[2025 Xiangyang Attraction] Travel Guide for Mi Fu Memorial Temple (Updated Jan)

Mi Fu moved to Xiangyang with his father when he was a child. His calligraphy works are famous for their unique style and profound artistic attainments. Together with Cai Xiang, Su Shi, and Huang Tingjian, he is known as one of the "Four Masters of the Song Dynasty." His work "Shu Su Tie" is praised as "the most beautiful calligraphy work in China" by later generations. Xiangyang Mifu Temple is located on the bank of the Han River. It was first built in the Yuan Dynasty and expanded in the Ming Dynasty. It was continuously rebuilt and repaired by Mi Fu's descendants, including Mi Zan, Mi Jue, and Mi Peng. It is the most well-preserved memorial building of Mi Fu in China and a must-see attraction in Xiangyang. Walking into Mifu Temple from the bustling Jiefang Road is like walking into a distant scholarly family. The buildings are well-arranged, the courtyard is full of strange rocks, the corners are full of flowers and trees, and the pavilions and towers are scattered in an orderly manner, all of which are elegant and interesting. 📍Address: No. 2 Jiefang Road, Fancheng District, Xiangyang City 🌟Highlights: Simple and elegant architectural complex, many classic stone tablets and carvings 💰Average cost: CNY 25 for admission ⏳Recommended visit time: 1–2 hours

Migong Ancestral Hall is a temple built to commemorate Mi Fu, a great calligrapher and painter of the Northern Song Dynasty, located in the Fancheng District of Xiangyang. Originally named Mi Family Hermitage, it was first constructed during the Yuan Dynasty, expanded in the Ming Dynasty, and later renamed Migong Ancestral Hall. The temple complex consists of structures such as the worship hall, Baojin Studio, and Yanggao Hall. Except for the double-eaved Xieshan style of Yanggao Hall, the rest are of the hard mountain style. In the center of the worship hall stands a four-pillar, three-bay, five-story archway with dougong brackets under each eave, serving both supportive and decorative purposes; on both sides of the archway, the lintels feature intricate and elegant Eight Immortals figures, solemn and rustic. The newly built stele corridor and the stone carvings of calligraphy by Mi Fu, Huang Tingjian, Cai Xiang, Zhao Ziang, and modern calligraphers embedded in the east and west gardens amount to over a hundred pieces, forming an art treasury of Mi Fu's calligraphy in China. The title 'Migong Ancestral Hall' was personally inscribed by Dan Maoqian, a Grand Scholar of the Wenyuan Pavilion, for the archway. During the restoration, based on historical materials such as the 'Migong Ancestral Hall Stele', an additional courtyard was added, featuring a large screen, a half-wall hall, grotesque rocks, and an ink pool; the second courtyard, accessed through the 'Ink Garden Quest for Victory' gate, includes a clean pavilion, winding paths leading to secluded spots, and a stele of Mi's hometown; the third courtyard houses a stone forest and a ginkgo tree over four hundred years old, under which stand five steles recording events; 'Reconstruction of Migong Ancestral Hall Stele', 'Preface to Mi Nangong's Forest of Steles', 'Jingming Studio Record', 'Preface to the Mi Family Genealogy', 'Preface to the Mi Family Lineage'. On both sides of the garden, there are stele corridors totaling 16 bays, with vermilion columns adorned with carvings, elegant and beautiful, inlaid with stone carvings of Mi Fu and his son, Huang Tingjian, Cai Xiang, Zhao Mengfu, and others, creating a dazzling display. The temple courtyard is tranquil, with stone steles standing tall, bizarre rocks protruding, and towering ginkgo trees, offering a serene and profound atmosphere. Mi Fu, also known as 'Mi Xiangyang', was highly praised for his calligraphy and character with inscriptions such as 'Incomparable', 'Beyond the reach of the brush', 'Together with Meng Longmen, the two Xiangyangs' calligraphy passes down through the ages, and with Su, Huang, and Cai, he is called one of the four great masters, surpassing the other three'.

🔴Mi Gong Temple, is a memorial to the great calligrapher and painter Mi Fu of the Northern Song Dynasty, located on the banks of the Han River in the historic and cultural city of Xiangyang. Originally named Mi Jia An. It was built in the Yuan Dynasty, expanded in the Ming Dynasty, and later renamed Mi Gong Temple. Since the 32nd year of Kangxi in the Qing Dynasty (1693), it has been rebuilt by Mi Fu's 18th generation grandson Mi Zan, 19th generation grandson Mi Jue, and 20th generation grandson Mi Peng; the temple has memorial buildings such as the worship hall, Bao Jin Zhai, and Yang Gao Tang. And it houses 45 pieces of Mi Fu's handwritten calligraphy copied by his descendants in the 8th year of Yongzheng in the Qing Dynasty (1730), and 145 other inscriptions. 🌟The pavilions and pavilions in Mi Gong Temple are well-arranged, and the 500-year-old ginkgo trees tower into the sky. The gallery displays more than 100 pieces of Mi Su Huang Cai's leftover ink stone carvings, with a vivid and pure artistic charm. Mi Gong Temple can be described as a huge art treasury❗️ 🔴Xiangyang Mi Gong Temple Travel Guide: 🔸Address: Yanjiang Road, Fancheng District, Xiangyang City, Hubei Province 🔸Opening hours: 8:00-17:30/17:00 stop selling tickets for admission 🔸Ticket🎫 price: 25 yuan/person 🌟Mi Gong Temple is composed of 3⃣️ parts of architectural groups, the central axis is the main building pavilion, worship hall, stele corridor, Bao Jin Zhai, Yang Gao Tang, with a total area of more than 12,000 square meters. The hall houses a large number of ink traces and stone carvings from Mi Fu and the Song Dynasty. The plaques and couplets hanging in the worship hall and Bao Jin Zhai are dazzling, such as 'Unreachable', 'Ingenious Pen', 'With Meng Lu Men Hao Two Xiangyang Books Passed Down for Thousands of Years, Su Huang Cai is called the Four Giants and Suppresses Three People' and other inscriptions, which are high praises for Mi Fu's calligraphy and character by later generations. 🌟The east and west stone gardens on both sides of the central axis, the pavilions, platforms, and pavilions in the garden are staggered, with fish swimming in the pond. The gallery wall displays more than 100 pieces of calligraphy stone carvings by 🔹Mi Fu, 🔹Su Shi, 🔹Huang Tingjian, 🔹Cai Xiang, as well as more than 30 pieces of ink stone carvings left by contemporary famous calligraphers for Mi Gong Temple. 🌟Mi Fu's lifelong calligraphy is the most diligent, and his achievement is the greatest in running script. In the famous collections of the Southern Song Dynasty, most of them are engraved with his legal books, which are widely spread and have a far-reaching impact. Among the 'Four Great Calligraphers of the Northern Song Dynasty', he can be regarded as the first. Kang Youwei once said: 'Tang Yan structure, Song Shang Yiqu.' It means that Song Dynasty calligraphers pay attention to interest and personality, and Mi Fu is particularly prominent in this regard. Mi Fu was good at poetry, fine appraisal, and good at calligraphy and painting. He got the pen intention of Wang Xianzhi, especially the line and grass, and was called 'Song Four Houses' with Cai Xiang, Su Shi, and Huang Tingjian. The landscape painting is based on Dong Yuan, but it has a new idea, mostly with ink and wash, focusing on interest rather than meticulousness, and it is called 'Mi Shi Yun Shan'. He likes to collect gold and stone antiques, especially strange stones. His works include 'Bao Jin Ying Guang Ji', 'Painting History', 'Book History', 'Bao Jin Dai Fang Lu', etc. 🔴In addition to visiting Mi Gong Temple, you can also buy some project experience coupons on the platform: 🔸Small calligraphy stele rubbing experience, 🔸Antique small tile rubbing experience, 🔸Zodiac rubbing experience (need to make an appointment in advance), the play experience will be more rich❗️ ⚠️Warm tip: There are also joint tickets for Mi Gong Temple and Xiangyang Wangfu Green Shadow Wall on the platform, and friends who have time can go to visit together😄 🩷❤️🧡💛💚🩵💙💜 I am a foodie and fun🎋and🎍Follow me to eat, drink and have fun❗️🥰

Day one: Arrive in Xiangyang, put down your luggage✨, and start exploring the beauty of this city. First, we came to Zhaomingtai and felt the heaviness of history. Then, the snacks on North Street allowed us to taste the delicious food in Xiangyang. The Xiangyang city wall✨ made us feel the atmosphere of ancient wars. At the Xiaobeimen Wharf, we admired the beautiful river view✨. At lunchtime, we tasted the delicious food at the Royal Palace Noodle House🍜. Afterwards, we went to Guangde Temple and admired the beautiful scenery of the thousand-year-old ginkgo🍂. Then we took a taxi to Migongci and felt the charm of the 500-year-old ginkgo🍂. Finally, we came to Yuliangzhou and admired the beautiful sunset✨. As night fell, the Huafeng Road Night Market allowed us to experience the nightlife of Xiangyang✨. Day two: We went to Xiangyang Tang City and felt like we had traveled back to the Tang Dynasty✨. Tangren Street made us feel the prosperity of the ancient city✨. Then, we went to Xijia Pond and admired the beautiful red maple🍁. Muyu Coffee allowed us to enjoy a quiet afternoon☕️. The delicious food at Shentan Barbecue allowed us to enjoy a feast of food🍖🔥. The night view of Zhongxuan Tower made us linger✨. Finally, the Kongming lanterns at Xiaobeimen Wharf allowed us to make beautiful wishes✨✨. On the city wall, we admired the night view of Xiangyang✨. Tips: 1️⃣Follow the public account 'Xiangyang Shengshi Tangcheng' to check the performance schedule of Xiangyang Tang City Scenic Area; 2️⃣There are airport buses and taxis at the entrance of Xiangyang Airport, which is convenient for travel; 3️⃣Autumn is the best season to watch the thousand-year-old ginkgo at Guangde Temple, the 500-year-old ginkgo at Migongci, and the red maple at Xijia Pond🍂🍁; 4️⃣There are activities to release Kongming lanterns at Xiaobeimen in the evening, don't miss it✨; 5️⃣There is a row of ginkgo trees on the city wall of Zhongxuan Tower, which is very suitable for taking pictures when the sun is good☀️.