Modern Hancheng will not win any beauty prizes, but the town does have a number of historical monuments that are worth your time. Indeed, the town makes a good stopover between Xian and Pingyao, though few tourists seem to stop by at present. The best of these in the old city is the Confucian temple: a serene temple at the heart of the old town. The temple consists of four courtyards, all of them offering a bit of respite from the clamor of modern China. With its flagstone courtyards, fine collection of old statues and venerable wooden architecture, there is a lot to enjoy here. The pick of the courtyards is the first one, with its ancient cypress trees, half-moon pool and, best of all, a weathered wooden hall dating back to the Ying temples, making this a rare treat.