Baidicheng, Ancient temple complex in Fengjie County, China
Baidicheng is a temple complex located at the entrance of Qutang Gorge on Baidi Hill in Fengjie County, surrounded by water on three sides and bordered by mountains on the left bank. The site includes several halls, pavilions, and a covered walkway that links the former hilltop to the mainland.
General Gongsun Shu founded this settlement during the Western Han Dynasty and named it after white mist rising from a mountain well. The Three Gorges Dam later transformed the grounds into an island connected to the shore by a covered bridge.
The complex houses Mingliang Palace, where life-size figures recreate a scene from the Three Kingdoms period showing Liu Bei entrusting his son to Zhuge Liang shortly before passing away. Visitors also encounter representations of other figures from that era, whose stories continue to appear in Chinese literature and opera.
Visitors reach the complex either by climbing around 1000 steps on foot or by taking a cable car that makes the ascent much easier. At the entrance, allow some time for tickets and possible queues during busy periods.
Numerous poets from the Tang Dynasty left calligraphy on stone steles and tablets throughout the grounds. These inscriptions now appear on the walls of several buildings and are considered valuable records of classical Chinese poetry.
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