Línfén

Linfen stands in the Fen River valley as the seat of Pingyang, a city traditionally associated with the ancient sage ruler Yao. South of the city, a temple honoured Yao alongside Shun and Yu; its halls, courtyards and seasonal rites made it a prominent place of worship. The city's drum tower rose over the meeting of its main streets. The Yao Temple was rebuilt repeatedly under the Ming, including a major expansion during the Zhengde reign. In 1695 a powerful earthquake brought down its buildings and destroyed the drum tower. The Qing authorities later rebuilt the tower, restoring a landmark at the heart of the prefectural city.