Ancient courtyards and shops from the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing dynasties (1644-1911) are common in Zhijiao village, 25 km away from the downtown of Jincheng city, Shanxi province. A typical village for ancient architecture, Zhijiao village has 23,500 square meters of historical buildings, represented by the Liu Family Courtyard and the Zhijiao Three Teachings Temple.

Zhijiao Three Teachings Temple [Photo/sxrb.com]

A three teachings temple is where the founders of Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism are enshrined together. The Zhijiao Three Teachings Temple is located north of the village and faces south, covering 1,314-square-meters. The temple is best known for its exquisite wooden carvings.

A corner of Liu Family Courtyard [Photo/sxrb.com]

It was built in the Ming Dynasty and has 68 rooms. Along the central axis is the Wu Hall, Xian Pavilion and Three-Saint Palace, with wing rooms, a viewing deck and side palaces on both sides. The southeast part is an entrance made of wood and carved with vivid flowers, animals and characters, while a pair of stone lions stand on both sides of the gate.

The ornately-carved stone tablets and glistening roof figures of colored glaze are breathtaking.

Exquisite wooden carvings in Zhijiao village [Photo/sxrb.com]

The Liu Family Courtyard is the one of most impressive buildings among the village’s massive ancient dwellings. This courtyard, built at the foot of a mountain in the early Ming Dynasty, exemplifies the highest standard of northern dwellings.

Moreover, the natural landscape surrounding the village is also enjoyable.

Tips:

How to get to Zhijiao village?

Take a bus from Jincheng city to Lizhai town, and then drive to Zhijiao village.

Where to live?

Tourists can board in local people’s homes, which only cost about ten to twenty yuan ($1.61) a night.

What can you eat there?

Tourists can buy persimmons, Chinese prickly-ash and other local foods, and also can pick up mulberries along the country road in summer. It only cost about ten yuan ($1.61) to enjoy a local specialty. Watermelon and iced beer can be supplemented.