[2025 Jinan Attraction] Travel Guide for Simen Tower (Updated Jul)

For thousands of years, the ancestors living in the Qilu region created a brilliant Qilu culture and left behind a rich legacy of ancient architecture. Nestled among the verdant mountains about 30 kilometers south of Jinan city, a thousand-year-old stone pagoda stands quietly—this is the Four Gates Pagoda, the oldest extant single-story pavilion-style stone pagoda in China. It is both a cultural relic and an internet sensation. Dubbed the "Cat Temple" by netizens due to the large number of stray cats inhabiting the area, it has become a popular check-in spot... Built in the 7th year of the Sui Dynasty's Daye era (611 AD), the Four Gates Pagoda has weathered over 1,400 years of history while retaining its original architectural form. The entire pagoda is constructed from bluestone, standing 15 meters tall, with four stone Buddha statues enshrined inside. Each of its four sides features a semicircular arched gate, hence the name "Four Gates." With its clean lines and unadorned design, this single-story square stone pagoda embodies the majestic style of Sui and Tang Dynasty architecture. The Four Gates Pagoda is the only surviving Sui Dynasty stone pagoda in China and holds a significant place in the country's architectural history. In the 1930s, Liang Sicheng and Lin Huiyin, the pioneering couple in Chinese architectural studies, included the pagoda as a key stop in their "rescue-style survey" of ancient Chinese structures. At the time, the pagoda was hidden in the wilderness, and the couple trekked through mountains to document its form and details through hand-drawn sketches, photographs, and written records, systematically preserving it for the first time in their seminal work, *A History of Chinese Architecture*. Liang Sicheng praised it as "a model of early stone pagodas, with its archaic form and exquisite proportions." In 1961, the Four Gates Pagoda was designated as one of the first batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units. Shenyang · Liaoning

You have to go to the Baotu Spring in the textbook~ Find a weekend to take the high-speed rail directly. The gentleness of the south of the Yangtze River and the boldness of the north are combined in Jinan, which is particularly good for visiting. I have compiled a detailed route for friends to refer to~ Lazy people actually tested it for two days and one night, visiting the highlights of Jinan Route planning Day1: Black Tiger Spring-Quancheng Square-Baotu Spring-Wulongtan-Qushuiting Street-Daming Lake-Kuanhouli-Jiefang Pavilion-Railway Museum-Hongjialou Church Day2: Changqing Lingyan Temple-Simen Tower-Longhu Tower One-day Tour Introduction to attractions 📕Baotu Spring: College students can apply for the Quancheng Tour Card to avoid tickets and take the bus for free. The light is better if you go to take pictures of the pavilion in the morning, and the spring is better in the afternoon. The scenery is beautiful when you walk around Baotu Spring. 📕Across the road from the north gate of Baotu Spring is Wulongtan, which is very worth visiting. It is free of admission and a very beautiful park. 📕Coming out of the east gate of Baotu Spring is Quancheng Square, where you can check in at the landmark building. The square is large and spacious, next to the moat. 📕Jiefang Pavilion is a good place to climb up and see the sights (it’s not particularly high). Across the road is Kuanhouli, a snack street that is a bit commercialized and close to Shimao Plaza. 📕From Qushuiting Street to Chaoran Building, you can pass by the Lao She Memorial Hall on the way. You need a ticket to climb the Chaoran Building. There is an elevator. You can overlook Daming Lake from the top floor, and the scenery is quite good. 📕The Railway Museum is free of charge. You can enter by swiping your mainland China ID card. You need to store your bag at the door. It is recommended to go. 📕The Old Commercial Port and Grand View Garden are both places to eat! The old commercial port has some distinctive buildings and check-in spots, while the Grand View Garden is more Chinese in style. There are more snacks around the Grand View Garden! ! 📕 Lingyan Temple + Simen Pagoda, two important cultural relics and historical sites located in Changqing District, you can choose to charter or rent a car for a day trip. Tips for traveling 1. If you are not physically fit for the first day, you can take a boat ride for a while, the scenery is also very good, and you can postpone the visit to Hongjialou Church to the next day. 2. You need to make an appointment in advance to visit the Shandong Provincial Museum and Art Gallery. Please note that they are closed on Mondays. They are located on the east side. If you do not want to use the car the next day, you can visit here instead. 3. Check the weather in advance. Taking photos when traveling to Jinan is really picky about the weather. The scenery will be more beautiful when the sun is out. Practical information 🏨Accommodation: It is recommended to stay near Quancheng Square, where attractions are concentrated and travel is convenient. 🍱Eat: Kuanhouli and Furong Street are snack streets. The sour dips and Furong pastries are delicious. You can taste Shandong cuisine at Plaza 66 or the alleys near Furong Street. Recommended dishes include steamed pork with pork belly, sweet and sour carp, and Minghu crispy lotus root. 🚗Transportation: Jinan's scenic spots are concentrated, so riding a bicycle or walking, or taking a taxi may cause traffic jams. You can make reservations for renting or chartering a car on the "Ctrip Car Rental" platform.

Simen Pagoda is located 4 km northeast of Liubu Subdistrict, Licheng District, Jinan City, Shandong Province. You can drive there by following the navigation. You will first see a "Shentong Temple," and the entrance to Simen Pagoda Scenic Area is on its east side. The pagoda is made of huge bluestones, with a single layer and a square shape. There is an arch on each of the four sides, so it is commonly known as "Simen Pagoda" (Four-Gate Pagoda). It was built in the 7th year of the Daye period of the Sui Dynasty (611), with a history of more than 1,400 years. Simen Pagoda is the only existing stone pagoda of the Sui Dynasty in China, and it is also the earliest and best-preserved single-story pavilion-style pagoda in China, which is a model of early stone architecture in China. It is known as "China's First Stone Pagoda" and "Huaxia's First Stone Pagoda." Its shape is simple, with the style of Chinese Han Dynasty architecture. On March 4, 1961, Simen Pagoda was announced by the State Council of the People's Republic of China as the first batch of national key cultural relics protection units. There is a "cat gathering place" in Simen Pagoda, with all kinds of cats. If you like them, you can bring some snacks to feed them. The tour time is 1–2 hours. The main attractions are relatively concentrated, and you can also choose to walk along the mountain road, which takes 1–2 hours. If you want to see the mountain, you can try it.

😎Hey guys, today I'm going to share a special ancient building with you—Jinan Simen Pagoda, which is also a filming location for Black Myth: Wukong in Jinan! 🌟Simen Pagoda is located 4 km northeast of Liubu Town, Licheng District, Jinan City, Shandong Province. It is the earliest single-story pavilion-style stone pagoda in China! It is square-shaped, with arched doors on all four sides, a total height of 15.04 meters, and a width of 7.4 meters on each side. It is built with grayish-blue stone, giving it a strong sense of history.💕 🌟Simen Pagoda originally belonged to Shentong Temple, which was quite impressive. It was built in the first year of the reign of Emperor Qin (351 AD) and is the earliest temple in Shandong Province. However, the temple was burned down in a fire in the late Qing Dynasty, leaving only the Buddhist relics of Simen Pagoda. Simen Pagoda itself was built in the 7th year of the Sui Dynasty (611 AD). Liang Sicheng and Lin Huiyin both came to survey it and included it in the History of Chinese Architecture.👏 Architectural Beauty The structure is very ingenious, with a large stone pillar in the center of the pagoda, stone Buddha statues on all four sides of the pillar, and a corridor around the pillar. The eaves of the pagoda are made of five layers of stone strips, with a concave outline. The pagoda's finial consists of a Sumeru pedestal, "banana leaves," an inverted bowl, five-tiered wheels, and a jewel, all carved from stone. Its unique style, with concave eaves and curved roofs, gives the sturdy stone pagoda a sense of softness. The small pagoda doors show a true sense of scale, and the pagoda's finial adds interest.😜 Precious Relics There are Buddha statues inside. Originally, each side of the central pillar had a main Buddha statue, along with bodhisattvas and disciples on either side. Now, only the main Buddha statues remain on each side. The Buddha statues' shapes and robes are very distinctive. There is also a stone reliquary discovered in 1973, containing crystal beads, glass beads, small bottles, and "five-zhu" copper coins from Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty.🧐 Legends and Stories The "Nine-Top Pine" in front of the door has a story. It is said that Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty, Yang Jian, made a wish upon seeing it, and later became emperor.🤴 Highest Honors It is the only surviving Sui Dynasty stone pagoda in China, the first place in New China to discover relics, and one of the first national key cultural relics protection units in China. It is praised as the "First Pagoda of China," and many architects have given it high praise!👍 Visitor Information ⌚Opening hours: 7:30–17:30 🎫Tickets: Adult 26💰 🌟Location: No. 55, Sujia Village, Liubu Town, Licheng District, Jinan City 🚗Self-driving: About 1 hour from the city center to the scenic area 🚌Public transportation: Bus 67/812/815 to Simen Pagoda Station

Simen Pagoda was built in the 7th year of the Daye era of the Sui Dynasty (611 AD), and has a history of over 1,400 years. It is the only existing stone pagoda from the Sui Dynasty in China, and the earliest and best-preserved single-story pavilion-style Buddhist pagoda in China. It is known as the "No. 1 Stone Pagoda in China" and the "No. 1 Stone Pagoda in Huaxia". In the 1920s, Simen Pagoda was included in the book "World Art Collection" published in Japan. The book's evaluation of Simen Pagoda is: "Although the structure of this pagoda is simple, it has the beauty of balance. Among the single-story stone pagodas, it is unparalleled." It is precisely because Simen Pagoda is a precious heritage of ancient Chinese architecture that it has become the location for "Black Myth: Wukong". Travel Tips: Simen Pagoda is about 40 kilometers away from the center of Jinan, about 55 minutes by car, and the ticket is 30 yuan (children/elderly are free). I personally feel that the cost performance is very high. The mountains here are clear and the water is beautiful, and the cultural relics are gathered. It is a seriously underestimated niche scenic spot. This time we mainly visited cultural relics, and we didn't go to the Yongquan Bamboo Forest area due to time constraints. In the Yongquan Bamboo Forest Scenic Area, there is one of the 72 famous springs in Jinan, Yongquan. The cultural allusion of "the grace of dripping water should be reciprocated by the spring" originated from here, which is a good place for summer coolness and water play.

Simen Pagoda Travel Guide🚶‍♂️ Simen Pagoda Scenic Area is located in the southern mountainous area of Jinan. It is a tourist destination integrating natural scenery, humanities, and history. There are ancient stone pagodas, lush forests, clear springs, and lovely cats. It is a great place for hiking and leisure vacations. Here is a travel guide for Simen Pagoda. I hope it will be helpful for you. 1. Introduction to attractions 1. Simen Pagoda: Simen Pagoda is the earliest existing single-story pavilion-style stone pagoda in China. It is also one of the outstanding representatives of ancient Chinese architecture. The pagoda is about 15 meters high and is made of huge bluestone. There is an arched door on each side of the pagoda, hence the name Simen Pagoda. 2. Nine-Top Pine: Nine-Top Pine is an ancient tree with a history of more than 2,000 years. Its trunk is thick, its crown is huge, and its branches and leaves are lush. It is one of the iconic landscapes of Simen Pagoda Scenic Area. 3. Yongquan Bamboo Forest: Yongquan Bamboo Forest is a scenic area featuring springs and bamboo forests. There are clear springs, lush bamboo forests, and ancient stone slab bridges. It is a great place for leisure walks and photo taking. 4. Tomb Pagoda Forest: Tomb Pagoda Forest is a scenic area with many ancient tomb pagodas. The tomb pagodas here have different shapes. Some are tall and majestic, while others are small and exquisite. They are precious heritages of ancient Chinese architectural art. 2. Travel route 1. Morning: Enter from the main gate of Simen Pagoda Scenic Area and walk up the stone steps. First, visit Simen Pagoda and Nine-Top Pine. Then, follow the forest path to Yongquan Bamboo Forest and enjoy the beauty of the springs and bamboo forests. In Yongquan Bamboo Forest, you can choose to walk by the stream, take photos, or rest in the bamboo forest for a while and enjoy the tranquility of nature. 2. Noon: Taste local specialties at a farmhouse in Yongquan Bamboo Forest, such as spring water tofu, stir-fried mountain chicken, and stewed wild rabbit. 3. Afternoon: Depart from Yongquan Bamboo Forest and visit Tomb Pagoda Forest. In Tomb Pagoda Forest, you can appreciate tomb pagodas with different shapes and learn about the development of ancient Chinese architectural art. Then, follow the mountain road back to the main gate of Simen Pagoda Scenic Area and end your day's trip. 3. Precautions 1. The mountain roads in Simen Pagoda Scenic Area are relatively rugged. It is recommended to wear comfortable sports shoes or hiking shoes. 2. The vegetation in the scenic area is relatively dense. It is recommended to bring mosquito repellent and sunscreen. 3. There are many cultural relics in the scenic area. Please do not touch or damage them at will. 4. There are many cats in the scenic area. Please do not feed or touch them at will to avoid being scratched by the cats. 4. Nearby attractions recommended 1. Paomaling Forest Tribe: Paomaling Forest Tribe is a scenic area with forests and animals as its theme. There are lush forests, clear streams, and lovely animals. It is a great place for family trips and leisure vacations. 2. Liubu National Forest Park: Liubu National Forest Park is a scenic area with forests and natural scenery as its theme. There are lush forests, clear streams, and spectacular waterfalls. It is a great place for hiking and leisure vacations. 3. Shuilian Gorge Scenic Area: Shuilian Gorge Scenic Area is a scenic area with mountains, rivers, and natural scenery as its theme. There are clear streams, spectacular waterfalls, and unique rocks. It is a great place for hiking and leisure vacations. This is a travel guide for Simen Pagoda. I hope it will be helpful for you. I wish you a pleasant vacation in Simen Pagoda!

Don't miss the Four Gates Pagoda in Jinan. It is the only existing stone pagoda from the Sui Dynasty in China and the earliest and most well-preserved single-story pavilion-style Buddhist pagoda in China. Opening hours: 07:30-17:30 (January 1 - December 31, Monday to Sunday). Ticket price: 30 yuan. (There are discounts online, you can buy in advance) 🚌Bus: Take bus No. 67 (Wuyingshan-Lijiatang line) in the city and get off at the Four Gates Pagoda station. The Four Gates Pagoda is the core attraction of the scenic area. The pagoda is majestic, sturdy, and solemn. It is currently the oldest single-story pavilion-style stone pagoda in China. In addition, the cliff carvings from the early Tang Dynasty and the complete and ancient brick pagoda are also very impressive. There is a forest park in the scenic area. Yongquan is one of the seventy-two famous springs in Jinan. The bamboo forest by the spring grows because of the spring. The spring water gurgles, and the green bamboo sways. In the scorching summer, it is especially cool here. Note: There are many stray cats in the scenic area. Please keep a safe distance when feeding them.

Four-Gate Pagoda is located 4 kilometers northeast of Liubu Street, Licheng District, Jinan City, Shandong Province. The pagoda is entirely built of large blue stones, single-layered, and square-shaped, with an arch gate on each of its four sides, hence the common name "Four-Gate Pagoda." It was completed in the seventh year of the Sui Dynasty's Daye period (611 AD) and has a history of over 1,400 years. Four-Gate Pagoda is the only existing stone pagoda from the Sui Dynasty in China and is the earliest and best-preserved single-layer pavilion-style Buddhist pagoda in China. It is renowned as "China's First Stone Pagoda" and "Hua Xia's First Stone Pagoda." Its design is simple, reflecting the style of Han Dynasty architecture in China. It holds significant value for the study of Chinese Buddhist history and ancient architectural features and is one of the precious heritages of ancient Chinese architecture. Except for some slight decorations on the pagoda's finial, the rest of the structure has no obvious decorations, giving it a solid and simple appearance, ancient yet straightforward. It holds an important place in the history of Chinese architecture. On March 4, 1961, Four-Gate Pagoda was announced by the State Council of the People's Republic of China as one of the first batch of national key cultural relics protection units.

Dragon and Tiger Pagoda: Located in the Simen Pagoda Scenic Area, Liubu Street, Licheng District, Jinan City, Shandong Province. Based on the material, shape, and carving style of the Dragon and Tiger Pagoda, it is determined that the base to the body of the pagoda should have been built during the flourishing Tang Dynasty, and the brick eaves of the pagoda should have been built before the Shaosheng period (1094-1098) of the Northern Song Dynasty. The Dragon and Tiger Pagoda is a stone pagoda with a square plan, standing at a total height of 10.8 meters. It is named after the dragon and tiger carvings on the body of the pagoda. It consists of a base, body, eaves, and finial. The architectural proportions of the Dragon and Tiger Pagoda are symmetrical and aesthetically pleasing, making it a fine example of the combination of stone carving art and architectural art. The beautiful shape of the Dragon and Tiger Pagoda complements the high relief carvings, showcasing the unique style of Tang Dynasty carving and modeling art, providing valuable research material for sculptors. On January 13, 1988, the Dragon and Tiger Pagoda, along with the Thousand Buddha Cliff statues, was announced by the State Council of the People's Republic of China as part of the third batch of national key cultural relics protection units.

Shandong Jinan Thousand Buddha Cliff carvings are Chinese Buddhist sculptures from the Tang Dynasty. Thousand Buddha Cliff is located in Liubu of Jinan. Liubu is situated 40 kilometers southeast of Jinan City, Shandong Province. The concentrated carvings are located to the northwest of Simen Tower on the eastern foothills of Baihu Mountain, and are the main remnants of Tang Dynasty Buddhist stone carvings in Shandong Province. On the cliff wall, which is 65 meters long and 8.5 meters high, the main features are cliff niche statues. The layout of Thousand Buddha Cliff includes 6 small caves, with a total of 214 statues of various sizes and 45 inscriptions, among which 10 statues are inscribed with the reign titles such as Wude, Zhenguan, Xianqing, Yongchun, and Wuming. The main figures depicted include members of the Tang royal family, such as Princess Nanping, Prince Zhao Li Fu, and son-in-law Liu Xuan Yi, as well as general officials, monks, nuns, and the public. Inside the cave, there is one seated Buddha with a full and serene face, delicate and flowing robe lines, and skillfully refined carving techniques. The cave was excavated in the second year of Xianqing (657) during the Tang Dynasty, and was created by Princess Nanping to pray for the blessing of her late father, Emperor Taizong of Tang. Her husband, Liu Xuan Yi, who was then the governor of Qizhou, created a statue niche located in the southern part of the central area of Thousand Buddha Cliff. The niche is decorated with a beaded architrave, and the exterior is carved with guardian beasts such as muscular men and lions. Most of the carvings were made in the early Tang Dynasty, with a few from later periods, and are mostly well-preserved. In the northern part of Thousand Buddha Cliff, there are two large caves; the southern cave has a stone pillar in the middle of the entrance, and inside the cave, there are two large Buddhas nearly 3 meters tall, created by Prince Zhao Li Fu, the thirteenth son of Emperor Taizong, in the third year of Xianqing for Emperor Taizong. This group of carvings was announced by the State Council as a national key cultural relics protection unit in 1988.

Si Men Tower, located 4 kilometers northeast of Liubu Street, Licheng District, Jinan City, Shandong Province. The tower is made entirely of huge bluestone, single-layered, square, with an archway opened on each of the four sides, hence it is commonly known as "Si Men Tower". It was completed in the seventh year of the Sui Dynasty (611 AD) and has a history of more than 1400 years. Si Men Tower is the only existing stone tower from the Sui Dynasty in China, and it is also the earliest and most well-preserved single-layer pavilion-style Buddhist pagoda in China, serving as a model for early Chinese stone architecture. It has the reputation of being the "first stone tower in China" and the "first stone tower in Huaxia". Its design is simple, reflecting the Taoist style of Chinese Han Dynasty architecture. It has high value for studying the history of Buddhism in China and the characteristics of ancient architecture, and it is also one of the precious heritages of ancient Chinese architecture. Apart from the slightly decorated tower part, the rest of the tower has no obvious decoration, and the whole form is solid and simple, simple and concise. It occupies an important position in the history of Chinese architecture. On March 4, 1961, Si Men Tower was announced by the State Council of the People's Republic of China as the first batch of national key cultural relics protection units.

Which is the earliest temple in Shandong? This temple is now unknown, and it is the Shentong Temple in Jinan. Shentong Temple is located in Liuyu Town, Licheng District, Jinan City. It has beautiful forests and green forests. Now it has developed a lot of farmhouse music Shentong Temple. It was built in the first year of the Qin Dynasty (351 years) and is the earliest temple in Shandong. Later, the temple was destroyed by the fire at the end of the Qing Dynasty, leaving Buddhist temples such as the Four Gate Tower, the Dragon Tiger Tower, the Jiuding Tower, the Tomb Tallinn, and the Cliff Statue. The most famous temple in the temple is the four-door tower. This stone tower is covered by various auras. It is the only surviving stone tower in China. It is also the earliest surviving single-story stone tower in China. It is also the earliest existing pavilion. Tower. There are not many tourists, the environment is good, the mountains are quiet, and there are many ancient trees in the mountains, guiding you to the direction of the four-door tower. The four-door tower belongs to the Shentong Temple, which was built more than 200 years later than the construction of the Shentong Temple. It was built in the Seventh Year of the Great Industrial (611). Initially, the construction time of the four-door tower was quite controversial. When the tower was extensively renovated in 1972, it was discovered that there was a big-year seven-year creation lettering on the top of the tower to solve this mystery. The tower of the four-door tower is made of huge bluestone. It is single-storey, square, 15 meters high and 7.4 meters long. It has an arch on all sides, so it is commonly known as the "four-door tower". The four-door tower was found to be relics 14 years earlier than the Shaanxi Famen Temple, and it was a major discovery.