Pujiu Temple

Pujiu Temple stands in Puzhou Town, Yongji, Yuncheng, Shanxi, China, on a hill overlooking the old Puzhou area and the Yellow River plain. It is best known as the setting of the Yuan dynasty drama Romance of the West Chamber by Wang Shifu, the story of the scholar Zhang Sheng and Cui Yingying, who meet at the temple. The complex includes the Yingying Pagoda, a brick pagoda of the Tang or Song period renowned for its acoustic effects, where a clap of hands is said to produce a croaking echo like a frog's call. Visitors walk through the halls, courtyards and gardens, and see areas themed on the drama, such as the western chamber and the plum garden, along with statues and displays. A visit takes about one to one and a half hours. The best vantage points are the pagoda and the hilltop terrace, which look out over the plain and toward the Yellow River. Crowds are small outside holidays and weekends, and mornings are quiet. The temple is a short drive from the Stork Tower, so locals and visitors usually pair the two, reaching Pujiu by Didi from Yongji or from the tower. Plan to wear comfortable shoes for the hillside paths and steps. Admission details should be confirmed locally, as fees and opening times may change, and in summer it is advisable to carry water because shade is limited on the slopes.