Bozhou Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in Apr)

Central Treasure - Bozhou Huaxilou!

Huaxilou, originally named Daguandi Temple, is also known as Shanxi Shaanxi Guild Hall. Its brick carvings, wood carvings, and colored paintings are mainly based on local opera dramas, so everyone is used to calling it Huaxilou. Huaxilou was first built in 1656, located in Xianning Street, Guanyu, north of Bozhou City, Anhui Province. Shanxi businessman Wang Bi and Shaanxi businessman Zhu Kongling both participated in the fundraising, and then experienced several expansions over more than a hundred years during the Kangxi and Qianlong periods. The gate of Huaxilou is a three-story archway frame, imitation wood structure, the water-milled brick wall is filled with brick carvings, including characters, carriages, cities, mountains, flowers, birds and beasts, etc. The main hall of Huaxilou is the main building, and the theater building is next to it. The main hall is 10 meters high, with a courtyard on each side, containing the book carvings of Yuan Zhao Mengshun and Qing Liang Xian. Then there is the main hall, with a wooden statue of Guan Yu in the hall, and the images of Guan Ping and Zhou Cang on both sides, unfortunately destroyed during the Japanese invasion. The stage of the theater building is convex-shaped, with the four golden characters "Performing Ancient Style Today" in the center of the stage. The east side of the theater building is the bell tower, the west side is the drum tower, the front door is in the middle of the two towers, it is an imitation wood structure three-story archway water-milled brick facade building, with exquisite brick carvings inlaid in it. The layout of Daguandi Temple is facing south, with the main hall as the main building in the courtyard, the theater building as a foil, and the sitting building on both sides, where you can watch the opera and drink. There is a deep path courtyard on each side of the main hall, and there is a Zen hall on the west side. The bell tower and drum tower are on both sides of the theater building. The front wall of the mountain gate of Daguandi Temple has three passages, which are the main gate, the bell tower, and the drum tower. The entire wall is full of various reliefs, all made of water-milled bricks, all hand-carved, and have a history of more than two hundred years. There are nine colored paintings in the caisson above the stage of Huaxilou, including "Dragon and Phoenix Bring Auspiciousness", "Cranes Dance to the Sun", "Deer Spirit Offers Longevity" and other patterns. Between the pillars, there are two heavy beams, with lotus hanging lions on the beams, divided into two or three sections, each section is a large wooden through-carving, with clear layers, which complements the front door brick carving. Address: Xianning Street, Guanyu, North City, Bozhou City, Anhui Province. Opening hours are 8:00-17:00 The ticket is 50 yuan/person Huaxilou

Bozhou Flower Opera House: The millennium echo of resounding drums and gongs

Flower Opera House, in Bozhou, is known to all. It is located in the old street of Bozhou and is the most famous attraction in Bozhou. Initially, it was a Shanxi and Shaanxi guild hall built by the medicine merchants from Shanxi and Shaanxi provinces in Bozhou, also known as the Great Guandi Temple. The Flower Opera House was originally just a magnificent opera house built in front of the Great Guandi Temple in the courtyard. Over the years, the performances here have enriched the lives of the locals, and the reputation of the 'Flower Opera House' has gradually overshadowed the Shanxi and Shaanxi guild hall and the Great Guandi Temple. The editor also recommends the three unique features of the Flower Opera House - the iron flagpole, brick carvings, and wood carvings. These brick carvings of the Flower Opera House are based on various opera stories, which are very unique. The Flower Opera House was named as the Anhui Provincial Patriotic Education Base in the 1990s, and now the Flower Opera House has become a research base. Many primary and secondary school students and some university students will be organized to visit the Flower Opera House, and there are also activities such as Chinese studies lectures. Through these activities, patriotic education is carried out for primary and secondary school students and the majority of tourists, and the awareness of Chinese studies is increased, achieving good results.

Bozhou Tourism

🗺 Overview of Bozhou There are always surprises in the search for ancient times in the north of Anhui, and Bozhou, a cultural city, is even more so. From Shang Tang to Cao Wei and then to the Red Turban Army, it accumulates the foundation of being a key town in the Central Plains. The trend of large-scale construction has not deeply intervened in the lives of Bozhou people. The old streets and alleys still retain the ancient meaning. There is no full commercialization here, and there is no potted landscape in the city that imitates the ancient. 🌸 Huaxi Building The national protected unit Huaxi Building full of brick carvings is a symbol of Bozhou. The Shanxi merchants built this large Guan Di Temple. They borrowed the brick carving skills of Huizhou craftsmen to carve the historical story themes that the northern folk art is keen on, quietly explaining the important position of Bozhou's integration of the north and south. The fact that the Huanghuai area, which has been plagued by floods and wars in modern times, can retain such a delicate ancient building is even more difficult. This also makes the Central Plains treasure status of the Huaxi Building Guandi Temple unshakable. Moreover, this place is almost integrated with the old city residential area, and the sense of harmony is the theme of the tour here. 🏛 Underground Troop Transport Tunnel and Cao Cao Family Tomb The legacy left by Cao Wei is even more. Compared with the Cao Cao family tomb group named "Lonely Pile" in the south of the city, the underground troop transport tunnel, which is also a national protection, is even more amazing and mysterious. This is the most complete and huge relic left by the fleeting Cao Wei in the world, a microcosm of Emperor Wu of Wei's life of conquest. Everyone comes here, all for the well-known hometown of Cao Wei in the Three Kingdoms, Pei County, Qiao County. It's just that the underground tunnel buried deep underground is too narrow and cramped, and can only accommodate people to move forward with their waists down, and the structure is tortuous, and they will be dizzy after a while. The two big signs of Bozhou tourism are both 4A scenic spots, and the ticket prices are reasonable, the content is colorful, which shows the hard work of the local creation of a tourist city. The Cao Cao family tomb has recently been temporarily closed due to water accumulation. ✨ Bozhou Museum Although the Bozhou Museum is small, the exhibition of cultural relics from the Cao Cao family tomb is the most interesting. The inscribed bricks unearthed from the Cao Wei family tomb are the most interesting. Walk into the museum and take a look at the words of sorrow or flattery carved by the craftsmen who built the underground palace on the bricks. A live drama of the end of the Han Dynasty emerged before our eyes. 🛴 Wandering Bozhou There are temples and palaces such as Huazu Temple, Tao De Zhong Palace, and Baiyi Law Court in the old city of Bozhou, all of which are worth seeing. And Tao De Zhong Palace also left a famous allusion in history that Confucius asked Lao Tzu for rituals, and the alley is still called Wenli Alley. Walking in the old city of Bozhou, historical allusions are everywhere. 🚩 Tang Wang Tomb Not far from the city is the second largest tributary of the Huai River, the Wo River. Although it is in the midwinter season, the Wo River has no intention of freezing, and it is rolling to the southeast. The north bank is the tomb of King Tang, who established the capital of Bo, which is the beginning of the founding of Bozhou. Now Tangling has become a playground for Bozhou people. Children chase and play, play on swings and merry-go-rounds; young people compete on the basketball court in the mausoleum. Everyone in front of this ancestor of Bozhou, put down the fatigue of life, enjoying the relaxed moments in life. On the south bank of the Wo River, in the flood pool, there are the palaces where Xiao Ming Wang Han Lin'er built the capital in Bo, which makes people feel sad about the sorrow of the millet.

Life is like a drama, drama is like life. Walking into the Huaxiu Building in Zhangzhou, I really understand the philosophical rationality of this sentence, and life should not be like this, so exquisite.

The Yimen Ancient Town in Guoyang, Anhui Province is a Hui people's settlement, so there are still ancient mosques in the area. And there is also a lot of halal food like the Huimin Street in Xi'an. There are no gorgeous decoration and gorgeous dishes in the restaurant. They are all real delicious. The dim sum before the meal, the cold dish mixed with sesame oil, etc., is also unique with the local food taste. Finally, I have to mention that Yimen is the "hometown of moss" and can even be exported to South Korea and Southeast Asian countries.

There is a Yimen Town in Guoyang County, Anhui Province, which has a history of more than a thousand years. This time I was catching up with the mobile stage performances in the town. I was very touched when I saw the story of the local opera interpretation of "Bo Yu Coughstick". I know that this is the hometown of Xiao Bo Han Bo Yu. The mobile stage also attracts folks who are full of scent, so lively, there are more than ten days from the Spring Festival, and it is already full of strong flavor.

Anhui Haozhou Wanfo Pagoda | Mengcheng Zhuan Pagoda

| Mengcheng Zhuan Pagoda. The world is so big, let's go and see it - In the 1990s, the crosstalk actor Niu Qun, who was popular all over the country, faded out of the public's sight after serving as the deputy county head in Mengcheng County, Bozhou City, Anhui Province. As for the subsequent failure, let's not mention it. As a senior crosstalk enthusiast, Rui Vision has always wanted to visit Mengcheng, where Niu Qun has struggled, but has not been able to implement it. The Ning (Nanjing) Luo (Luoyang) Expressway crosses the middle of Mengcheng County from east to west. Rui Vision has passed through Mengcheng County twice on the Ning Luo Expressway, but has not been able to stay. Until a friend's son who works in Hangzhou got married, I went there with my friend a few days in advance and stayed in Mengcheng for one night. Early the next morning, the two of us came to the Wanfo Pagoda Park on Baota Road in the north-central part of the county, and checked in this brick pagoda from the Song Dynasty that was selected as the sixth batch of national cultural relics protection units. This 'National Treasure' also known as the Flower Insertion Pagoda, Xinghua Temple Pagoda, and Cishi Temple Pagoda, which is called 'Mengcheng Brick Pagoda' by the locals, was built in the first year of Chongning in the Song Dynasty (1102), and was named 'Wanfo Pagoda' because of the nearly 10,000 small Buddha statues inlaid inside and outside the pagoda. Wanfo Pagoda, an octagonal thirteen-story pavilion-style brick pagoda, is 42.2 meters high, with a base circumference of 24 meters and a diameter of 8 meters. It is named for the more than 8,000 Buddha statues inlaid inside and outside the pagoda. There is a temple on the east side of the pagoda, named Xinghua Temple, so the earliest name of the pagoda was Xinghua Pagoda. The pagoda is made of iron, with a duplicate bowl, five wheels, a treasure cover, and a treasure bottle. The 13-story Wanfo Pagoda is 38.6 meters high (42.2 meters according to one account), with a base circumference of 24.3 meters. Each floor has 8 doors, 4 real and 4 fake. The positions of the doors and windows below the 7th floor are the same, and they are changed layer by layer above the 8th floor. They are staggered up and down. Each floor is decorated with various patterns under the flying eaves, and the top of the pagoda is equipped with an iron bell, and each corner of the flying eaves hangs a bell. The pagoda is built with water-milled green bricks, and the inner and outer bodies are inlaid with more than 1,300 red, yellow, and green glazed bricks. Each brick is carved with 3 Buddha statues, with Sakyamuni in the middle, Jia Ye on the left, and Anan on the right. There are also a few bricks that only have one Buddha statue, totaling more than 6,000. The Buddha statues on the pagoda, another saying is that there are more than 8,000 in total. These Buddha statues are relics of the Song Dynasty, and some are added in later generations. The fourth floor of the pagoda is commonly known as the 'small temple', enshrining the three statues of Guan Yu, Guan Ping, and Zhou Cang, which were destroyed in the 1950s There are two inscriptions on the construction of the pagoda in the Wanfo Pagoda: one is on the fourth floor, carved in the first year of Chongning in the Song Dynasty (1102); the other is on the eleventh floor, carved in the fifth year of Chongning (1106). Judging from the time difference between the two inscriptions, it took four years from the fifth to the eleventh floor. The whole pagoda has thirteen floors, plus the construction of the foundation and the pagoda, it took about ten years to build the whole pagoda. The Wanfo Pagoda is majestic and beautiful in shape, and is a direct reflection of the superb architectural craftsmanship and social aesthetic concept of the Northern Song Dynasty. Since 1977, the cultural relics department has carried out comprehensive maintenance on the Wanfo Pagoda, reinforced the pagoda base, filled in cracks, repaired severely damaged Buddha statue bricks, added a lightning rod to the top of the pagoda, and restored the original appearance of the pagoda. In 1981, the Wanfo Pagoda was included in the 'Dictionary of Famous Scenic Spots in China'. In 2006, the Wanfo Pagoda was announced by the State Council as the sixth batch of national key cultural relics protection units. Wanfo Pagoda

Take a look at the Wanfo Pagoda in Mengcheng in early spring

Take a look at the Wanfo Pagoda in Mengcheng in early spring In March 2023, I returned to my hometown Mengcheng and suddenly wanted to see the Wanfo Pagoda. Although I often go back, I suddenly realized that it seems that there has been nearly 20 years of time, and I haven't seen it up close. People are like this, often overlooking the people and things around you, maybe they are the precious and cherish in life. In early spring, it is warm and cold, the willows are green, and when you walk into the Wanfo Pagoda Park, time seems to be now, and it seems to shuttle back 20 years ago, moving forward and stagnating, indescribable mixed feelings, just like visiting a familiar and strange old friend. Nothing has changed and it seems that everything has changed. The Wanfo Pagoda, as its name suggests, has a pagoda body with a so-called ten thousand glazed Buddha statues. Also known as the Flower Insertion Pagoda, Xinghua Temple Pagoda, Cishi Temple Pagoda (because there was Xinghua Temple in the Song Dynasty and Cishi Temple in the Yuan Dynasty here), commonly known as "Mengcheng Brick Pagoda", located in Baota Middle Road, Chengguan Town, Mengcheng County, Bozhou City, Anhui Province. The entire pagoda is an octagonal thirteen-story pavilion-style brick pagoda, 42.2 meters high, with a circumference of 24 meters at the bottom and a diameter of 8 meters. The Wanfo Pagoda was built in the first year of Chongning in the Song Dynasty (1102). The body is not very large, but the shape is beautiful, the structure is rich in changes, and the preservation is relatively complete. It is a fusion of Chinese north and south pagoda construction techniques, with beautiful shapes and gorgeous decorations, unique, both iconic and prayerful and symbolic. It is now also a national cultural protection unit. When I was young, I went to see the pagoda. At that time, the management was not perfect. The pagoda could be climbed and played at will. The more you go up, the narrower it becomes until it is solid. There are many folk tales and life anecdotes about the pagoda. Some say that the pagoda is inhabited by spirits and fairy objects, and some say it is a holy place for lovers to date. The current pagoda, renovated, with trees planted around it and a square laid out, also has a guardian beast. Of course, the current pagoda cannot be climbed, it can only be viewed from a distance. Although it is more majestic, it also lacks a bit of life intimacy. People grow year by year, and the pagoda also becomes more ancient, as if they are all growing. Whether you are in a foreign land or near the ground, take the time to take a look at the Wanfo Pagoda! Maybe it is a period of time in your life.

Guan Yin Temple in Bozhou

The Guan Yin Temple, originally named the Inverted Guan Yin, was established during the Hongwu period of the Ming Dynasty and has a history of more than 400 years. The temple covers an area of 60 acres with a building area of 8764 square meters. It has built the Inverted Guan Yin statue, Heavenly King Hall, Guan Yin Hall, Ksitigarbha Hall, Bell and Drum Tower, Daxiong Treasure Hall and other 16 places. The temple is a brick and wood structure with carved beams and painted buildings, pink walls and black tiles, magnificent momentum, beautiful scenery, Sanskrit sounds around the beams, integrating tourism and sightseeing, and has been recognized as a 3A scenic spot by the cultural tourism department. The Guan Yin Temple scenic area is located in Guantang Town, Qiaocheng District, Bozhou City, Anhui Province, about 25 kilometers away from Bozhou City. The temple is located in the southeast corner of Guantang Village in Guantang Town. The temple covers an area of 60 acres with a building area of 8764 square meters. It has built the Inverted Guan Yin statue, Heavenly King Hall, Guan Yin Hall, Ksitigarbha Hall, Daxiong Treasure Hall, Jade Buddha Pagoda and other 16 places. The temple is a brick and wood structure, with carved beams and painted buildings, pink walls and black tiles, and magnificent momentum. The Guan Yin Hall in the temple is the most spectacular. The Guan Yin Bodhisattva is enshrined in the main hall, and the Guan Tang is named after the Guan Yin Hall.

Cao Wei Ancient City - A Journey through the Culture of the Three Kingdoms

Departed on the fourth day of the Chinese New Year, avoiding congestion all the way, heading to Xuchang. Arrived in Daming on the evening of the fourth day, which is also part of Handan. It was my first visit to Daming, a stroll around the ancient city of Daming from the Ming and Qing dynasties, where the city gates are well-preserved. By the time I reached the Daming County Catholic Church, it was completely dark, and I captured the church under the stars and moon . On the fifth day (14th), I passed by the ancient city of Shangqiu, but was scared off by the crowd and did not stop, hurriedly continuing on. Arrived at the Xuchang Guesthouse in the evening, finally got to taste the authentic spicy soup, delicious and not too spicy On the sixth day (15th), visited the Xuchang Museum, and in the afternoon, the Cao Wei Ancient City, which was super crowded. Didn't enter the Prime Minister's Mansion, walked for a long time and couldn't find a taxi. There really are a lot of people in Henan. Suddenly, we found ourselves at the famous Pangdonglai, sat down at the entrance to rest for a while, watching the bustling crowd, didn't have the courage to go in . Walked a long distance again, finally found a taxi . At the same small restaurant, had the spicy soup again, and also had the food that is clearly a pancake but insists on being called 'mo', the old 'mo' and vegetable 'mo' On the seventh day (16th), set off for Bozhou, Anhui, to see where Cao Cao worked, and then to his birthplace. Visited Bozhou Guesthouse, Bozhou Museum, Cao Cao Memorial Hall. Cao Cao's greatness needs no description, everyone understands . An outstanding politician, military strategist, literary figure, calligrapher . Cao family tomb cluster - Cao Si Gu Dui, and the beautiful and fragrant wintersweet On the eighth day (17th), prepared to head back, avoiding congestion in various ways, Hua County - Daokou Ancient Town, under construction; Xun County Ancient City, road closure - caught up with the famous Xun County folk Shehuo . Then it was Hebi, Hebi Guesthouse, Hebi City Museum On the ninth day (18th), continued to travel through villages and counties, Xian County, Hejian, tried Hejian donkey meat Huoshao for the first time, the Huoshao was large and crispy, like a pocket filled with donkey meat, the taste was superb . Only then did I realize what those in Beijing were, nothing at all . Arrived at Bazhou Mingtang Riyue Lake Hot Spring Resort in the evening, the hot springs were great . Returned to Beijing the next afternoon, ending the journey.