In 1924, Japanese architectural historian Sadamune Kano claimed that Tang Dynasty wooden architecture did not exist in China. However, in 1937, a team led by Liang Sicheng and Lin Huiyin from the Architectural Society discovered a Tang Dynasty relic in Shanxi—the Foguang Temple.
Since then, more architectural relics from the Tang and Song dynasties have been unearthed in Shanxi. This has led to the saying, “For underground cultural relics, look to Shaanxi; for above-ground cultural relics, look to Shanxi.”
Lin Huiyin surveyed the Fo Guang Temple site and recreated it using Comfyui.
At the end of August this year, the release of Black Myth: Wukong sparked countless players’ imaginations by taking them on a journey inspired by Journey to the West. The game’s rich traditional cultural atmosphere and architectural scenes infused with Eastern philosophy left a deep impression on players.
Shanxi’s ancient architecture, as a key inspiration for the game’s design, has once again captured widespread attention online.
The Sutra of Fo Guang Temple as depicted in Black Myth: Wukong.
To deepen the exploration and appreciation of ancient architecture, the Architecture Academy is launching a study tour program titled “Mountain Journey to the West.” This initiative offers participants a chance to experience the grandeur and exquisite craftsmanship of Chinese ancient architecture firsthand through authentic Tang and Song dynasty sites.
Partial architectural showcase (slide left or right to browse)
The study tour will take place entirely within Shanxi Province, traveling north to south through cities rich in traditional buildings such as Datong, Hunyuan, Shuozhou, Xinzhou, Taiyuan, and Pingyao.
What is the current state of these historical treasures? Our itinerary focuses on the coexistence of rapid urban development with traditional architecture, exploring ways to reshape spatial scale and preserve place identity.
Each city’s site selection blends traditional architecture, neighborhood renovations, and contemporary architectural practices. This comprehensive and objective approach allows for comparison and analysis of architectural forms and spatial scales across different periods and urban environments through continuous visits.
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Over four days, the tour will showcase more than 11 traditional buildings in Shanxi Province, highlighting classic examples of official architecture and immersing visitors in the rich cultural atmosphere of traditional Chinese culture.
Participants will experience Wukong’s journey as portrayed in Black Myth, feeling the powerful connection between virtual projection and real-world aesthetics of traditional Chinese architecture.
Walk through ancient cities over two millennia old: Datong Ancient City and Pingyao Ancient City, witnessing the evolution and resilience of these “cities” across time and space.
Explore architectural works by internationally renowned firm Foster+Partners and Chinese star firm Zhixiang Architecture in Shanxi, gaining insight into the revival of architectural culture in this historic region.
Discover renewal projects and public cultural buildings within typical traditional neighborhoods in Shanxi Province, showcasing both avant-garde and contemporary elements.
Enjoy the unique cuisine of Shanxi, known as the “noodle city,” and experience the ancient customs and traditions of its millennia-old merchant culture.
○ The program includes 1 to 2 in-depth academic lectures and seminars;
A team from a well-known domestic architectural design institute will provide comprehensive and detailed explanations throughout the tour.
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Yungang Grottoes
Datong
The Yungang Grottoes are a significant treasure of Buddhist art from the Northern Wei Dynasty, located at the southern foot of Wuzhou Mountain in western Datong. The grottoes stretch about one kilometer east to west and are divided into east, middle, and west zones. The carvings and architectural style blend Indian Buddhism, Chinese art, and Confucianism. The Buddha statues and cave architecture evolved from simple early forms to complex, exquisite later styles.
Datong Ancient City
Datong
Datong Ancient City originated during the Northern Wei Dynasty, then called “Pingcheng.” It later served as an auxiliary capital during the Liao, Jin, and Yuan dynasties, earning the reputation of “three generations of Jinghua and two dynasties’ important town.” The current city wall was built in the fifth year of the Hongwu reign (Ming Dynasty). It stands tall and magnificent, with 54 watchtowers, 96 huts around it, and corner towers at each corner. Many historical buildings remain, including Huayan Temple and Shanhua Temple from the Liao Dynasty, Guandi Temple and Fahua Temple Pagoda from the Yuan Dynasty, and Jiulong Liuli Zhaobi, Fuwen Temple, and Drum Tower from the Ming Dynasty.
Huayan Temple
Datong
Huayan Temple is an early and well-preserved architectural complex from the Liao and Jin Dynasties. Named after the Buddhist classic “Huayan Sutra,” it features the characteristics of a Liao Dynasty royal temple. The overall style inherits the simple, profound, and majestic style of the Tang Dynasty, representing an excellent legacy of palace architecture from the Liao Dynasty in China.
Shanhua Temple
Datong
Shanhua Temple is among the largest and most intact surviving buildings from the Liao and Jin Dynasties. Its architecture, sculptures, inscriptions, and murals uniquely reflect the era while inheriting Tang Dynasty styling. The caisson ceiling differs from the typical Douba caisson popular at the time, featuring three layers of fine wood forming an arch. At its center is a vivid, brightly colored painting of two dragons playing with a pearl.
Nine-Dragon Wall
Datong
The Datong Nine Dragon Wall is the largest existing Nine Dragon Wall in China. Originally a glazed screen wall in front of the Ming Dynasty Zhu Guidai Wang Mansion, it consists of 426 colorful glass components. The nine giant dragons depicted are lifelike, soaring amid turbulent seas of clouds and waves.
Datong Art Museum
Architect: Foster+Partners
The Datong Art Museum, a collaboration between Foster+Partners and the China Academy of Architectural Design, features a distinctive pyramid layout formed by four interconnected triangular cone-shaped structures. The design aims to make the museum the “urban living room” of Datong, fostering engagement among people, art, and artists.
Hanging Temple
Datong
The Hanging Temple, or Xuankong Temple, is named after the Taoist concept “Xuan” and the Buddhist concept “Kong.” Resembling a tower, it is built into the western cliff of Jinlongkou at Hengshan Mountain’s foot, 5 kilometers south of Hunyuan County. This temple uniquely integrates Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism—the only temple in China to combine all three. The famous Tang Dynasty poet Li Bai once visited and described the temple as “spectacular” in stone inscriptions. Most existing structures date back to the Ming and Qing dynasties.
Yingxian Wooden Pagoda
Shuozhou
The Yingxian Wooden Pagoda, also known as the Buddha Temple Shakyamuni Pagoda, is the oldest and tallest surviving pure wooden tower structure in the world. It features a double-layer sleeve structure that significantly enhances its stiffness, allowing it to withstand multiple strong earthquakes over nearly a thousand years. The tower incorporates 54 types of wooden arches, each uniquely combined. This intricate wooden framework strengthens stability while adding exquisite detail to the tower’s form.
Foguang Temple
Xinzhou
Located on the mountainside of Foguang Mountain in Wutai County, Shanxi, Foguang Temple is one of the most representative examples of Tang Dynasty wooden architecture in China. The temple complex is built on three terraced platforms with steep cliffs behind, featuring buildings stacked at varying heights. The complex includes the Heavenly King Hall, Galan Hall, Wenshu Hall, Fragrant Wind and Flower Rain Tower, Dongda Hall, Wanshan Hall, Guandi Hall, and Ancestral Teacher Tower. Two important Tang Dynasty sutras are preserved here. More than 80 years ago, Lin Huiyin deduced the temple’s Tang Dynasty origins from inscriptions on the roof and the sutras marked “Dazhong Eleven Years.”
Nanzen-ji Temple
Xinzhou
Nanchan Temple is one of the oldest surviving temples in China, with its main hall being the earliest extant Tang Dynasty wooden structure. It employs a four-rafter design without ceilings or columns, supported by 12 eaves columns, resulting in a simple yet stable appearance. The main hall once housed numerous Tang Dynasty polychrome sculptures considered national treasures, although some were stolen in 2000 and remain missing.
Ancient City of Pingyao
Jinzhong
Pingyao Ancient City is renowned as one of the “four best preserved ancient cities” in China. It preserves over 300 cultural relics and nearly 4,000 traditional buildings, showcasing the typical style of county towns from the Ming and Qing dynasties. The street layout follows a grid of longitude and latitude with clear hierarchies. Numerous shops and storefronts line the streets, while ancient residential areas with rows of courtyards reflect traditional feudal ethics and social order.
Jin Temple
Taiyuan
Jinci, formerly Jinwang Temple, was a place of worship dedicated to Tang Shuyu and his mother, founders of the Jin state. It is a royal sacrificial garden with a long history and an outstanding example of ancient Chinese architectural art. The craftsmanship includes exquisite works such as the 42 palace maids’ statues and the unique fish and swamp flying beams in the Hall of Our Lady, classics of Song Dynasty architecture. The painted sculptures, ancient springs, and servant statues in the Holy Mother Hall are known collectively as the “Three Wonders of Jinci.”
Changjiang Art Museum
Architect: Vertical Architecture
The Changjiang Art Museum in Changjiang Village, Taiyuan City, was designed by Zhixiang Architecture. Inspired by a respect for the village’s historical memory, the museum serves as a new community cultural space. Its construction uses red bricks, wood, and cement, blending traditional and modern, rural and urban elements.
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Accommodation
Local Cuisine in Shanxi
While learning remains the priority, enjoying local culture is also part of the experience. After a day’s study and exploration, participants gather to savor local cuisine together.
Games and Entertainment
Seminars are accompanied by snacks such as fruit and melon seeds, followed by group board games. The Architecture Academy leaders, Crazy Demons and Spark Children’s Shoes, will introduce novel board games to add fun and laughter to the trip.
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Trip Details
Dates: December 29, 2023 to January 1, 2024
Gathering: Evening of December 28, 2023, in Datong
Participants: 25 people nationwide (subject to actual attendance)
Cost: 4980 yuan per person
The price excludes taxes, transportation, and items not listed. It includes accommodation in a double room at a local three-star hotel (single room upgrades available at additional cost), daily local specialty lunches, architectural explanations, salon activities, bus service, first-tier tourist attraction tickets, Ando Tadao solo exhibition tickets, travel accident insurance, and driver gratuities.
Suitable for: Professionals and students in architecture, planning, landscape, interior design, and related fields, as well as enthusiasts.
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Discounts:
1. Early Bird: Register before November 15th to receive a 300 yuan discount.
2. Group Discounts: Groups of 3 to 5 people receive 180 yuan off per person; groups of 5 or more receive 380 yuan off per person. Referrals from registered participants also qualify for discounts.
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Registration:
1. Contact customer service via WeChat for registration inquiries. A pre-registration deposit of 1000 yuan is required to secure your spot. (Payment methods can be discussed with customer service.)
2. The itinerary and instructors may be adjusted based on actual circumstances. Any updates will be communicated promptly. For detailed itinerary and related inquiries, please consult customer service.
Scan the QR code below to connect with customer service and add a note: [Study Tour]
Scan the mini program above to register directly.
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Academic Lectures:
During the trip, an in-depth academic lecture and discussion session lasting 1.5 to 2 hours will be held. The speaker will design the theme based on the inspection route, followed by a free discussion.
Cost Details:
A pre-registration deposit of 1000 yuan is required to secure your place. The remaining balance is due on the evening of the gathering day. No additional fees will be charged during the trip, except for accommodation upgrades and first-tier attraction tickets, which participants must purchase themselves. Students should bring their ID cards for discounted tickets, which will be reimbursed within one week after the trip.
Project Visits:
Due to possible traffic delays or site closures, the itinerary may be adjusted, with a maximum of three changes to visits.
Website: www.archcollege.com
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