The Wa Palace is located on the northeast side of Suobao Town in Shexian County, Handan, about 11 kilometers away from Shexian County by car. It is the earliest and largest ancient architectural complex in China dedicated to the worship of N ü wa. The Wa Palace was first built during the Northern and Southern Dynasties and the Northern Qi Dynasty. It was suspended on the mountainside of Tangwang Mountain on the eastern foot of Taihang Mountain, and after generations of repairs and expansions, the architectural complex is magnificent and spectacular. The current Wa Palace is mainly built during the Ming and Qing dynasties, but there are also cliff carvings and grotto sites from the Northern Qi period, which are very worth visiting.
The Wa Palace Scenic Area has a large area, and the architectural complex is mainly divided into two parts: the foot of the mountain and the mountainside. After entering the scenic area through the mountain gate, tourists first visit the architectural complex at the foot of the mountain, and then walk up the mountain to visit the buildings on the mountainside. There is also a slide on the mountain where you can ride down the mountain, which is very exciting. The recommended duration for the entire tour is approximately 3-4 hours.
At the foot of the mountain, there are memorial archway at the gate, Chaoyuan Palace, Patian Square, etc. Among them, Chaoyuan Palace is a temple integrating Buddhism and Taoism, where you can enter to worship and pray. There is a statue of N ü wa on the Bu Tian Square, which is suitable for taking photos. There are also records about N ü wa's achievements in repairing the sky here, which can be learned about.
Go up the mountain along the stone steps. There are some pavilions and memorial archway in the mountains. Most of them are historic sites, so you can visit them. On the mountainside is the suspended main hall of the Wa Palace, which houses the goddess N ü wa and many Taoist statues. The adjacent hall also contains relics of grottoes and stone carved scriptures from the Northern Qi period, which are precious historical sites worth visiting. In addition, the view from the mountainside area is very broad, allowing one to overlook the surrounding scenery and feel relaxed.
After exploring the mountainous area, you can either follow the original path down the mountain or take the mountain slides to experience the thrill of descending the mountain with a roller coaster.
Travel Tips
Address: Suobao Town, Shexian County, Handan City
Phone: 0310-3922355
Opening hours: 08:00-17:30 all year round
Ticket: CNY80
