Things to do in Nanyang

You need to go early; a thorough visit will take about three hours. It's best to research Zhuge Liang beforehand, as many rubbings require historical knowledge. There's also a Bagua (Eight Trigrams) maze to play in. The Wuhou Temple is ancient and charming; walking on the moss-covered steps, you can listen to the wisdom of the ancients. In our time, what we need is to calm our minds and read more.

Finally visited Nanyang, a sacred site of the Three Kingdoms period, during the National Day holiday! This is the place where, according to legend, Zhuge Liang spent ten years farming and Liu Bei visited him three times at his thatched cottage. Ancient cypress trees reach for the sky, and the buildings are constructed with blue bricks; stepping inside immediately feels like traveling back to the late Han Dynasty.

Henan's underrated 5A-level scenic spots feature geographical wonders and pristine forests, making them excellent summer retreats. They are suitable for those who enjoy tranquil landscapes and learn about geography, but not for those who are simply lazy, dislike long walks, or crave trendy nighttime lights.

Historical Significance: Originally built in the Yuan Dynasty (1271), and spanning the Yuan, Ming, Qing, and Republican eras to the present day, it boasts over 700 years of history and is a national key cultural relics protection unit. Architectural Layout: Strictly adhering to the ancient system of "axial symmetry, civil officials on the left and military officials on the right, and the front court and rear residence." More than 140 rooms remain, with a screen wall, main gate, ceremonial gate, main hall, second hall, and third hall arranged sequentially along the central axis, completely recreating the office and living scenes of an ancient prefect.

The exhibit mainly features dinosaur eggs, and the collection is very rich. There's a horizontally excavated tunnel that cuts directly through the strata containing dinosaur egg fossils, showcasing three different geological layers. At the end is a vertical shaft leading directly to the surface, revealing the layered distribution of dinosaur eggs vertically. The core exhibition hall houses a collection of large dinosaur fossils from various regions, including a gigantic dinosaur estimated to be 10-20 meters long, spanning the entire hall – truly spectacular. It's very interesting for children and a rare and awe-inspiring geological wonder for adults. While the exhibition hall is large, the exhibits are relatively limited.

内乡县衙，位于伏牛山南麓南阳盆地西沿内乡县城东街，坐北面南，沪陕高速、312国道和宁西铁路穿县境而过，距离南阳市区约60公里，我国保存最完整的封建时代县级官署衙门。内乡县衙为国家4A级景区，位于河南省南阳市内乡县城东大街。据《内乡县志》记载，县衙始建于元大德八年(公元1304年)，历经明、清多次维修和扩建，逐渐形成一组规模宏大的官衙式建筑群。县衙座北朝南，占地面积8500平方米，中轴线上排列着主体建筑大门、大堂、二堂、迎宾厅、三堂，两侧建有庭院和东西账房等，共6组四合院，85间房屋，均为清代建筑。整个县衙建筑，布局对称、合理、紧凑，主次分明，高低错落，井然有序，浑然一体，具有我国南北方古建筑的文化艺术风格，是迄今全国保存最为完整的古代县衙，现为全国重点文物保护单位，享有“龙头在北京，龙尾在内乡”的美誉！

The Sheqi Shanxi-Shaanxi Guild Hall, originally named the Shanxi-Shaanxi Fellow Townsmen Guild Hall, also known as the Shanxi-Shaanxi Temple and Guan Gong Temple, and formerly called Dingyuan Society, is located at No. 9 Yongqing Street, Shedian Town, Sheqi County, Nanyang City, Henan Province. Construction began in the 21st year of the Qianlong Emperor's reign (1756) and was completed during the reigns of the Jiaqing, Daoguang, Xianfeng, Tongzhi Emperors, and finally the 18th year of the Guangxu Emperor's reign (1892), spanning 137 years under six emperors. The main buildings of the Sheqi Shanxi-Shaanxi Guild Hall consist of a screen wall, a hanging mirror tower, a stone archway, a main worship hall, and a spring and autumn tower. More than 130 pavilions and towers remain, all paved with bluish-white marble both inside and out. The buildings are decorated with exquisite stone carvings, wood carvings, cast iron, and ceramic sculptures, exhibiting the grandeur of palaces and temples, the opulence of merchant guild halls, and the elegance of southern folk gardens. It is a typical example of Qing Dynasty folk architecture. In 1963, the Sheqi Shanxi-Shaanxi Guild Hall was listed as a provincial-level key cultural relics protection unit. On January 13, 1988, the Sheqi Shanxi-Shaanxi Guild Hall was designated as a third batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units by the State Council of the People's Republic of China. The iron flagpole is 15 meters high and weighs over 50,000 jin (approximately 25,000 catties). It sits on a Sumeru pedestal made of bluestone, with carvings of celestial horses, qilin, lions, and other mythical beasts on its waist. An iron lion stands atop the pedestal, and the flagpole passes through the lion. The flagpole has three cloud-shaped brackets (large, medium, and small), each with four wind chimes. Dragons intertwine between the cloud-shaped brackets, and each is topped with a phoenix poised for flight. The glazed tile screen wall is a mysterious wall in Chinese courtyards, used to block wind, gather energy, and protect privacy. The screen wall of the Shanxi-Shaanxi Guild Hall is composed of 476 glazed tiles forming three separate scenes: "Double Dragons Playing with a Pearl," "Carp Leaping Over the Dragon Gate," "Qilin Fighting Beasts," and "Fishing, Woodcutting, Farming, and Reading." These scenes are ingeniously combined into a single, magnificent composition. The Grand Hall of Worship is the main building of the guild hall, consisting of a main hall and a worship hall. It is 40 meters long, 22 meters wide, and 23.14 meters high. Two stone carvings, each 2 meters high and 1 meter wide, with a single-eaved gable roof, stand on either side of the hall. The left side is inscribed with "Eighteen Scholars Ascending Yingzhou." The image depicts Du Ruhui, Fang Xuanling, Yu Zhiyu, and others braving hardships, riding horses along a rugged path to Yingzhou, a place admired by all.

The student package is such a great deal! The Shanxi-Shaanxi Guild Hall and the Fire God Temple are absolutely stunning. The carved beams and painted rafters, the brick and wood carvings, the glazed screen walls, the flagpoles and stone lions—every single one is a masterpiece, a treasure!

Aside from the crowds, there are no other problems. It has a classic and antique feel, and the shops inside are very bustling, with everything you need for eating, drinking, and entertainment. Some local specialties are worth buying. The overall planning of the scenic area is also good, with both a sense of traditional history and a modern atmosphere. It's worth a visit.

On a weekday, there were very few people, but some construction was still ongoing, affecting the experience. The portrait bricks were quite nice; highly recommended for those interested in traditional Chinese medicine. The fun elements might not appeal to children; adding more interactive activities could be beneficial.