Yuntai Mountain

Situated in Xiuwu County, about 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) from Jiaozuo City, Henan Province, Yuntai Mountain is among the first group from all over the world that received the title of World Geologic Park from UNESCO in 2004. It is also the only famous scenic area in Henan Province having the titles of National 5A Grade Tourist Attraction, National Forest Park, National Geologic Park, National Water Conservancy Scenic Area and National Macaque Natural Reserve.

Covered with verdant virgin forest, Yuntai Mountain is famous for its imposing mountain and water sceneries. The picturesque peaks and high mountains extend as far as the eyes can see. The highest Cornel Peak has an elevation of 1,304 meters (4,278 feet). Myriad springs, waterfalls and pools abound. Yuntai Waterfall, 314 meters (1,030 feet) high, is the highest waterfall in China. Deep valleys and quiet gorges, unique stones and wild flowers form a beautiful landscape.

Yuntai Mountain is famous for its water scenery, with a spring in every 3 steps, a waterfall in every 5 steps, a pond in every 10 steps. Yuntai Waterfall, the highest in the state with the drop in level of 314m, resembles to the skyscraping pillar. Tianmen Waterfall, White Dragon Waterfall, Yellow Dragon Waterfall, Y-shaped Waterfall form the unique scenery of the area. Duokong Spring, Pearl Spring, Yulie Spring, Bright Moon Spring are clean and sweet, making you reluctant to return. The Blue Dragon Gorge named as the first gorge of Central Plain is an ecology attraction for its unique phenomena, rich water resource and original forest.

Yuntai Mountain has long been recognized as a popular tourist resort throughout history. The Han emperor Xiandi (the last emperor of the Han Dynasty) had left his summer resort and mausoleum based here. It was once the secluded place of 'the Bamboo Forest Seven Sages' during the Wei Dynasty (220-265) and the Jin Dynasty (265-420). In the Tang Dynasty (618-907), Sun Simiao, the medicine king, often collected herbs and made traditional Chinese medicines here. The great poet of the Tang Dynasty, Wang Wei, wrote an immortal verse on Cornel Peak, 'one misses relatives the most during the holidays'. Many famous visitors in history left their stone inscriptions and steles here, enriching its cultural value. 

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Luoyang Peony Festival

“The peony of Luoyang is the most beautiful under heaven", as the saying goes. The peony, the emblem flower of Luoyang, is lauded as "queen of flowers with ethereal color and celestial fragrance.” Since the Tang Dynasty no Chinese city has been able to rival Luoyang in growing peonies. Of the 500,000 peony shrubs in 350-odd strains that are cultivated in Luoyang, the yaohuang (Yaos yellow peony) and weizi (Weis purple peony) are the "king"and "queen"of all peonies. The first Luoyang Peony Festival took place on April 15-25 in 1983; since then it has become a major annual event.

During the peony festival, gardens are awash with colorful flowers mostly reds mixed with whites, yellows and purples set against a background of thick, vibrant, dark green leaves, like a myriad of precious stones set in bright, shiny rings. In addition, there are various folk performances staged in the gardens. The main venue of the annual Luoyang Peony Festival is Luoyang National Peony Garden, located in the town of Mongshan on the outskirts of Luoyang. China highlights has listed the following gardens to see the peonies.

Luoyang National Peony Garden

Luoyang National Peony Garden is one of the oldest gardens to grow and reproduce peonies in China. It is divided into North Garden and South Garden. There are over 1 million peony trees of 1,200 different kinds. The peony blooming here is highly reputed for its big flower, flamboyant color, numerous species and lasting florescence.

Blooming date: more than 100 kinds of peonies will first bloom from April 5th to 10th; 500 or so kinds of rare peonies will be in full bloom from April 11th to 20th; other 200 species usually flower late from April 21st to May 4th. The garden is especially famous for the 1600-year-old and 3-meter-high “peony king”.

Shenzhou Peony Garden

Shenzhou Peony Garden is located opposite the White Horse Temple, featuring the special architectural style and landscape garden of the prosperous Tang Dynasty. Visitors will see over 30,000 peony trees of 840 kinds in full bloom. The peony garden is divided into five scenic areas including Peony Culture Area, Peony Leisure Area and Peony Viewing Area. The garden also stages fantastic folk cultural performances.

Bloom Date: The initial bloom stage for peonies growing here is around April 9th every year; the middle bloom stage is from April 14th to 20th and the late bloom stage can extend to early May.

Xiyuan Park

Xiyuan Park was built on the site of Xiyuan Ruins, the palace of Emperor Yangdi during the Sui Dynasty. The park accentuates a theme of "watch peonies and appreciate bonsais" and launches many special tour activities related to the theme. Inside the park different kinds of peonies and oddly shaped bonsais are integrated into an exotic world of peony garden work.

Blooming date: early peonies and peony bonsais will be in bloom at the beginning of April. Usually the full bloom stage is around April 16th every year. The late peonies can flower in early May.

There are many full-length variety shows, flower watching, lantern show, exhibitions of traditional Chinese calligraphy and painting and photography, symposiums, and business talks. Banquets are arranged for peony admirers, and all kinds of snacks and refreshments are served as well.

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Longyuwan National Forest Park

Situated in the mountainside of Mountain Funiushan, southwest of Luoyang, Longyuwan National Forest Park has an area over 60,000 mu (9,884 acres) with 12 scenic areas and 218 spots of interest. To meet most visitors’ need, the forest park opened to the public in May of 1994 and was honored the first National Civilized Forest Park of Henan Province seven years later. In 2002, it was listed as the National AAAA Tourist Spot by China National Tourist Office. Longyuwan National Forest Park is a perfect choice for summer vacations as the highest temperature in summer is just 21 C (69.8 F) and the average annual temperature is 12 C (53.6 F). Nowadays, it has attracted millions of visitors for its rich natural resources.

Longyuwan National Forest Park is a state forest park authorized by Ministry of Forestry of China. Now there are 12 scenic sections composed of 100 scenic spots. Longyuwan National Forest Park is the backyard garden of Luoyang city; it is also the top of the ten famous singhts in Luanchuan County. It is outstanding for its lofty mountains, limpid water, bizarre peaks, odd rocks, incommodious valleys, quiet hollows, imposing scenes and lucid springs. The 6600 acres of pine trees decorate the whole mountians, making the mountains a splendid vision. The highest mountaintop in the mountains is Changxiaofeng (also named Jijiaojian), which is 2212.5 meters above the sea level. The peak is like the beak of a singing cock, weird, appalling and breathtaking.

There are many places of interest to visit in the Longyuwan National Forest Park:

Jijiaojian Peak: as its name implies, it looks like a rooster's head has an altitude of 2,219 meters (7,280 feet), and is the highest peak on Funiushan Mountain. It is noted for the No.1 Peak in the Central Plains of China. The most beautiful scenery is in May, when you can see the mountainside covered with 200 mu (33 acres) white and red azaleas on the top the Jijiaoshan Peak. In fact, it is the largest azaleas garden with probably the finest flowers of their kind in China currently.

Heilong (Black Dragon) Pond: The pond takes its name from the legend which says that a black dragon took bath here. The Heilong Pond rushes down the mountain in two steps and forms a pool of swirling green water on each level. The waterfall coursing from the pond has a drop of more than 34 meters (112 feet), and makes a deafening sound. Beside the pond, there is the Black Dragon King Temple, where the villagers pray to God for rain. Also there are Sun Pond, the Yueya Pond (crescent pond) and the Xingguang Pond (starlight pond). They connect with each other to form a circle.

Other places worthy of mention are the Hongluo Temple, Longyuwan, the Leida Rock and over 20 dells. Each and every one has a unique style and is well worth seeking out when visiting the area. In addition, visitors can taste the special local products there, such as walnut, Chinese chestnut, Chinese gooseberry and potherb.

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Yellow River Xiaolangdi Scenic Area

The Yellow River Xiaolangdi Scenic Area is a large-scale eco-tourism zone formed by the Xiaolangdi Water Control Project, the second largest water conservancy project of China, integrating sightseeing, leisure and a holiday resort. This scenic area spans across three cities, i.e., Luoyang, Sanmenxia and Jiyuan, 175 km long, with an area of 1,262 sq km. It contains 113 scenic spots, 13 scenic areas and four major parts — Xiaolangdi Dam, Jingzi Mountain, Bali Gorge and Sanmenxia Gorge. In the scenic zone, tourists can appreciate the unique charm of the Yellow River, and the magnificent scene when the sluices on the dam are open to release floods. The Xiaolangdi Multipurpose Dam Project has become a dominating feature of this stretch of the mighty river and the three gorges to be found here are a major attraction.

Xiaolangdi Multipurpose Dam Project

The Dam Project is an eye catching feature of the whole scenic area. In total the cost of the project has been RMB 42 billion and it is not only a milestone in the history of the continuing effort to tame the Yellow River, but it is also a masterpiece in the history of world hydro-engineering. It creates three firsts in the world and six firsts in China. This vast record breaking construction is 1667 meters (about 1823 yards) long with a height of 154 meters (about 500 feet). Following the completion of the project a vast reservoir covering 272 square kilometers (about 105 square miles) has been formed above the dam. The views across this vast shimmering man-made lake surrounded by towering mountains are amazing.

The Three Gorges of Yellow River

The Three Gorges are the essence of this scenic area on the Yellow River. Situated on the upper reaches of Xiaolangdi Multipurpose Dam, the gorges cover 40 square kilometers (about 15 square miles). Each gorge has its own characteristics. Bali Gorge forms the narrowest part of these reaches of the river and the water gushes between the sheer cliffs on either side. Gushan Gorge is extraordinary as if it were cut out by some supernatural beings while the Dragon and Phoenix Gorge winds snake-like between steep sides. All in all the Three Georges of the Yellow River present uniquely beautiful water and mountain scenery in northern region of China.

Some 16 km from the Xiaolangdi Water Control Project, the Xixiayuan Project possesses four hydraulic turbine generating units with a combined installed capacity of 140,000 kw. The Xixiayuan Reservoir Dam is 3,122 m long, being the longest dam on the Yellow River. The Xixiayuan Reservoir is adjacent to the western part of the Yellow River Wetland Waterfowl Nature Reservoir. Together with the wetland reserve, the reservoir has played an important role in improving the local ecological environment and providing an ideal tourist destination and a leisure and entertainment center on water for tourists.

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White Cloud Mountain National Forest Park

The White Cloud Mountain National Forest Park was established in September, 1992. Located in southern Song County, Luoyang, the hinterland of the Funiu Mountain Ridge, it occupies a total area of 168 sq kilometers (64.9 sq miles). It invites visitors to refresh themselves in its natural beauty.

With 98.5 percent of its area in forest, this park is in the transition area between warm-temperate zone and subtropical zone. The vegetation of both northern and southern China coexists in it. Within the forest park, there are 204 types of animals, 1991 types of plants, and 3,000 types of insects. For instance, there is ancient and rare foliage: cercidiphyllum and the alpine rhododendron, as well as some precious animals: giant salamander, leopard and golden eagle. This is an excellent place to appreciate the primitive beauty of nature. The Water-curtain Cave, the Folded (Zhedie) Waterfall and the Fairy Pool are located here. The landscape is beautiful beyond description.

The average temperature of the park in summer is less than 18 degrees centigrade (64.4F), while the highest is less than 26 degrees centigrade (78.8F). It is a magnificent summer resort, but blooming flowers in spring, clear waters and seas of cloud in summer, crimson leaves in autumn and majestic white-clad mountains in winter make the White Cloud Mountain National Forest Park an all-year-round Chinese resort.

The most famous in this park is White Cloud Peak. At 2,150 meters (7,054 feet) above the sea level, White Cloud Peak is one of the main peaks of the Funiu Mountain Ridge. The clouds crowd around it perennially making it like a fairyland on earth. There are folk ballads and proverbs saying that the peak can indicate weather changes by the position of the clouds around the peak. Dazzling and fascinating, the peak is a perfect location for mountain climbers to seek novelty.

This area has an abundant water supply. It dashes downwards and scours out scattered waterfalls and deep pools. The Jiulong waterfall, Qinglong Waterfall, and the Heilong Pool are some of the appealing sights in this area. It is an ideal summer resort and it is also good to visit Luoyang in May for the blooms of azalea here.

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Chinese Kung Fu (Martial Arts)

Chinese kung fu, also known as Chinese martial arts, is one of the most well known examples of traditional Chinese culture. It is probably one of the earliest and longest lasting sports which utilize both brawn and brain. Nowadays, it is regarded as a traditional sport gaining more and more popularity and even stands as a representative for Chinese culture. Styles including Shaolin, Tai Chi and Qigong have many followers worldwide.

It is estimated that Chinese Kung Fu can be dated back to primeval society. At that time people used cudgels to fight against wild beasts. Gradually they accumulated experience in self defense. When the Shang Dynasty (1600–1046 BC) began, hunting was considered as an important measure of kung fu training.

The theory of kung fu is based upon classical Chinese philosophy. Over its long history it has developed as a unique combination of exercise, practical self-defense, self-discipline, and art. There are some main classification of Kungfu.

Shaolin Martial Arts: Originated in the Shaolin Temple in Henan, this is considered the premier style in China and is widely spread all over the world. Both of its physical exercise and mental training are based upon Buddhist philosophy.

Taijiquan (tai chi), is a Taoist internal martial art. One account of the history of taijiquan credits its development to the Taoist immortal Chang San-feng, who is said to have drawn the inspiration for the art by watching a fight between an snake and an aggressive eagle.

"Qi gong" (literally 'breath exercise') is an invaluable component of traditional Chinese medicine that has its origin in ancient times. Its primary stimulus was the search for longevity, with the ultimate aim of immortality, which has so enchanted the Chinese mind for centuries.

Kung Fu Stars

Bruce Lee (1940 - 1973): Bruce Lee was a Chinese-American martial artist and actor, who is considered by many as the most influential martial artist of the 20th century, and an important cultural icon. He used Wing Chun, a branch of Chinese kung fu, as his base, learned from the influences of other martial arts, and later created his own martial art philosophy — Jeet Kune Do. His films are The Big Boss, Fist of Fury, Way of the Dragon, Enter the Dragon, and Game of Death.

Jackie Chan (Born 1954): Jackie Chan is a Hong Kong martial artist, actor, and singer. He began his film career as a stuntman in the Bruce Lee films. Now a cultural icon, he is widely known for injecting comedy and stunts into his martial arts performances. Jackie has received stars on the Hong Kong Avenue of Stars and the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2008 he sang at the closing ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics. He has starred in over 100 films, and some famous ones include Rumble in the Bronx, Rush Hour, and Who Am I.

Jet Li (Born 1963): Born in Beijing, Jet Li was a five-time national wushuchampion. After retiring from wushuat the age of 17, he demonstrated his skills in cinema, and won great acclaim in China as a debut actor with the film Shaolin Temple. He went on to star in many martial arts films, of which the most notable are the Once Upon A Time in China series, portraying famous folk hero Wong Fei Hung. His roles in Hollywood films include being a villain in Lethal Weapon 4, acting alongside Sylvester Stallone in The Expendables, as well as Hero, Fealess, and The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor.

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Luoyang Ancient Tombs Museum

Luoyang Ancient Tombs Museum is a museum presenting Chinese ancient tombs in Luoyang, Henan province. The Museum was established in 1984 and opened to the public in 1987. It is located on Mang Hill, in the eastern side of Zhongtou Village, about 10 km (6.2 mi) north of Luoyang City. Covering an area of nearly 3 hectares (7.4 acres), the museum is housed in a complex of grand buildings in the Han Dynasty architectural style.

The museum comprises two parts: an underground and an above ground sections. The above ground part contains a Han-style gate and several halls. Tomb models from the Stone Age to the Han Dynasty, restored funerary objects and funeral rituals are displayed in the eastern hall.

The underground section is a tomb group’s site which is about 7 meters underground and contains 22 tombs from Henan province. The architectures in the underground section are arranged in the Chinese character '回', totally moving and rehabilitating 22 typical tombs from the Western Han Dynasty to the Northern Song Dynasty. They are mainly funerary objects, daily utensils and ornaments, the excavated color-painted pottery figures and the pink guardian animals being the most impressive. Another highlight in this section are the eye-catching murals depicting the ascent to heaven and the attainment of immortality, the exorcising of demons, fairy tales, historical stories, diagrams of astronomical phenomena and scenes of family life and social life of the tombs' occupants.

In the above ground section, you will see the tablet inscribed with the name of the museum in Chinese characters, the Menque (a kind of ornamental watchtower set in front of palaces, mausoleums, temples and residences) carved from white marble, the Xumu (prelude) Hall with a pair of Tianlu (a mythical creature said to ward off evil spirits). The hall houses the sand map showing the distribution of the Han Dynasty tombs. The side halls present models of the tombs, burial objects and simulations of funeral scenes from the primitive society to the Zhou Dynasty, which illustrate clearly the development of ancient tombs and the local customs of ancient Luoyang. Behind Xumu Hall lies the Xuan Hall, which is the entrance to the underground section. The latter half of the above ground section contains the Sijiao (quadrangle) Pavilion and the Wangjing (sightseeing) Pavilion.

Luoyang Ancient Tombs Museum is not only a distinctive museum with pseudo-archaic architectures, ancient tombs and murals, but is also has a modern garden with exuberant grass and flowers, tall trees, artificial hills, piled stones, pools and fountains. You are sure to find it charming and attractive. By the way, The museum is very close to Luoyang Airport, three stops away by bus. Passengers who will make short stopovers in Luoyang Airport can spare some time there.

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White Horse Temple----- "the cradle of Chinese Buddhism"

White Horse Temple is, according to tradition, the first Buddhist temple in China, established in 68 AD under the patronage of Emperor Ming in the Eastern Han capital Luoyang. The temple, although small in size in comparison to many other temples in China, is considered by most believers as "the cradle of Chinese Buddhism".

In the year 64 of the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220), Emperor Ming sent a delegation of his men to study Buddhism in the western world. Two eminent Indian monks named She Moteng and Zhu Falan came back with the delegation 3 years later. They brought with them a white horse carrying Buddhist sutras and Buddhist figures on its back. This was the first time that Buddhism appeared in China. To express his thanks to the two monks and their white horse, the emperor ordered the building of a monastery which he named the White Horse Temple. During this time, the two monks were busy translating sutras in the temple until they completed the Chinese sutra 'Forty-two Chapter Sutra', which attracted many monks and meant that the temple became a centre for Buddhist activity in China. It is for this reason that the temple is honored as the 'Founder's Home' and the 'Cradle of Buddhism in China'.

White Horse TempleThe temple is covered with green ancient trees and appears solemn and tranquil. Outside the gate, there is a pool with fences around and lovely fish in the water. It is for the believers to set free the captive animals. After crossing the pool via a stone bridge, you will enter the temple. To the east and west of the gate are the tombs of She Moteng and Zhu Falan, which are one of the six most famous sights here. In the east corner stands a tablet pavilion. The Chinese characters written on the tablet are the work of a Chinese calligrapher abbot Shamen Wencai, designed during the Yuan Dynasty (1271-368). They are written in his familiarly free and easy style and describe the history of the temple.

The temple boasts great antique architecture which has remained intact for over 1,900 years. The Hall of Heavenly Kings, Hall of the Great Buddha, Hall of Mahavira, Hall of Guidance and the Cool and Clear Terrace appear in proper order in the temple, as they were when it was first built.

The first large hall in the temple complex is known as ‘The Hall of Heavenly Kings’ where statue of Maitreya, known as the laughing Buddha, is the main deity deified right at the forefront of the hall. This statue is flanked on the eastern and western sides by four heavenly kings, each representing one fourth of the universe. The eastern side is ruled by Chigua (guardian of the State) carrying a Pipa, the western side is controlled by Guangmu (Sharp-seer) with a dragon in his hand, the southern direction is represented by Zengzhang (Growth Protector), carrying an umbrella and the northern direction is represented by Duowen (Knowledge Preserver), carrying a Pagoda. In addition, there is also a statue of Skanda (a high ranking heavenly general and defender of Buddhist law) with back to the Maitreya statue.

Hall of the Great Buddha boasts the most spectacular architecture in the whole temple. The roof is covered with exquisite pantiles; the upturned eaves and the bracket system reflect the architectural style of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). A statue of the Buddhist patriarch Sakyamuni stands in the middle of the hall for people to make offerings to. He is flanked by two of his disciples - Kasyapa and Ananda. The one with sutra in his hands is the Bodhisattva of Wisdom - Manjusri. The other is the Bodhisattva of Universal Benevolence - Samantabhadra. All of these statues provide vivid portraits with smooth lines and demonstrate a high level of craftsmanship of the Ming Dynasty.

There are many other famous halls you can visit. In addition, there is an important flower festival named Peony Festival held in Luoyang every year on April 10–25 and attracts large crowds to the city and the White Horse Temple.

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Longmen Grottoes

The Longmen Grottoes are one of the finest examples of Chinese Buddhist art. Housing tens of thousands of statues of Buddha and his disciples, they are located 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) south of present day Luoyang in Henan province. The images, many once painted, were carved into caves excavated from the limestone cliffs of the Xiangshan and Longmenshan mountains, running east and west. The Yi River flows northward between them and the area used to be called Yique ("The Gate of the Yi River").

There are as many as 100,000 statues within the 1,400 caves, ranging from an inch (25 mm) to 57 feet (17 m) in height. The area also contains nearly 2,500 stelae and inscriptions, whence the name “Forest of Ancient Stelae", as well as over sixty Buddhist pagodas. Situated in a scenic natural environment, the caves were dug from a 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) stretch of cliff running along both banks of the river. 30% date from the Northern Wei Dynasty and 60% from the Tang, caves from other periods accounting for less than 10% of the total. Starting with the Northern Wei Dynasty in 493 AD, patrons and donors included emperors, Wu Zetian of the Second Zhou Dynasty, members of the royal family, other rich families, generals, and religious groups.

The most impressive figure is the statue of Vairocana Buddha sitting cross-legged on the eight-square lotus throne. It is 17.14 metres (about 56.23 feet) in total height with the head four metres (about 13 feet) in height and the ears 1.9 metres (about 6.2 feet) in length. Vairocana means illuminating all things in the sutra. The Buddha has a well-filled figure, a sacred and kindly expression and an elegant smile. According to the record on the epigraph, the Empress Wu Zetian together with her subjects took part in the ceremony of Introducing the Light (a Buddhist blessing that the Buddha opens the spiritual light of himself and shares it with others).

At the sides of Vairocana there are two statues of Vairocana Buddha's disciples, Kasyapa and Ananda, wearing prudent and devout expressions. The figures of Bodhisattvas and devas can also be found in the temple. Some have dignified and genial expressions, while others are majestic and fiery. The various appearances and delicate designs are the representations of Empire Tang's powerful material and spiritual strength as well as the high crystallization of people's wisdoms.

There are other famous caves such as Wanfo Cave, Guyang Cave and Binyang Cave. It is really amazing that so many statues being created in ancient time. Apart from the caves, the Yi River and the bridge is also beautiful. You won’t be disappointed if you go to visit there.

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Millennium City Park

Millennium City Park is a theme park on Song Dynasty culture situated on the west bank of Longting Lake in Kaifeng City of Henan Province, and is also a National 5A Level Scenic Spot and an intangible cultural heritage demonstration base of China. It is a culture theme park based on “Along the River During the Qingming Festival”- a painting of a painter named Zhang Zeduan, with Yingzao Fashi as construction standard, with folk culture of Song Dynasty, folk custom, royal gardens and entertainment in ancient times as the theme, and with tourists’ participation and experience as the feature. Such a large amusement park about folk custom of Song Dynasty reproduces

It covers an area of 600 mu (about 98 acres), and the construction area is more than 30,000 square meters (about 7.4 acres). The built area consists of several architectural complexes which re-creations based on the famous twelfth century painting 'The Qingming Festival by the Riverside'. This picture is a painted scroll which is 525 cm (about 17 feet) in length and 25.5 cm (9.5 inches) in width. The scenes in this painting are highly detailed and the spectacle is magnificent. There are large numbers of people and buildings. The people are shown in a variety of contemporary clothes that indicate their social standing and occupations. The lively throng includes many animals and it is not difficult to imagine the sounds in the street scenes where the people are crowded and noisy. We can almost hear someone bargaining with a shop owner while others are cheering entertainers. The picture is like a live symphony of life during the Song Dynasty (960-1279).

The imperial garden is a famous scenic spot of the park. All the palaces and gardens have been carefully arranged. Standing inside the gardens and visible from outside, are the pavilion and the pagoda while in the distance a waterfall comes into view. Among these a majestic pavilion of 31.99 meters (about 105 feet) will draw our attention. From its appearance, you will expect it to have four floors but actually there are another three floors hidden inside. It is so tall and seems to be able to touch the clouds. This is how it got the name of Fuyun (whisking the cloud) Pavilion.

Another scenic spot called Rainbow Bridge is a well-known feature in the Park. It is a replica of one of the ten ancient timber bridges. The bridge is 5 meters (about 16 feet) high. The first bridge was built in 1050, and reconstructed in 1998. Four 9 meter (about 29 feet) high columns, two at either end of the bridge, replicate the poles that were weather vanes at the time of the Song Dynasty. A white crane sits on a disk at the top of each column and they turn to face into the wind, indicating its direction. At each end of the Rainbow Bridge you will find many performances about folk custom.

One of the distinctive things you will encounter when visiting the Park lies in participation. You can play a role in a traditional Chinese marriage and realize your dream of being a Number One Scholar in the imperial examinations of ancient times. These activities are sure to bring the past alive and add to your enjoyment and interest.

There is an opening ceremony held here every day. Opening ceremony is a routine work. It is also the most ceremonious performance in the park. At 9:00 am every day, horses stand in queues, drums beaten. While in the park you will have the opportunity to see exhibits of folk customs and traditional crafts ranging from hand embroidery and displays of woodcut pictures and official porcelain and so on. At the end of your trip, you can buy local souvenirs for your friends and family.

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Xiangguo Temple

Xiangguo Temple is one of the more famous Buddhist temples in China. Built in the Northern and Southern Dynasties, the temple reached its splendor period in the Tang and Song Dynasties favored by the imperial rulers. In the Arhat Hall of this temple is an impressive statue of a Bodhisattva carved from a single gingko trunk. Destroyed by a Yellow River flood at the end of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), it was reconstructed again at the beginning of the Qing Dynasty.

The temple was rebuilt in the Tang Dynasty (618-907), and was bestowed the name Xiangguo Temple by Emperor Ruizong. The temple reached its heyday in the Song Dynasty (960-1279). It became an international Buddhism center, attracting many foreign envoys and great monks. It contributed a lot to the cultural exchanges between China and other countries.

Like most of the Buddhist temples in China, the main axis consists of an arch gate, Devajara Hall (Hall of Heavenly Kings), Mahavira Hall (Daxiong Baodian), an octagonal glazed hall (Arhat Hall) and the Sutra-Keeping Hall. Side rooms flank the axis on each side. The whole complex features Qing-style architecture.

Stepping through the gate, you will first see the Bell Tower and Drum Tower as in most Buddhist temples. The bell hanging here weighs five tons and is 2.23 meters (7.3 feet) tall. Its grazioso sound echoes all over the city, especially in winter. Xiangguo Shuang Zhong (the beautiful sound of the bell on a frosty day) is one of the Eight Scenes of Bianjing (nowadays Kaifeng).

Inside Heavenly Kings Hall sits Maitreya (also called Future Buddha), a stout Buddha with a broad smile on his face and his breast and paunch exposed to the public. The Heavenly Kings are respectively standing beside Maitreya with sword, lute, blue umbrella and silver snake in their hands which represent feng, tiao, yu, shun (The four Chinese characters used to describe the optimal weather for agriculture). Behind Maitreya is the statue of a general called Wei Tuo, the protective god of Buddhism. As the legend goes, after the Nirvana of Sakyamuni, his relics were stolen by the devils. It was Wei Tuo who battled the devils and recovered the relics. He was then revered as Wei Tuo Buddha and worshiped in most Buddhist temples.

The most remarkable structure in the temple is the Arhat Hall, which is also called Octagonal Glazed Hall. Inside, the towering Octagonal Pavilion houses a wooden statue of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, which was carved from the bole of a huge gingko tree during the reign of Emperor Qianlong in the Qing Dynasty. The four sides of the statue are of the same sculpt. On each side, there are six big hands and three to four layers of small fanlike hands, with an eye on each palm. The number of the hands totals 1,048, and likewise the number of the eyes. The statue highly embodies the fine works of the Qing Dynasty. Don't you think it is amazing?

In addition, the temple holds annual activities like lantern exhibitions on the Lantern Festival, chrysanthemum exhibitions and the great prayer festival of water and land. On the occasion, pilgrims from home and abroad will assemble here to celebrate the holidays.
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