Yongzuo Temple (永祚寺), commonly known as the Twin Pagoda Temple (双塔寺), is located in the southeastern part of Taiyuan, Shanxi Province. Established during the Ming Dynasty under the reign of Emperor Wanli (1573–1620), the temple complex covers an area of 120,000 square meters and is set against a mountainous backdrop.
The temple is divided into three main areas: the temple itself, the pagoda courtyard, and the stele corridor. Key structures include the Mountain Gate, the East and West Side Rooms of the front courtyard, the Second Gate, Third Gate, and the Main Hall in the rear courtyard. The Main Hall, known as the Mahavira Hall, is a two-story rectangular building. The lower floor, with five bays, is an impressive brick construction designed to resemble wood without any actual wooden beams. Inside, it houses statues of Sakyamuni Buddha, Amitabha Buddha, and Bhaisajyaguru Buddha. Notably, Amitabha Buddha is a bronze standing statue, while the other two are iron seated statues, indicating they were moved from other locations. The upper floor, originally named the Avalokitesvara Pavilion, is now known as the Three Saints Hall, housing statues of Avalokitesvara, Manjushri, and Samantabhadra.
At the highest point of the temple complex, you will find the Xuanwen Pagoda and the Wenfeng Pagoda, which are 13-story octagonal towers standing approximately 54.7 meters tall. These pagodas represent the most complete and largest example of paired brick pagodas in China. Positioned on a high mountain, they have long been a landmark visible from afar and are considered symbols of Taiyuan.
Yongzuo Temple is also renowned for its peonies, with over 40 rare varieties including Yao Huang, Wei Zi, Zhao Fen, Dou Lv, and Zhuang Yuan Hong. Notably, it features several Ming Dynasty peonies called Zi Xia Xian (also known as Zi Yun Xian). These peonies are rare and have been cultivated for a long time, blooming early with large, fragrant flowers that transition from flesh pink to pale purple and finally to a deep purple as they mature.
Basic Information
| Estimated Length of Tour | 1 – 2 hours |
| Ticket Price | 30 RMB (1st April – 31st October) 20 RMB (1st November – 31st March) |
| Opening Hours | 8.30 – 17.30 (1st April – 31st October) 9.00 – 17.00 (1st November – 31st March) |
| Telephone Number | 0086-0351-4551302 |
Location and Transportation
Yongzuo Temple is located in Haozhuang Village, Haozhuang Town, Yingze District, Taiyuan City, Shanxi Province. To get there, you can take public bus routes 23, 812, or 820 and alight at the Shuangta North Road and Yongzuo West Street bus stop (双塔北路永祚西街口站). From there, it is a short walk to the temple.
Food Street – Bell and Drum Tower – Liuxiang Commercial Street, claimed to be the largest night market in North China, well, it’s just average. It feels like it can’t compare to the Muslim Quarter in Xi’an.
There weren’t many people, but climbing the pagoda was both tiring and scary. Inside, there’s a 400-year-old Ming Dynasty peony. If you can visit in spring, it must be incredibly beautiful.
There are many snacks in Liuxiang Alley, and for street food, roadside stalls are just fine. The Snow Mountain Cold Drink (雪山冷饮) is quite famous for its ice cream, especially the sea buckthorn ice cream and the aged vinegar ice cream, which are local specialties. However, I didn’t try them. The second floor is a dining area, and the environment is clean and tidy. The staff is very friendly, and the prices are reasonable. The local dishes are definitely worth… Read more »
Inside Yongzuo Temple, there are two pagodas: Xuanwen Tower and Wenfeng Tower. The Wenfeng Tower is not open to the public, so visitors can only climb to the top of the Xuanwen Tower. The steps inside are very steep and narrow, making the staircase quite cramped. The surrounding walls are extremely smooth, likely worn down by the many visitors who have held onto them while climbing.
The Old Barracks Snack Street (老军营小吃街) has finished its road repairs, so no need to worry about making a wasted trip!
A few days ago, the road was under construction, and all the shops were closed. Today, as I passed by, I noticed that the fences at both ends are gone, and everything is back to normal now!
Surprisingly, the temple houses numerous stone inscriptions, featuring the genuine works of famous calligraphers such as Wang Xizhi, Li Shimin, Yan Zhenqing, Su Shi, Liu Gongquan, and Zhang Xu. Visitors who love calligraphy should definitely not miss it!