Park of China
Overview
| Name | Fencheng 汾城 |
| Web address | https://parkofchina.com/en/fencheng.html |
| Designation | Historic and Cultural Town of China (third batch, 2007); Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level (sixth batch, 2006, as the “Fencheng Ancient Building Complex”) |
| Province | Shanxi |
| Location | Fencheng Town, Xiangfen County, Linfen, Shanxi |
| Latitude, longitude | 35.82, 111.27 Google Maps |
| Highlights | Well-preserved old county town with its yamen, City God Temple, Confucian Temple and Altar of Land and Grain, buildings from the Jin to the Qing |
| Top sights | City God Temple, Confucian Temple, Drum Tower, brick pagoda, yamen hall, Guandi Temple, Altar of Land and Grain Temple, Hongji Bridge |
| Nearby cities | Zhengzhou, Luoyang |
| Nearby sites | Hukou Waterfall of the Yellow River, Mount Wangwu–Mount Yuntai Scenic Area, Ancient City of Pingyao, Longmen Grottoes, Luoyang, Mount Hua |
| Themes | Ancient City, Ancient Building, Town, Temple, Confucian academies & temples |
About
Fencheng, in the west of Xiangfen County, Linfen, Shanxi, is a Historic and Cultural Town of China. It was the seat of Taiping County; when Taiping and Xiangling counties were merged into Xiangfen in 1954 the county seat moved away, and the old town kept its layout.
More than forty old buildings survive. From north to south they include the City God Temple, the Confucian Temple, the Drum Tower, a brick pagoda in front of the school, the main hall of the yamen, the Guandi Temple, the Altar of Land and Grain Temple, Hongji Bridge and the town wall, dating from the Jin to the end of the Qing. Together they form the “Fencheng Ancient Building Complex”, a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level.
What makes Fencheng rare is its completeness: nearly every building an old county town needed — the yamen where officials governed, and the City God Temple, Confucian Temple, Altar of Land and Grain and Guandi Temple for worship — is still there, in its original place. Most county towns have been rebuilt many times, and few keep such a full set; here one can see how an old county town was laid out and how local government worked.
Xiangfen County also has the Palaeolithic Dingcun site and the Taosi site, both Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level.
Travel tips
Getting there: Linfen has a high-speed rail station; Fencheng is about an hour by road from the city.
Sightseeing: The old buildings are close together in the old town and can be seen on foot in half a day.
Map
Nearby
| World Heritage | Site of Shihao Section of Xiaohan Ancient Route 124km, Site of Han’gu Pass of Han Dynasty in Xin’an County 147km, No.160 Site of Hanjia Granary 166km, Site of Luoyang City from the Eastern Han to Northern Wei Dynasty 172km |
| National parks | Hukou Waterfall of the Yellow River 83km, Qiachuan, Heyang 108km, Mount Wangwu–Mount Yuntai Scenic Area 116km, Wulao Peak 132km |
| Detailed guides | Mount Wangwu 116km |
| AAAAA attractions | Yunqiushan Scenic Area 23km, Hongtong Great Locust Tree Ancestral Roots Park 62km, Longtan Grand Canyon Scenic Area 116km, Huangcheng Xiangfu Ecological and Cultural Tourist Area 123km |
| AAAA attractions | Quwo Jin State Museum 28km, Xiangfen Yaojing Winery 29km, Yaodu Yao Temple and Huamen Scenic Area 32km, Yaodu Yaodi Mausoleum Scenic Area 54km |
| UNESCO Global Geoparks | Wangwushan-Daimeishan UNESCO Global Geopark 116km |
| Historic cities | Xinjiang County 23km, Hancheng 83km |
| Historical sites | Fencheng Ancient Building Complex <1km, Main Hall of Xinjiang Shousheng Temple 11km, Qiaogoutou Jade Emperor Temple 12km, Fusheng Temple 12km |
| National geoparks | Yellow River Hukou Waterfall (Shanxi) National Geopark 83km, Yanchuan Yellow River Meanders National Geopark 126km |
| Nature reserves | Lishan National Nature Reserve 82km, Taikuanhe National Nature Reserve 102km, Lingkongshan National Nature Reserve 112km, Yangcheng Manghe Macaque National Nature Reserve 123km |
| Historic towns | Fencheng Town <1km, Qucun Town 26km |
| Historic villages | Dingcun Village 13km, Shibo Village 50km |