Wulaofeng (wǔ lǎo fēng 五老峰) is located in Yongji (yǒng jì 永济) city of Shanxi (shān xī 山西) province. It names Five Old Mountain as well, which used to be a holy land of Heluo (hé luò 河洛) culture in the early time and also a famous mountain in Taoist (dào jiào 道教) culture as the fifty-two blessed place of Taoist . In 1992, Wulaofeng was authorized to build Wulaofeng National Forest Park and entitled “Wulaofeng Scenic Area” by the State Council in 1994.

Overview

Wulaofeng scenic spots include Huanghetanhan (huáng hé tān àn 黄河滩岸), Wangguanyu (wáng guān yù 王官峪), Longtoushan (lóng tóu shān 龙头山), Yunxiange (yún xiān gé 云仙阁) etc, with the total area of 300 square kilometers. Among of these spots, Wulaofeng and Gupuzhen (gǔ pú zhèn 古蒲镇 ) are two of main places to visit. Wulaofeng consists of Yuzhufeng (yù zhù fēng 玉柱锋), Taiyipingfeng (tài yǐ píng fēng 太乙坪峰), Qipanshan (qí pán shān 棋盘山), Dongjinpingfeng (dōng jǐn píng fēng 东锦平峰), Xijinpingfeng (xī jǐn píng fēng 西锦平峰). These five mountains just like five veterans sitting at auditorium, that is why named “Wulaofeng”. As history records, it also named “Wuchenfeng (wǔ chén fēng 五臣峰)", because there was five grand old men who served in Tang dynasty , and they were surrounding by their enemy-Sui (suí 隋) at Yuzhufeng. Five of them tried to keep Tanggaozu (táng gāo zǔ 唐高祖) Liyuan (lǐ yuān 李渊) safety, and jumped into cliffs. Five people was entitled “Wulaoming (wǔ lǎo míng 五老名)" by Tangminghuang (táng míng huáng 唐明皇) Lilongji (lǐ lóng jī 李隆基).

Gupuzhen located in west coast of the Yellow River, with the total population of 4.16 million and covering 12.9 square kilometers. In Tang dynasty, the government was built in Gupuzhen. It also has the famous building Guanquelou (guàn què lóu 鹳雀楼). The story of <<Xixiangji>> ( xī xiāng jì 西厢记) happened in Pujiu temple (pǔ jiù sì 普救寺) which is one of popular spots in Gupuzhen now.

Attractions

Yuzhufeng (yù zhù fēng 玉柱峰)

Yuzhufeng names Yunfeng and Lingfeng as well. It looks like a jade column into sky. There are 3,000 square meters ground at the top of peak and has seven spots from North part to South part, which are Nantianmen (nán tiān mén 南天门), Linggongmiao (líng gōng miào 灵宫庙), Pusadian (pú sà diàn 菩萨殿), Xiushidian (xiù shì diàn 秀士殿), Qianzitang (qiān zǐ táng 千子堂) and Zushimiao (zǔ shī miào 祖师庙). Caves involve Xianren Cave (xiān rén dòng 仙人洞), Leigong Cave (léi gōng dòng 雷公洞), Shuiyuan Cave (shuǐ yuán dòng 水源洞) and Zhangguolao Cave (zhāng guǒ lǎo dòng 张果老洞) which has research value for geology, meteorology, hydrology, biology and archeology. Springs include Mingyanquan (míng yǎn quán 明眼泉), Manaoquan (mǎ nǎo quán 玛瑙泉), Furongquan (fú róng quán 芙蓉泉) and Bowl spring which only a bowl size but water endless and not overflow.

Puzhougucheng (pú zhōu gǔ chéng 蒲州古城)

Puzhougucheng is located in the east coast of the Yellow River and it has five thousand years history and two thousand years prosperity. As <<Diwangshiji>> (dì wáng shì jì 帝王世纪) said “ the old capital of Rao (yáo尧) was in Puzhou, Shun (shùn 舜) too”. In the early of tribal alliance, Puzhou area was a political, economic and cultural center.
Puzhou was threatening by the Yellow River since Ming dynasty. In 1942, village in north of Puzhou was flooded. And city wall was broken into two pieces by flood and Puzhou was in the river. In 1946, the yellow river had risen again and riverbed was higher than the moats. In 1947, all residents moved out from Puzhou. Until now, it only left half of city walls, tower and ancient ruins.

Huanghetanhan (huáng hé tān àn 黄河滩岸)

At huanghetanhan, 4 iron oxen and men near Gupujin(gǔ pú jīn 古蒲津) bridge, which overwhelmed more than thousand years, has already reproduced in 1988. Each iron ox weighs 30,000 kg and each iron man weighs 2 tons. Four iron men are on behalf of Weiwuerzu (wéi wú ěr zú 维吾尔族), Mongolian (méng gǔ zú 蒙古族), Tibetan (xī cáng 西藏) and Hanzu (hàn zú汉族) as a symbol of national unity. Gupujin Bridge was the longest bridge in ancient of China and also the most early bridge in Huanghe (huáng hé 黄河). In AD 724 years, Emperor Lilongji (lǐ lóng jī 李隆基) decreed that iron pontoon bridge replaced of bamboo pontoon bridge in Yongji (yǒng jì 永济) and made of 4 iron oxen and men set at riverside for keeping the flood in check.

Guanquelou (guàn què lóu 鹳雀楼)

Guanquelou is located in the western of Gupuzhou (gǔ pú zhōu 古蒲州) of Yongjicity (yǒng jì shì 永济市). There were a lots of Guanque birds habitat on this building, that`s why it named Guanquelou. It was constructed in Northern Zhou (xī zhōu 西周) and destroyed in the early of Yuan (yuán 元) Dynasty. The spectacular, imposing and beautiful structure of Guanquelou attracted numbers of poets left their poems in here. “Bairiyishanjin, Huangheruhailiu. Yuqiongqianlimu, Gengshangyicenglou(bái rì yī shān jìn ,huáng hé rù hǎi liú. yù qióng qiān lǐ mù, gèng shàng yī céng lóu 白日依山尽,黄河入海流. 欲穷千里目,更上一层楼)". It was written by a famous poet Wangzhihuan (wáng zhī huàn 王之涣) in Tang (táng 唐) dynasty. In 1997, Guanquelou was started to construction, which was imitated the style of Tang dynasty, with the total 33,206 square meters. The whole project was completed at the year of 2004. The theme of furnishings focus on Huanghe and Hedong (hé dōng 河东) culture. In here, you can enjoy the perspective in highest level and also can feel the five thousand years of China civilization.

Pujiu Temple (pǔ jiù sì 普救寺 )

Pujiu Temple is one of special tower in the world. It is one of four whispering gallery in China. But Pujiu Temple is the most significant effect on acoustic aspect. There have three reasons. First, this tower is hollow; if you stand in the middle of tower and listen someone speaks on the top of tower, but sounds like from below. Second, the complexity of tower structure on eaves is reflex. The third reason is because of wall reflection.

Location: 16 Kilometers of southeast of Yongji (yǒng jì 永济) city, Shanxi (shān xī 山西) Province
Transportation: Take coach at Yongji Coach Station and get off at Yuxiangzhen (yú xiāng zhèn 虞乡镇), it needs RMB 6 on your ticket fee. And then take three wheels motorbike to Wulaofeng ticket office; it will cost RMB 3 on your way. Or take the special bus to Wulaofeng at Yudu (yǔ dōu 禹都) market of Yuncheng (yùn chéng 运城). The bus ticket is RMB 11
Recommended time to visit: 4 hours or more
Opening hours: 8:00-16:30
Ticket: RMB 42-60 (it changes at different seasons)
Tips:
Best time to go: anytime. But if you interest on temple fair, please go at the first to fifteen days of July in Lunar month