Located at the foot of Xuanweng Mountain in Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, 25km southwest of the city proper, the Jinci Temple is a garden and architectural complex with a history of at least 1,500 years.

The temple originally served as the ancestral temple for a prince in the Western Zhou Dynasty (1100-771 BC), although the modern temple was first built in the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534 AD). It is basically divided into three parts, the north, the center and the south, and the whole is filled with halls (most noticeably the Saintly Mother's Hall), terraces, pavilions, corridors and bridges. 

The Zhou Cypress is the oldest tree in the temple, with a history of over 3,000 years. Yangxiu, a poet in the Song Dynasty praised it as what he wrote, when he come to the province on a special assignment from the emperor and visited Jinci Temple, the mysterious power of the land has given birth to many beautiful plants so that the cypress is too ancient to tell its age and strengthen clearly. Even now, the tree is still as lively as what it was.

The Never Aging Spring is south of the Saintly Mother's Hall. For thousands of years, the water temperature has remained at 17C with evergreen duckweed shining in the stream and groups of fish always playing about. Many poets and writers have eloquently described the beauty of the Never Aging Spring. For example: 'The water of the Never Aging Spring is clear as crystal and just as precious.' written by Libai, a poet in the Tang Dynasty.

The Saintly Mother's Hall, built from 1023 to 1032 during the Song Dynasty, is the most magnificent and oldest building remains of ancient in Jinci Temple. It is believed that it is one of the most precious architecture in China. The eight wooden dragons around the wooden columns that support the roof of the palace are the earliest of their kind in history. As a whole, the Saintly Mother's Hall is regarded an important example to the study of Song Dynasty architecture and to the history of architecture.

The Figures of Maidservants made in the Song Dynasty, found in the Saintly Mother's Hall, show the cruel system of ancient Chinese palace life. The 43 sculptures, whose manners, dressing and postures all differ, are masterpieces among sculptural art.

The Flying Bridge across the Fish Ponds is the only and earliest 'cross' style bridge, which is located on the east of the Saintly Mother's Hall and west of the Offerings Hall. It is an engineering masterpiece of its times.