal palace. The history of the Grand Theater of Huguang Guild Hall can be said to be long. So far, it has gone through more than two hundred years of historical vicissitudes. It is now one of the few remaining famous theaters in Beijing. Friends from both home and abroad like to gather here to taste the essence of Chinese national quintessence and experience the great charm of Chinese opera. Now, the Grand Theater of Huguang Guild Hall has integrated entertainment, dining, and shopping. It is both modern and has the style of an ancient capital. It can be said to be a tourist attraction that must be visited.
Beijing's Central Axis: A Masterpiece of China's Ideal Capital Order
The Beijing Central Axis is located in the center of Beijing's old city, running from north to south. It consists of 15 heritage elements in five categories, including ancient royal palaces, ancient royal sacrificial buildings, ancient urban management facilities, national ceremonial and public buildings, and the remains of the central road. Together, they witness the historical transformation of Beijing from an imperial capital to a modern capital, and showcase China's urban planning tradition. Its site selection, layout, urban planning, roads and design, as a whole, demonstrate the ideal capital planning paradigm recorded in the ancient Chinese book "Kaogongji". This area, located between two parallel rivers, has a history of human settlement of about 3,000 years, and the Central Axis itself originated from the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), which established its capital in the north. Many ancient buildings on the Central Axis were built in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and perfected in the Qing Dynasty (1635-1912).
Historic Centre of Kraków
The historic centre of Kraków, Poland's former capital, lies at the foot of the Royal Wawel Castle. This 13th-century merchant town features Europe's largest market square and numerous historic houses, palaces and churches with ornate interiors. The remains of 14th-century fortifications and the medieval ruins of Kazimierz (with an ancient synagogue in the south of town), the Jagiellonian University and the Gothic cathedral where Polish kings are buried further testify to the town's fascinating history.
Historic Centre of Zacatecas
Zacatecas was founded in 1546 following the discovery of rich silver mines and reached the height of its prosperity in the 16th and 17th centuries. Built on the steep slopes of a narrow valley, the town offers stunning views and many ancient buildings, both religious and civil. The cathedral, built between 1730 and 1760, dominates the center of town. It is famous for its harmonious design and rich Baroque façade, with both European and native decorative elements.
Beijing Lifes White Dragon Pond Scenic Area
Bailongtan Scenic Area is located at the foot of the Yanshan Great Wall, in Longtan Mountain, 30 kilometers northeast of Miyun County. It is 100 kilometers away from Beijing. Since the Han Dynasty, it has been said that Yinglong can bring clouds and rain. A white dragon has lived in a deep pool for a long time, spreading drizzle and benefiting the common people. "The white dragon drinks from the pool during the day, and hangs its tail on the back wall" is a poem left by Su Che of the Northern Song Dynasty. Bailongtan Scenic Area has beautiful mountains and rivers, many peaks and strange rocks, overlapping pools and hanging brocade, and pine and cypress full of slopes. The Ten-Li Daoren Creek is surging in summer and trickling in winter, and there is wild fun at every step. Eight hundred acres of scenic forest, peach and apricot flowers bloom to herald spring, green covers the cool summer, glass red leaves dye autumn, and pine and snow warm the winter. Here, ancient pines grow on stones, ancient temples are built on stones, ancient pools surge on stones, and ancient statues are carved on stones. The four halls and eighteen pavilions are ancient buildings that were built several times in the Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties. Emperors, generals, and literati of all dynasties have visited here every year to escape the summer heat. There is a "temporary palace" here, which is a must-go place for the imperial road between Beijing and Chengde Mountain Resort. Bailongtan has high mountains and dense forests, abundant water resources, and a cool and pleasant climate. According to tests by the national environmental protection department, the water quality, air temperature, temperature, oxygen content, wind direction and other relevant data indexes here are all better than the standards of the national first-class sanatorium. In recent years, this place has been replanned, ancient buildings have been restored, and nature has been protected. A mid-range hotel with 300 beds has been built, and the garden roads have been renovated. Wanfushan Jinguan Dafu, also known as the world's first Dafu, is located in Wanfu Mountain in the scenic area. Climbing up the Bailong Pagoda, you can see the vast Miyun Reservoir, the sky and water are one color, the capital is majestic and beautiful, Simatai, the highest point of the Great Wall, is within reach, and the snow-covered Wuling, the highest peak of Yanshan, is in full view.
Zhen Zeguan
Zhenze Temple in Shahe is located in Zhaosishui Village, Shahe City, Hebei Province. It has been repaired and expanded in successive dynasties. By the Ming Dynasty, it had become a large-scale Taoist temple. The temple fairs on March 1, September 7, and September 24 every year are well-known. The temple is filled with incense and people come and go. Outside the temple, there are busy cars and vendors. It is now one of the Taoist activity venues in Shahe City. Zhenze Temple was first built during the Kaiyuan Li Longji period of the Tang Dynasty (713-715 AD), more than 1,200 years ago. During the reign of Emperor Huizong of Song Dynasty, it was expanded on a large scale, and then three major repairs were carried out. By the early years of the Republic of China, it had begun to take shape. The temple has towering ancient cypresses, magnificent halls, and inscriptions in the forest. There are many resident Taoists and pilgrims. Later, due to the social sweep movement, the ancient buildings in the temple were almost destroyed.
Jingshan Park
Jingshan was first built during the Liao and Jin Dynasties, and has a history of nearly a thousand years. Jingshan is one of the oldest and best-preserved imperial gardens in my country, and was once an important part of the imperial palace. In 1928, Jingshan was opened as a park, and in 1957 it was designated as a key cultural relic protection unit in Beijing. In 2001, it was approved as a national key cultural relic protection unit and a national AAAA-level scenic spot. Jingshan is located in the center of Beijing. The park covers an area of 230,000 square meters. The relative height of Jingshan is 45.7 meters and the altitude is 94.2 meters. Jingshan has always preserved the mountains of the Liao Dynasty; the walls and palace gates of the Jin Dynasty; and the ancient architectural complexes of the Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties remain intact. In the 17th year of Chongzhen in the Ming Dynasty (1644), Li Zicheng led 400,000 peasant uprising troops to attack Beijing. In the early morning of March 19th of the lunar calendar, Emperor Chongzhen climbed Jingshan. Seeing that the situation was hopeless, he hanged himself in Jingshan. In 1930, the Palace Museum erected the "Ming Sizong Martyrdom Monument" at the eastern foot of Jingshan Mountain, and in 1944, the "Ming Sizong Martyrdom Monument for 300 Years", making it a famous cultural landscape in Beijing. There are five pavilions on Jingshan Mountain, with Wanchun Pavilion built in the middle peak; Guanmiao Pavilion and Zhoushang Pavilion built on the east side; Jifang Pavilion and Fulan Pavilion built on the west side. Climbing Jingshan Mountain, you can overlook Beijing and take in the ancient capital. The landscape of Jingshan Mountain is characterized by tens of thousands of peonies, peonies and other flowers. There are peony exhibitions in spring, lotus exhibitions in summer, and autumn chrysanthemum exhibitions in autumn. There are clusters of flowers in three seasons, and evergreen pines and cypresses in four seasons.
Cangyan Mountain
Cangyan Mountain has rich and colorful landscapes. The towering peaks, jagged rocks, deep valleys, ancient trees, clear springs and lakes form a unique, quiet and beautiful natural landscape. The thousand-year-old Fuqing Temple has a long history and outstanding architectural art, which constitutes a unique and spectacular humanistic beauty, making it enjoy the reputation of "the five mountains are all in one mountain, and the peaks of Taihang are only Cangyan". Fuqing Temple was built in the early Sui Dynasty 1,400 years ago. According to the inscription, Princess Nanyang, the daughter of Emperor Yang of Sui Dynasty, became a nun here and spent 62 years. The main buildings on the mountain include the Academy, Wanxian Hall, Qiaolou Hall, Dafo Hall, Sutra Library, Princess Temple, and Stele Pavilion. All the buildings are small and exquisite, built on broken rocks or across dangerous cliffs, with flying eaves and magnificent structures, and the clouds are steaming and the scenery is quite spectacular.
Beijing Yuetan Park
The Moon Altar was a place for worshipping the moon in ancient China, also known as the "Evening Moon Altar". As early as the Zhou Dynasty, the emperor had already worshipped the sun in spring and the moon in autumn. The only remaining Moon Altar is located in the west of Beijing. It was first built in the ninth year of Jiajing in the Ming Dynasty (1530) and rebuilt in the Qing Dynasty. It was one of the nine altars and eight temples in Beijing and was abandoned in the early years of the Republic of China. The "Moon Altar" generally refers to this place. The Moon Altar in Beijing during the Ming and Qing Dynasties was located to the west of Nanlishi Road and to the south of Yuetan North Street in Xicheng District, Beijing. It formed the Yuetan Park with the antique gardens to its south. The main buildings in the altar mentioned in the Ming and Qing documents, except for the altar platform and the inner altar wall, which were demolished, the rest of the ancient buildings such as the bell tower, Tianmen, Jufu Hall, and Shenku still exist. After liberation, the government strengthened the protection and construction of the Moon Altar and opened it as a park in 1955 for people to rest and entertain. After years of construction, the area of Yuetan Park has been greatly expanded. The entire park is divided into two parts, north and south. The north garden is characterized by ancient buildings with red bricks and green tiles and regular roads. This is the Moon Altar in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The South Garden is a newly opened tourist area, with rocks, pools, and winding garden roads, forming a natural landscape garden pattern. Its design and construction are based on the theme of "moon", and the name of the garden is also taken as "Yaoyue Garden". There is a group of small courtyards in the middle of Yaoyue Garden, named "Tianxiang Courtyard" with the meaning of "osmanthus falls in the moon, and the fragrance of heaven floats outside the clouds". On the wide lawn on the south side of Tianxiang Courtyard, there are several jade rabbits and Tianxiang Courtyard. On May 25, 2006, Yuetan, as an ancient building from Ming to Qing Dynasty, was approved by the State Council to be included in the sixth batch of national key cultural relics protection units.
Congtai Park
Congtai Park is located in the middle of Zhonghua Avenue in Handan City. It is a large garden built around Wuling Congtai, covering an area of 360 mu. The pavilions and terraces in the garden are hidden among the green pines and willows, and the mountains and lakes reflect the little boats. This was originally the place where King Wuling watched military exercises and dances, and now it has become an important place for the people of Handan to rest and have fun. The existing ancient Congtai was rebuilt during the Tongzhi period of the Qing Dynasty, covering an area of more than 1,100 square meters and 28 meters high. There is a door on the bottom floor of the three-story blue brick platform in the north and south. The wall on the right side of the corridor is also inlaid with the characters "Fu River spreads eastward, and purple air comes from the west". The top of the Congtai is Jusheng Pavilion. The pavilion was built in the 13th year of Jiajing in the Ming Dynasty (1534). It was built by Yang Yi, the military commander who defended Handan at that time, and it means "the one who occupies this will win." The pavilion is inscribed with the eight characters "husband and wife are north and south, brothers and sisters are in love". The big stone tablet on the steps of the north gate is a poem tablet written by Emperor Qianlong when he visited Jiangnan Road. There are 5 large houses on the first floor, named "Wuling Pavilion", which was built to commemorate King Wuling. The top door is inscribed with the characters "Wuling Congtai". Congtai Lake is located in the middle of the park, covering an area of about 40 acres. There are Yuanzai Pavilion, Qulan Bridge, West Lake Pavilion, and Wangzhu Pavilion built in the lake. There are long pavilions, rockery, flower gardens, tea pavilions, and restaurants built by the lake. The lake is rippling with blue waves, and the willows are swaying on the shore. There is endless fun in fishing or boating on the lake. There is a simple and elegant antique building on the north side of Congtai-Seven Sages Temple, which was built to commemorate the outstanding figures of the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Period, Han Jue, Cheng Ying, Gong Zhui Chujiu, Lin Xiangru, Lian Po, Li Mu, and Zhao She. The statues of the seven sages in the hall are lifelike and lifelike. The west courtyard of the Seven Sages Temple is a forest of steles for calligraphers of all dynasties, where you can appreciate the elegance of calligraphy art. The Wangzhu Pavilion on the East Lake of Congtai was built to commemorate Le Yi, a famous military strategist during the Warring States Period. Le Yi was originally a famous general of the State of Yan and was good at using troops. He was the descendant of Le Guanyang, a general of Wei. When King Zhao of Yan recruited talents, Le Yi went from Wei and was retained as the second minister by his son. He led the divisions of the kings of Qin, Han, Zhao, Wei and Yan to replace Qi, conquered more than 70 cities and made many military achievements. After the death of King Zhao of Yan, King Hui of Yan mistakenly believed in the counter-espionage plan of Tian Dan of Qi, and Le Yi was forced to hand over his military power and flee to Zhao. He was granted the title of Guanjin and was named Wang Zhujun. The western part of the park is a zoo, the northern part is various flower gardens and swimming pools, and the southeast is an open-air theater and a children's playground.
Temple of the Emperors of All Dynasties
The Temple of the Emperors of All Dynasties in Beijing was first built in the ninth year of the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty (1530). It was a royal temple for the Ming and Qing dynasties to worship the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, emperors of all dynasties, and civil and military officials. In 1996, the State Council announced it as a national key cultural relic protection unit. The Temple of the Emperors of All Dynasties has always taken the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors as the center of worship, reflecting the lofty ancestral status of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors; the number of figures enshrined in the temple has continued to increase. By the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, the tablets of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors and 188 founding emperors and successive emperors were enshrined in the Jingde Chongsheng Hall, and the tablets of 79 civil and military officials of all dynasties were enshrined in the east and west side halls. The Temple of Guandi was built in the Qing Dynasty to worship Guan Yu alone. The Temple of the Emperors of All Dynasties covers an area of 21,500 square meters and a construction area of 6,000 square meters. The overall layout is magnificent, showing the dignity and style of the royal temple, and is a fine piece of Chinese ancient architecture.
Ditan Park
The Temple of Earth, also known as the Fangze Altar, is the second largest of the five altars in the ancient capital of Beijing. It was first built in the ninth year of Jiajing in the Ming Dynasty (1530 AD) and was the place where the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties worshipped the "Emperor of the Earth God". It is also the largest altar for worshipping the earth in my country. The total area of the altar is 37.4 hectares, and it is square in shape. The entire building, from the whole to the details, is designed in accordance with the traditional and symbolic legends of ancient my country such as "the sky is round and the earth is square", "the sky is blue and the earth is yellow", "the sky is south and the earth is north", "dragon and phoenix", "the universe", etc. There are ancient buildings such as the Fangze Altar, the Imperial God Room, the Animal Slaughter Pavilion, the Zhai Palace, and the God's Storehouse in the Temple of Earth. The Temple of Earth Park is located on the east side of Andingmenwai Street in Beijing, adjacent to the North Second Ring Road and across the river from the Lama Temple. The Beijing Wax Museum, built in 1990, is located in the Zhai Palace. When it was first built, there was a 1,476-mu altar outside the altar, and the total area of the altar was 640 mu. It is now a cultural relic protection unit in Beijing. Ditan Park covers an area of 37.4 hectares and has an annual visitor volume of 5 to 6 million. It is a royal temple garden with a long history, solemnity and fame. The predecessor of the park, Ditan, was also called Fangzetan. Built in the ninth year of Jiajing in the Ming Dynasty, i.e. 1530 AD, it was the place where the emperors of Ming and Qing dynasties offered sacrifices to the earth. It is also the largest and only existing altar for offering sacrifices to the earth in my country. There are ancient buildings such as Fangzetan, Huangzhi Room, Slaughterhouse Pavilion, Zhai Palace and Shenku in Ditan. The West Gate Archway is tall and magnificent. It was rebuilt according to the style built during the reign of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty. The construction scale ranks first among the archways in Beijing. The green glazed tile surface is painted with single phoenix, double phoenix and peony patterns. There are two words "Ditan" in the center of the front and Guanghou Street in the core of the back. It is one of the main attractions of Ditan Park. Fangze Altar, also known as the worship platform, is the main building for the emperor to worship the "Emperor of the Earth". It covers an area of 17,689 square meters and is divided into two floors. Such a magnificent and spacious altar for worshiping the earth is not only the best in China, but also in the world. There are 116 species of plants in the park, with a lawn area of more than 114,000 square meters and a green coverage rate of 72%. There are 168 ancient trees over 100 years old, of which 80 are over 300 years old. Every year from the 30th day of the twelfth lunar month to the seventh day of the first lunar month, the Ditan Temple Fair will be held. At that time, a series of exciting activities with ethnic, folk and folk characteristics will be carried out based on the style of the ancient altar. In addition, the four book fairs throughout the year are also a major attraction here.
Jingzhongshan Religious Cultural Tourism Area
Jingzhong Mountain is located in Qianxi County, Hebei Province, in the heart of the five cities of Beijing, Tianjin, Tangshan, Chengde and Qinhuangdao. It is 180 kilometers west of Beijing, 150 kilometers east of Qinhuangdao, 75 kilometers south of Tangshan, 185 kilometers from Tianjin, and 140 kilometers north of Chengde. It is within the two-hour travel circle of the five cities and has a superior geographical location. The scenic area is only ten minutes' drive from the Qianxi branch of the Beijing-Shenyang Expressway and the Tangcheng Expressway, with convenient transportation and strong accessibility. Jingzhong Mountain is 610 meters above sea level. There are 1,872 steps from the foot of the mountain to the top. It winds between steep cliffs and extends among pine trees and rocks. The winding paths lead to secluded places with a new view at every step. Zhang Taifu of the Qing Dynasty wrote in a poem: "The road points to the outside of Santun, where green lotuses bloom. Ten thousand pines stand through the rocks, and one path competes with the sky." Jingzhong Mountain is known as the famous mountain in Jingdong. The characteristics of the scenic area can be summarized in three sentences: the natural landscape is ingenious and beautiful, the religious culture has a long history and is profound, and the ancient cultural buildings are ingenious and spectacular. Jingzhong Mountain was named "Famous Mountain in the World" by Emperor Kangxi for its beautiful and charming natural scenery. It is located in the eastern part of Hebei Province, with a solitary peak, pine trees blocking the sun, and a quiet canyon. In spring, the mountains are full of flowers and the fragrant wind blows on your face; in midsummer, the trees are green and the birds are singing; in late autumn, the sky is high and the clouds are light, and the forests are dyed; in midwinter, the snow is white and the ice is pure. In history, there are eight famous scenic spots in Jingzhong, including the lotus seat on the peak, the shadow dragon in the canyon, the morning bell of the cloud temple, the sunrise at dawn, the golden flowers in the wild, the blue water of Luan River, the overlapping green mountains and the deep caves, which are refreshing. It is worthy of being the first famous mountain in Jingdong for its ancient and mysterious views, wonderful explorations and charming views. The 1,872-level stone steps of Jingzhong Mountain are winding and circling, reaching the top of the mountain, which is magnificent. From a high altitude, you can see the endless mountains, and the waves of the Bohai Sea seem to be in front of you. The wonders are different and beautiful. Many literati, emperors and generals in history have a special liking for Jingzhong Mountain, and they have sung praises, and their poems, couplets and plaques have been widely circulated. When Emperor Kangxi climbed this mountain, he was inspired and wrote plaques such as "Famous Mountains in the World", "The Beginning of Famous Mountains" and "The Beautiful Scenery of Lingshan". Jingzhong Mountain has a history of more than a thousand years, and has accumulated a profound religious history and culture. Since the Tang Dynasty, Jingzhong Mountain has been called Ming Mountain, and has been popular for more than a thousand years. In the early Ming Dynasty, the Jizhen General's Office moved to Santunying at the foot of the mountain, and it was called Zhuque Mountain according to the names of the four guardian gods. Later, the "Three Loyalty Temple" was built on this mountain, and Zhuge Liang, Yue Fei, and Wen Tianxiang, three patriotic loyal ministers, were enshrined in the temple. The name was changed to Jingzhong Mountain to "admire loyalty and righteousness". In the second year of Jiajing in the Ming Dynasty, Ma Yong, the general of Jizhen, built Bixia Palace on the east side of the "Three Loyalty Temple" and enshrined the statue of Yuanjun. Afterwards, Qi Jiguang, a famous national hero who had guarded the foot of Jingzhong Mountain for 16 years, carried out two large-scale repairs. Since then, the incense of Jingzhong Mountain has become increasingly prosperous. In the early Qing Dynasty, Emperor Shunzhi and Emperor Kangxi showed great favor to Jingzhong Mountain. They visited Jingzhong Mountain six times and not only allocated a large amount of land and money to repair the temples and buildings on the mountain, but also granted a statue of the Golden Goddess weighing 16.4 jin and a collection of more than 4,500 volumes of the Tripitaka, which became the treasure of Jingzhong Mountain. The custom of "facing the golden face" has been passed down to this day. Xingzai, a great monk who had faced the wall in the Zhizhi Cave of Jingzhong Mountain for nine years, was summoned by Emperor Shunzhi to the Imperial Palace in May of the ninth year of Shunzhi (1652 AD) to preach and worship Buddha. He was supported in the Jiaoyuan, creating a precedent for monks to preach in the Imperial Palace and was granted the title of "Bieshan Huishan Puying Zen Master". According to the "Manchu Archives of the History of the Qing Dynasty", Shunzhi appointed Xuanye as the crown prince after consulting with divination at Jingzhong Mountain. Jingzhong Mountain was regarded as a royal temple, and every important political discussion would come to Jingzhong Mountain to worship Buddha and consult divination. As a result, its reputation rose and became famous all over the world. Jingzhong Mountain is 60 kilometers away from the Eastern Qing Tombs. In the past, Emperors Qianlong, Jiaqing and others would visit Jingzhong Mountain and pray for blessings and good fortune whenever they went to the Eastern Tombs to worship their ancestors, which made Jingzhong Mountain more popular. Thousands of years of history have left behind spectacular cultural ancient buildings. Since the Tang Dynasty, ancient temples such as the Sanqing Taoist Temple have been built on the mountain. It reached its peak during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. According to historical records, Ma Yong and Qi Jiguang of the Ming Dynasty successively organized the construction of temples, and Emperor Chongzhen sent people to the mountain for repairs many times. In the early Qing Dynasty, Emperors Shunzhi and Kangxi allocated treasury silver several times to build Jingzhong Mountain as a royal temple, which eventually formed three complete architectural complexes on the top, middle and foot of the mountain with "72 temples and 160 golden faces". There are both magnificent royal buildings and unique local folk ancient temples, Taoist buildings such as Bixia Palace, Caishen Temple, Zhenwu Temple, and Yuhuang Temple, Buddhist buildings such as Yufo Temple, Yuantong Zen Temple, Thousand-handed and Thousand-eyed Bodhisattva Hall, and Confucian buildings such as Sanzhong Temple. There are also new cultural landscapes such as Baoding Cultural Park that reflects the unique culture of Jingzhong Mountain, the first golden palace in the north where Jin Niangniang sits, and Wanfu Road that has won the Guinness World Record. All buildings are built according to the terrain of the mountain, with different regulations, and all reflect unique ingenuity. The magical natural landscape and profound religious culture have bred unique local customs. Every year on the 18th day of the fourth lunar month and the 15th day of the tenth lunar month, Jingzhong Mountain will hold a grand traditional temple fair. From the first to the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the "Cultural Festival of Blessing and Spring Festival" will be held. Tourists from Beijing, Tianjin, Tang, Chengde, Qin, Inner Mongolia and other places flock to the mountain, and merchants from all over the country gather here. There are many pilgrims. Folk cultural activities such as singing and dancing, opera, circus, shadow play, and flower fairs are rich and colorful, and the number of tourists exceeds 200,000. During holidays, the first and fifteenth day of each month, and the Buddhist and Taoist days of Jingzhong Mountain, people come to visit, sightsee, and make pilgrimages in an endless stream, either out of worship for the religious holy land that integrates Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism, or because of the attraction of folk cultural activities and natural scenery.