Opening Hours: 09:00 – 17:00

Ticket Price: 25 RMB

Contact Information: Not available

Best Time to Visit Changzhi features a warm temperate monsoon climate with four distinct seasons. Winters are long while summers are short, and spring lasts slightly longer than autumn. The area enjoys mild weather with rainfall and high temperatures occurring in the same season. The annual average temperature ranges from 5℃ to 12℃, and precipitation is abundant. Recommended travel seasons: Spring and Autumn.

Complaint Hotline: 0355-2035096

Changzhi Airport can accommodate medium and small-sized passenger aircraft. It operates direct flights to Beijing, Zhengzhou, Wuhan, Taiyuan and other cities, greatly facilitating communication and economic exchanges between Changzhi and the capital as well as other regions across the province and the country.

Two national trunk railways, the Taiyuan-Jiaozuo Railway and Handan-Changzhi Railway, run through the city in all directions. Two new local railways and 24 dedicated railway lines have been built here, with an annual freight capacity of over 30 million tons.

There are four national highways in the region. Taking National Highway 208 and Handan-Changzhi Class II Highway as the main lines, together with 14 local roads, they form a road network shaped like the Chinese character Feng, stretching for a total length of 2,681 kilometers. Asphalt roads connect 104 townships and 846 villages to the county seat, covering 1,000 kilometers in total. More than 202 long-distance bus routes connect Changzhi with Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Wuhan, Shijiazhuang and other cities.

Standing in Nansong Village, Changzhi County, 35 kilometers south of downtown Changzhi, is an towering ancient architecture known as the Five Phoenix Tower. Serving as the main gate of the Jade Emperor Temple, the five-storey building rises over 20 meters high. Its upturned eaves overlap layer upon layer. Decorated with gorgeous roof tiles, green painted walls and glazed roof ornaments, the tower looks resplendent and elegant. The octagonal roof structure at the base boasts exquisite craftsmanship.

First built in the Yuan Dynasty, the tower underwent four major renovations during the reigns of Wanli in the Ming Dynasty, as well as Qianlong, Jiaqing and Tongzhi in the Qing Dynasty. It is now listed as a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level. Climbing up the stone steps and leaning on the railings to reach the top, you can overlook the boundless mountains, rivers and vast land. Residential houses and livestock sheds lie nearby, while lofty mountains stand in the distance. The blue sky, white clouds, clear water and lush greenery create a refreshing and uplifting view.

Facing south with its back to the north, the Five Phoenix Tower is flanked by a Bell Tower and a Drum Tower. Set amid pine and cypress trees, the whole complex features well-proportioned layout and harmonious color tones. Entering the main gate, you will see four powerful Chinese characters Supreme Lord of Heaven inscribed inside the gate and another four characters Lofty Grandeur outside.

Past the second gate stands a tall square pavilion. Four bluestone pillars at its four corners are each carved with the vivid pattern of Two Dragons Playing with a Pearl. There are ten wing rooms on both the east and west sides respectively, four of which remain in their original style. Further ahead stands the grand main hall — the Jade Emperor Temple.

The hall is adorned with elaborate painted beams and carved rafters. Its roof is paved with traditional glazed tiles. Three yellow and green flying dragons decorate the east and west ends of the roof ridges respectively, shining brightly under the sunlight. The architecture fully showcases the extraordinary artistic talent of ancient Chinese working people.

Geographically, the Five Phoenix Tower sits at the head of the Phoenix Mountain Range. A beautiful ancient legend has been passed down through generations. It is said that the Jade Emperor had five daughters, named Golden Phoenix, Silver Phoenix, Jade Phoenix, Colorful Phoenix and Green Phoenix. The five sisters were all breathtakingly beautiful. Tired of the dull and monotonous life in the heavenly palace, they agreed to descend to the mortal world to live among ordinary people.

When they arrived at this place, celestial guards spotted them and reported to the Jade Emperor, who immediately ordered the sisters to return to heaven. They refused to obey the order. Enraged, the Jade Emperor dispatched heavenly soldiers to force them back. The five sisters held each other tightly, choosing death over submission. The Jade Emperor then ordered the Thunder God to strike them down with thunder and lightning. The five maidens perished on this spot and turned into a mountain range, hence the name Phoenix Mountain.

To commemorate the five phoenix sisters, local people built the Five Phoenix Tower at the head of the mountain and named the main hall the Jade Emperor Temple as a token of good fortune. It is said that there are only three grand and elaborately structured Five Phoenix Towers of this scale in the world. The other two are located in Beijing of China and the ancient capital of Japan. Besides these grand ones, there are merely over ten ordinary Five Phoenix Towers across the country.