Scenic Spots in Minquan County

Baiyun Temple is located 20 kilometres southwest of Minquan County seat, built on the cultural site of the late Longshan Period. It is 150 kilometres west of Zhengzhou, the provincial capital, 56 kilometres east of Shangqiu, and 15 kilometres from the Minquan exit of the Lianyungang-Khorgas Expressway. A special tourist highway connects Huayuan and Baiyun Temple, bringing convenient transportation and a superior geographical location.

As the largest ancient architectural complex surviving in eastern Henan, Baiyun Temple covers a land area of 20,652 square metres with a construction area of 1,310 square metres. Together with Baima Temple in Luoyang, Shaolin Temple on Songshan Mountain and Daxiangguo Temple in Kaifeng, it is known as one of the Four Great Temples in the Central Plains. It was listed as a Provincial Key Cultural Relic Protection Unit in 1986 and approved as a National 2A-level Tourist Attraction in 2006.

The temple was first constructed in the first year of the Zhenguan reign of the Tang Dynasty (627 AD). It was burned down in wars during the Jin and Yuan dynasties and later reconstructed by Monk Jiexiu in the Ming Dynasty. In the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty, Monk Foding carried out large-scale renovation and expansion. Among the four major temples in Henan, Baiyun Temple houses the largest number of jade Buddha statues.

Zhuangzi was a great ancient Chinese thinker, philosopher and writer, the founder of Taoism and a world-famous cultural celebrity. His hometown is Qingliansi Village in Zhuangzi Town, 30 kilometres northeast of Minquan County seat.

The village has two main streets running east-west and north-south. The north street, an ancient lane, contains a courtyard once inhabited by Zhuangzi, known as Zhuangzi Lane. Zhuangzi’s former residence stands on the east side of the northern end of the lane, and his lecture hall is situated at the southern end of the residence. Both buildings were later destroyed by wars and floods and no longer exist today.

At the southeast corner of Zhuangzi Lane stands an ancient pavilion housing an old well dozens of zhang deep. The well wall is as solid as polished stone and glossy as black jade, with clear and sweet spring water. It was where Zhuangzi fetched water for daily life and alchemical practice. The well survived repeated Yellow River floods and several renovations, and has been preserved to this day. It is known as the Zhuangzi Well.

Zhuangzi Mausoleum lies east of Tangzhuang Village in Laoyanji Township, 33 kilometres from the county seat, and is a Provincial Key Cultural Relic Protection Unit. The mausoleum covers 29,040 square metres. Its forest of steles contains 108 stone tablets erected by government officials at all levels, Chinese and foreign experts and scholars, and descendants of the Zhuang clan at home and abroad in praise of Zhuangzi.

The Tomb of Jiang Yan is located in Yuezhuang Village, Chengzhuang Town of Minquan County. The mound is 1.5 metres high with a circumference of 10 metres. A stone tablet erected in the Chenghua reign of the Ming Dynasty stands before the tomb, inscribed with: "Tomb of Jiang Wentong, Marquis of Lingling and Minister of the Golden Purple Splendour".

A brick archway stands inside the cemetery, flanked by two stone tablets recording Jiang Yan’s life story and the list of descendants who renovated the tomb. The cemetery is covered with lush trees, singing birds and blooming flowers, creating a peaceful and pleasant environment. It ranks among the Eight Scenic Sights of Minquan County.

The well-known allusions "A pen blossoms with flowers in a dream" and "A talented man runs out of inspiration" both originate from Jiang Yan. His biography is recorded in Book of the Southern Dynasties and Book of Liang.

The Kuqiu Alliance Platform is situated 17.5 kilometres east of Minquan County seat, on the north bank of the old course of the Yellow River and right beside Qiushui Lake. The surviving mound rises 2 metres above the ground and covers roughly 1,500 square metres. There remains an Alliance Hall together with a newly erected stone tablet by the Minquan County People’s Government, engraved with the inscription "Site of the Kuqiu Alliance Platform". This was the venue where feudal lords held alliances during the Spring and Autumn Period.

The platform faces the water, with Qiushui Lake and Longze Lake stretching on its east and west. Rippling blue water, playing ducks and fish, willow shade and lotus fragrance make the scenery exceptionally charming.