Winter Tour in Shanxi: Ancient Architecture Route

Heading south into Xinzhou, the brilliance of Tang dynasty architecture shines forth. The Main Hall of Foguang Temple, hailed by Mr. Liang Sicheng as “China’s No. 1 National Treasure,” stands as a Tang dynasty relic. Bathed in the soft glow of the winter afternoon sun, its deep overhanging eaves, gently sloping roof, and massive bracket sets fully embody the grandeur and confidence of Tang architecture. Not far away, the Main Hall of Nanchan Temple, as the oldest surviving wooden structure from the Tang dynasty, exhibits an even more primitive and pure form. These two millennium-old Tang structures are irreplaceable “living fossils” in the history of Chinese architecture.

太原的晋祠，则是另一种典范。宋代建筑的秀美与灵动，在此体现得淋漓尽致。圣母殿前的木雕盘龙、殿内的宋代彩塑，在冬日柔和的光线下，色彩与细节愈发温润动人。

The Jinci Temple in Taiyuan represents yet another paradigm. Here, the elegance and fluidity of Song dynasty architecture are displayed in their fullest expression. The wooden coiled dragons before the Shengmu Hall and the Song dynasty painted sculptures inside appear even more vivid and captivating under the gentle winter light, with colors and details exuding a warm and moving charm.

穿过平遥古城的明清街巷，这座保存完好的古城本身就是一座宏大的建筑博物馆。而后在双林寺，会被明代彩塑的生动与传神所震撼。千手观音的雍容，韦驮像的力度，将泥塑的艺术推向了极致。

Strolling through the Ming and Qing dynasty streets of Pingyao Ancient City, one finds that this impeccably preserved town is itself a vast architectural museum. Afterwards, at Shuanglin Temple, visitors are awestruck by the vividness and expressiveness of the Ming dynasty painted clay sculptures. The serene grace of the Thousand-Handed Guanyin and the powerful presence of the Weituo statue elevate the art of clay sculpting to its zenith.

旅程的深处，隰县小西天（千佛庵）会带来颠覆性的视觉体验。满殿的明代悬塑，天宫楼阁、佛国胜景，层层叠叠布满梁架墙壁，金碧辉煌，精美绝伦，堪称中国悬塑艺术的“天花板”。