Jinci Temple

If you don't visit Jinci Temple you really haven't visited Taiyuan. Located at the source of the Jin River, about 25 kilometers from the city, the temple was first built around 400AD in memory of Shu Yu, a legendary prince who lived during the Western Zhou Dynasty (c. 11th century-771 BC).

The temple grounds feature a royal garden where centuries-old cypress and pagoda trees stand lush and green.

The most famous building at Jinci Temple is the Goddess Palace, which was built in the Song Dynasty (960-1279). It is a grand structure decorated with yellow and green-glazed edges and carved animals. Colorful flowers surround its corridors. Coiling dragons wrap around the wooden pillars that hold up the front corridors.

Inside there are beautifully painted statues, and like the Terracotta warriors, each has a different body posture and facial expression.