In early winter, the historical Hedong region offers beautiful scenery. Many visitors are choosing to travel outside peak periods and heading to the Yuncheng Guan Gong Hometown Cultural Tourism Scenic Area to explore its magnificent ancient architecture and enjoy the unique blend of cultural heritage and natural landscapes.
Located in Haizhou Town, Yanhu District, Yuncheng, in the Yellow River Golden Triangle region where Shanxi, Shaanxi and Henan provinces meet, the Yuncheng Guan Gong Hometown Cultural Tourism Scenic Area covers a total area of 3.03 square kilometers. It comprises two main sections: the Guan Yu Cultural Experience Zone and the ecological recreation areas around the Wulongyu River and Nueyanchi (Female Salt Pond). The Haizhou Guandi Temple within the scenic area is a major historical and cultural site protected at the national level, while the scenic area itself is a National 4A-level Tourist Attraction. It also serves as a Cross-Strait Exchange Base and a China Overseas Chinese International Cultural Exchange Base. The scenic area is currently seeking designation as a National 5A-level Tourist Attraction.
At the heart of the scenic area is a magnificent palace-style architectural complex dedicated to Guan Yu, whose origins date back to the Sui Dynasty. The complex features a symmetrical central-axis layout, with a front court and rear residential quarters. Its imposing historic buildings include Duanmen Gate, Chongning Hall and Chunqiu Tower. It is regarded as the earliest-established, largest, highest-ranking in architectural design and best-preserved architectural complex dedicated to Guan Yu in China. The Wulongyu River flows through the scenic area, while Nueyanchi offers tranquil natural scenery. Together, the historic sites and surrounding landscapes create a distinctive setting where cultural heritage and nature exist in harmony.
As a cradle of Guan Gong culture, the scenic area embodies the enduring values of loyalty, righteousness, benevolence and courage, with its cultural influence extending both at home and abroad. He Jinyang, general manager of the scenic area, said that the scenic area is committed to preserving and passing on this cultural heritage in innovative ways, while promoting deeper integration of cultural relics, historic architecture, traditional folk customs and beliefs, and ecological tourism. It aims to develop into a world-class destination for experiencing Guan Gong culture.