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The Ancient Lingtai, or the Ancient Sacrificial Altar is located in Lingtai County of Pingliang City. In the 11th century BC, while King Shangzhou of Shang Dynasty was reigning, King Wen of the Zhou Dynasty conquered a kingdom named Mixu, which is in present-day Baili Township of Lingtai county. To worship Heaven and hold celebrations with his people, he built the Sacrificial Altar. In the Tang Dynasty, Lingtai was used as the county’s name.

The original Lingtai was facing south, and the foundation was built with rammed earth. The altar has been destroyed twice and was rebuilt in 1933. The reconstructed altar was 12.3 meters high with a 12.3 meter-wide-base, reinforced with bricks outside. It was divided into two storys, with an Arbor of Eight Diagrams built on top of it, in which a statue of King Wen of Zhou Dynasty was consecrated. A legend has it that when the altar was about to be completed, two red-crowned cranes flew over from the east, circled round the altar for three days on end, and perched on an old cypress in the Temple of King Wen. This was considered auspicious, making the whole town go wild with joy.

Now the site of the old sacrificial altar, facing south, is 33 meters high with a base 18 meters wide. It has three stories. Inside the Hall on the top storey there is a statue of King Wen of the Zhou Dynasty. On the wall are large-scale frescoes that recapture the magnificent scene of conquering the Kingdom of Mixu. In the winding corridor at the bottom is a forest of steles collecting over 260 pieces of inscriptions and inscribed boards by ancient and modern celebrities. For its long history and far-reaching cultural influence, the altar enjoys a good reputation of “No.1 Sacrificial Altar in China".

Travel Tips
Add: Lingai  County,Pingliang City,Gansub Province
Tel: 0933-3621982
Opening Hours: 08:00-18:00
Entrance Fee: CNY 40