Plan at a glance
Several dynasties of timber architecture in one temple
Longmen Temple is in Yuantu Village, Shicheng Town, Pingshun County, with the main temple halfway up the mountain. Its buildings range from the Five Dynasties Western Side Hall to Song, Jin, and Yuan structures. Allow about 1–2 hours inside the temple, plus the steps or shuttle from the foothill car park to the gate. It works best as a separate historic-architecture stop.
Tickets and the midday schedule
Admission is RMB 20 per person, with no advance reservation required and tickets bought on site. Official hours are 08:30–17:30, but temples along the Zhuozhang River valley may close for lunch from 11:30 to 14:00. Check the midday closure and which halls are open before travelling; do not assume the temple remains open continuously through lunchtime.
Tickets and visit details
View visit options for this attraction and confirm the visit date and current arrangements before you go.
Choose your visit
The Five Dynasties Western Side Hall and Northern Song Main Hall
The Western Side Hall is a Five Dynasties timber structure with an overhanging-gable roof. The Main Hall is a Northern Song building and retains sections of Ming-dynasty murals. Look at the roofs, brackets, timber frames, and courtyard positions together; the comparison is most useful when you observe the buildings where they stand.
The Jin-dynasty gate and Yuan-dynasty Dipankara Buddha Hall (燃灯佛殿)
The mountain gate, also called the Hall of the Heavenly Kings, is a Jin-dynasty building with reduced-column and diagonal-bracket features. The Yuan-dynasty Dipankara Buddha Hall is notable for the use of naturally curved timber in its roof frame. Viewing them along the central axis puts the structural differences between the dynasties into one sequence.
Who it suits
Longmen Temple suits visitors interested in historic architecture and in observing timber details on site. The route is not long, but the foothill-to-gate section involves steps. Visitors who want to take photos should be comfortable with the no-photography rule inside the halls; facilities are simple and the toilets are dry toilets, so keep expectations realistic for a remote historic site.
Build your day
Quick route: about one hour for the core timber structures
Enter through the mountain gate / Hall of the Heavenly Kings and see this Jin-dynasty timber structure first. In the front courtyard, turn west to the Five Dynasties Western Side Hall, then return to the central axis for the Northern Song Main Hall, and continue north to the Yuan-dynasty Dipankara Buddha Hall. After the visit, return to the mountain gate and walk or take the shuttle down. The core visit takes about 1 hour.
Highlights route: slow down for the structure
Allow about 1.5–2 hours and follow the sequence mountain gate / Hall of the Heavenly Kings → Western Side Hall → Main Hall → Dipankara Buddha Hall. Focus on brackets, roofs, and timber frames from different periods, and look out for the scripture pillar, steles, and ancient cypresses. Photography is not allowed inside the halls, so take in the details through direct observation and any explanation available on site.
From the foothill car park to the temple gate
Outside vehicles must park at the Shiting car park below the temple. From there, walk uphill for about 15–20 minutes or take the shuttle, around RMB 10 per person when available. Stone steps are slippery in rain, so visitors with limited stamina should check the shuttle first. Ask at the temple about the downhill boarding point and last service when you arrive.
Get there
Drive to Shiting car park
Driving from Changzhi takes about 1.5 hours. Navigate to “龙门寺” (Longmen Temple), then follow the signs to Shiting car park; outside vehicles cannot drive directly to the temple gate.
Public transport
There is no direct bus, so public transport is not recommended. If you are travelling from Changzhi, arrange a vehicle for both directions and allow a buffer for the midday closure rather than relying on a last-minute taxi after reaching the area. Other historic sites in the Zhuozhang River valley have their own entrances and opening hours.
Know before you go
Midday closure and guiding
The official opening period is 08:30–17:30, while temples along the Zhuozhang River valley may close from 11:30 to 14:00 for lunch. Confirm this schedule before departure. Paid guiding is available for about RMB 70 per group; whether a guide is available, the fee, and the meeting arrangement depend on the day.
No photography inside the halls and walking safety
Photography is not allowed inside any of the halls. Whether outdoor areas such as courtyards and steles may be photographed depends on the signs on site. The steps and stone paths below the temple become slippery in rain, so wear shoes with good grip and do not cross barriers or enter closed areas to inspect the structures.
Supplies and other valley sites
Facilities around the temple are basic, so you can return to Changzhi for a meal, including local options such as donkey-meat shaobing and Zhangzi stir-fried flatbread. If you also plan to visit Dayun Temple or Yuanqi Temple, check their opening and parking arrangements separately; they require their own routes and do not share Longmen Temple’s shuttle.