Things to do in Yongji

I hadn't originally planned to visit the Stork Tower, as it's a reconstruction completed in 2002. However, I came across a travelogue about climbing it, and perhaps the focus for modern people isn't so much on whether it's an ancient building, but rather on Wang Zhihuan's famous line, "To see a thousand miles further, climb one more story." When you reach the top and gaze into the distance—the Yellow River, the Zhongtiao Mountains, the blue sky and white clouds overhead, the wind blowing from Fengling Ferry—don't we feel the same sentiment as Wang Zhihuan back then? Sometimes, even a simple visit can lead to unexpected experiences. The scenic area has set up signature boards for each province, autonomous region, municipality, and region. Surprisingly, this tourist experience made the friendship between Qin and Jin (Shaanxi and Shaanxi) more tangible. The board for Shaanxi Province has already been replaced twice, as it's become too densely packed with signatures from friends from neighboring Shaanxi. The scenic area simply put up a sign at the very front of the signature corridor that reads "Qin People Gather!" It looks like it'll be full soon too.

The scenic area isn't large; it takes a little over an hour to tour the whole thing. Many parts of the area are thoughtfully designed, and the paintings and text on the walls are quite interesting. Although there were many people during the National Day holiday, it didn't feel crowded.

The transition between seasons, especially between summer and autumn, is a particularly good time to climb Wulaofeng. Firstly, it's not too hot, and secondly, the scenery changes distinctly with the seasons. Therefore, it's considered a relatively less-visited mountain near Yuncheng.

Online ticket booking was convenient, but the entrance check was strict, requiring facial recognition. I went straight into the Grand Canyon. The waterfall was huge and beautiful, but the mountain steps were a bit steep and some parts were dangerous. The Crescent Lake at the top resembled an emerald, and the scenery was stunning, with goldfish too. Why was the mountaintop slide closed? I had to turn back the way I came.

蒲津渡遗址位于山西省运城市永济市蒲州镇西厢村西，是一处具有丰富历史遗存的重要遗址，也是我国首次发掘的大型渡口遗址。蒲津渡是黄河中游古代三大渡口之一，连接河东与关中的重要通道。据《春秋左传》记载，公元前541年，秦公子咸在此建造浮桥，开蒲津渡建桥之先河。此后，秦昭襄王、汉高祖、汉武帝、隋文帝等均在此建造过浮桥。唐开元十二年（公元724年），唐玄宗命兵部尚书张说主持改建蒲津桥，使用铁牛和铁链加固桥梁，使其更加稳固。此次改建耗铁约1100吨，占当时全国铁年产总量的4/5。金元之际，浮桥毁于战火，仅剩铁牛。明代曾多次利用铁牛重建浮桥，直至清代因黄河改道，蒲津渡逐渐废弃。1989年，蒲津渡遗址出土了唐开元铁牛四尊、铁人四尊、铁山两座、铁柱四个、七星铁柱一组及明代护岸石堤等。铁牛造型精美，重约55吨至75吨不等，分南北两组，呈八字形排列。蒲津渡遗址的考古发现对研究唐代政治、经济、军事、文化以及桥梁史、冶炼铸造工艺、黄河变迁等具有极其重要的价值。1999年至2005年，国家文物局批准并实施了蒲津渡遗址保护工程，将出土文物原位抬高12.2米，避免黄河洪水侵蚀。蒲津渡遗址现已建成遗址公园，包括景区入口区、渡口遗址区、仿唐浮桥区、文物展览区等。游客可以在此欣赏到唐代铁牛、铁人等文物，了解古代黄河渡口的历史风貌。蒲津渡遗址不仅是古代劳动人民智慧的结晶，也是研究中国古代桥梁工程、冶炼技术及黄河变迁的重要实物资料。

Yongle Palace was built to commemorate Lü Dongbin. The entire building is grand in scale. In the 1960s, it was moved here to make way for the construction of the Sanmenxia Reservoir. As a result, the original site was not flooded, so the combined ticket also includes a visit to the original site. The most famous is the Yuan Dynasty mural "Chaoyuan Tu" in the Wuji Hall.

The Guangrenwang Temple in Ruicheng, Yuncheng, is one of the few remaining Tang Dynasty wooden structures in China and a fifth batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units. The ancient temple sits atop a loess plateau, devoid of elaborate decorations; its simple yet robust brackets and walls perfectly embody the rustic and majestic spirit of Tang Dynasty architecture. Having withstood a thousand years of wind and rain, the temple retains the original Tang Dynasty structural features in its eaves and beams. This ancient building, far removed from the hustle and bustle of the countryside, stands quietly on the plateau, a must-see for anyone exploring early wooden architecture. A few words to say...

The Yingying Tower in Yuncheng is located in Xixiang Village, Puzhou Town, Yongji, Shanxi Province. It is a conical brick tower with a simple and elegant shape. It was originally named the Relic Tower. Because the story of Zhang Sheng and Cui Yingying in the West Chamber took place under the tower, it was renamed the "Yingying Tower". It is one of the "Four Echo Buildings" in ancient my country. If you stand in different positions and hit two stones against each other, you can hear a loud echo of quack, quack, like the croaking of frogs.

Mount Hua is renowned as "the most precipitous mountain under heaven," offering thrilling adventures like the Plank Road in the Sky and the Hawk's Turn, while the cable car soars through the clouds for breathtaking views. Each of its five peaks possesses its own unique character, and the sunrises and seas of clouds are magnificent. It also boasts a rich Taoist culture. With well-developed facilities and standardized management, it's a must-visit destination for adventurous travelers.

Wangu Temple is located at the foot of Zhongtiao Mountain, southwest of Yongji, Shanxi. It was first built in the third year of Zhengguang in the Northern Wei Dynasty. It was originally named "Youzai Temple". It was burned down in wars and rebuilt in the Sui Dynasty and renamed Wangu Temple, which means "ten thousand years of solidity". It was called "the first Zen temple in Zhongtiao" at that time.