Two distinct themes in Xinhua District are the architectural history of Xiangshan Temple and the wetland landscape of Bailuzhou. The 33-meter-high pagoda at the Xiangshan Temple complex in Xinhua District was built in 1068; Bailuzhou Park in the same district includes an artificial lake and a wetland area. These contrasts offer separate focal points for cultural and nature interests.
Temple History and Pagoda Architecture
The Xiangshan Temple complex stands on the summit of Huozhu Mountain in the northwest of Xinhua District. Its founding dates back to the late Eastern Han period. The complex is a Buddhist cultural site associated with Buddhist culture, religious activities, Buddhist music, and religious ceremonies.
A prominent architectural feature of the complex is the Dabeiguanyin Dashi Pagoda. It was built in 1068 and is 33 meters high. Its ground plan is octagonal, it has nine stories, and its eaves are closely spaced. Its height, plan, and roof design make the architecture tangible alongside its age: those interested in architectural history will find more here than just a date.
The pagoda is protected as a nationally protected key cultural relic. The Cai Jing Stele in the Xiangshan Temple complex has the same protected status. There are 13 stone inscriptions there in total. The best known is the stele “香山大悲菩萨传”: Jiang Zhiqi wrote the text, and the calligraphy is by Cai Jing. The distinction between author and calligrapher also makes the inscription interesting to readers who study how historical texts were created.
Exhibitions, City History, and Remembrance
Yigoucheng Tourism Park offers a different focus. Its features include 98 Lane, Future Square, a popular snack street, the Sun Chariot, the Eagle City Impression Museum, and the photo exhibition “My Family in Yingcheng.” There is also the exhibition “Henan Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition” about Henan’s intangible cultural heritage. Together, exhibitions, photographic themes, and food offerings sit alongside sightseeing and recreation.
The Pingdingshan Museum holds more than 30,000 cultural artifacts. Its exhibitions cover the history and culture of Pingdingshan as well as urban planning. This broadens the cultural perspective beyond individual buildings and inscriptions to encompass city history and planned urban development. Parts of the fortification wall remain at the site of the Huangshan Massacre; a memorial stele to the victims has also been erected there.
Wetlands in Xinhua District
Bailuzhou National Urban Wetland Park offers a scenic contrast to the religious and urban cultural themes. It includes an artificial lake covering 350 mu and a wetland area of 158 mu. The two area figures refer to different parts of the park. Numerous reeds and sweet flags grow there naturally.
The natural environment described also includes birds, frogs, reptiles, hares, and hedgehogs; a small ecosystem has developed in the park. In this way, plant life and animal groups complement the region’s architectural and cultural themes. Travelers who would rather focus their trip on nature than on inscriptions or architecture will find a clearly defined counterpoint here.
Discover more destinations: Sanmenxia, Luohe, Xinxiang, Luoyang, Zhumadian, Nanyang, Anyang, Zhengzhou.
For the broader travel overview: Henan.
