Shanxi Province Travel

Shanxi, one of the birthplaces of Chinese civilization, is known as the "Museum of Ancient Chinese Culture." From the Jinci Temple in Taiyuan to the Ancient City of Pingyao, from the Yungang Grottoes in Datong to the Buddhist sacred site of Mount Wutai, from the magnificent Hukou Waterfall to the perilous Hanging Temple, every site carries the five-thousand-year history and brilliant culture of the Chinese nation.

11
Prefecture-Level Divisions
117
County-Level Divisions
9
5A-Level Scenic Spots
500+
Protected Cultural Heritage Sites

Explore Cities in Shanxi Province

Taiyuan
Datong
Yangquan
Changzhi
Jincheng
Shuozhou
Jinzhong
Yuncheng
Xinzhou
Linfen
Lvliang

Shanxi Province 5 Days 4 Nights Essence Tour

Explore Shanxi's merchant culture, ancient architecture and natural scenery, from Jinci Temple in Taiyuan to the Ancient City of Pingyao, from Yungang Grottoes in Datong to the Buddhist sacred site of Mount Wutai, experiencing the perfect fusion of Shanxi's rich and diverse history, culture and natural landscapes.

Duration
5 Days 4 Nights
Main Destinations
Taiyuan, Pingyao, Datong, Mount Wutai
Suitable For
History and culture enthusiasts, ancient architecture explorers
Budget per Person
¥2500-¥3500
01
Taiyuan Shanxi Merchant Culture
Jinci Temple · Shanxi Museum · Food Street
Highlights

Arrive in Taiyuan, the capital of Shanxi. After checking in at the hotel, visit Jinci Temple, a masterpiece of ancient Chinese ancestral temple architecture. Then visit Shanxi Museum to learn about Shanxi's long history and culture. In the evening, head to the Food Street to taste authentic Shanxi noodles and snacks.

Attractions
Jinci Temple
Located in Jinci Town, Jinyuan District, Taiyuan City, Shanxi Province, originally named Jinwang Temple, first called Tang Shuyu Temple, built to commemorate Tang Shuyu (later posthumously granted the title of King of Jin), the founding prince of the State of Jin, and his mother Yi Jiang. It is the earliest existing royal sacrificial garden in China and the ancestral temple of the State of Jin. It is a concentrated embodiment of ancient Chinese architectural art, a unique example of complete architectural types and chronological sequence from Song, Yuan, Ming, Qing to the Republic of China, with attached painted sculptures, murals and steles all being national treasures.
Shanxi Museum
Located on the west bank of the Fen River in Taiyuan, it is the largest museum in Shanxi Province for the collection, protection, research and display of cultural relics, and a national first-class museum. The museum houses about 400,000 cultural relics, including about 60,000 precious artifacts, covering bronze ware, porcelain, stone carvings, Buddhist statues, murals, calligraphy and paintings, with bronze wares and Buddhist relics being the most distinctive.
Food Street
Taiyuan's famous food district, gathering specialty snacks and traditional cuisine from all over Shanxi. Here you can taste knife-cut noodles, oat noodle rolls, fried pork slices, bowl tuos, Pingyao beef and other Shanxi specialty foods, making it an excellent place to experience Shanxi's food culture.
Practical Information
Accommodation Recommendations
  • Kempinski Hotel Taiyuan
  • Wanda Vista Taiyuan
  • Bingzhou Hotel Taiyuan
Food Recommendations
  • Knife-Cut Noodles
  • Fried Pork Slices
  • Oat Noodle Rolls
Travel Tips
  • Guided tour recommended at Jinci Temple
  • Shanxi Museum is free but requires reservation
  • Food Street is livelier in the evening
02
Pingyao Ancient City Exploration
Ancient City Wall · Rishengchang Draft Bank · County Government Office
Highlights

Head to Pingyao Ancient City, a well-preserved Ming and Qing ancient city that is an outstanding example of Han Chinese cities during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Climb the ancient city wall for a panoramic view, visit China's first draft bank — Rishengchang, to understand the glorious history of Shanxi merchants. Then visit the Pingyao County Government Office to experience ancient government architecture and judicial culture.

Attractions
Pingyao Ancient City Wall
The Pingyao Ancient City Wall was first built during the reign of King Xuan of Western Zhou (827 BC – 782 BC) as a rammed earth wall. It was rebuilt in the third year of Hongwu of Ming Dynasty (1370 AD), expanded from the original "nine li eighteen bu" to "twelve li eight fen four li" (6.4 km), transforming the rammed earth wall into a brick-and-stone city wall. The wall is square in plan, with a perimeter of 6162.7 meters, a height of 10 meters, a parapet wall height of 0.6 meters, a top width of 3-5 meters, and a bottom width of 8-12 meters.
Rishengchang Draft Bank
China's first draft bank, pioneering China's banking industry. Rishengchang was established in the third year of Daoguang of Qing Dynasty (1823 AD), co-founded by wealthy merchant Li Dajin from Xidapu Village, Pingyao County, Shanxi, and general manager Lei Lvtai. Its headquarters was located on the south side of West Street, the bustling commercial area of Pingyao County, covering an area of over 1,600 square meters, with compact layout and clear functions, marking the beginning of China's national banking industry.
Pingyao County Government Office
Located in the center of Pingyao Ancient City, the county government office was first built in the Northern Wei Dynasty, took shape in the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, with the earliest preserved building dating back to the sixth year of Zhizheng of Yuan Dynasty (1346 AD), over six hundred years old. The entire government compound faces south with a symmetrical axis layout, with a north-south axis length of over 200 meters and an east-west width of over 100 meters, covering an area of over 26,000 square meters.
Practical Information
Accommodation Recommendations
  • Characteristic guesthouses in Pingyao Ancient City
  • Pingyao Guildhall
  • Pingyao Yunjincheng Mansion
Food Recommendations
  • Pingyao Beef
  • Bowl Tuo
  • Oat Noodle Rolls
Travel Tips
  • Purchase a city pass for scenic spots
  • Watch the "Again See Pingyao" performance in the evening
  • Rent Hanfu for photos in the ancient city
03
Datong Yungang Grottoes
Yungang Grottoes · Huayan Temple · Nine-Dragon Wall
Itinerary Highlights

Travel to Datong to visit the Yungang Grottoes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and admire the pinnacle of ancient Chinese Buddhist art. Then visit Huayan Temple to experience the grandeur of Buddhist architecture from the Liao and Jin dynasties. Finally, visit China's earliest and largest existing Nine-Dragon Wall to appreciate the charm of ancient glazed art.

Attraction Arrangement
Yungang Grottoes
Located at the southern foot of Wuzhou Mountain, 17 kilometers west of Datong City, Shanxi Province, China, the grottoes were chiseled along the mountain, stretching 1 kilometer from east to west. There are 45 main grottoes, 252 large and small niches, and more than 51,000 stone carvings, making it one of the largest ancient grotto groups in China. Together with the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang, Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang, and Maiji Mountain Grottoes in Tianshui, it is known as one of the four major grotto art treasures in China.
Huayan Temple
Located in the southwest corner of the ancient city of Datong, it was first built in the 7th year of Chongxi in the Liao Dynasty (1038 AD) and named after the Buddhist classic "Avatamsaka Sutra". It also served as the imperial ancestral temple of the Liao royal family, holding a prominent position. Later destroyed by wars, it was rebuilt in the 3rd year of Tianjuan in the Jin Dynasty (1140 AD). Covering an area of 66,000 square meters, Huayan Temple is one of the earliest and best-preserved Liao-Jin temple complexes existing in China.
Datong Nine-Dragon Wall
Located on Heyang Street, Pingcheng District, Datong City, it was built at the end of the Hongwu period of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1398 AD) as a glazed screen wall in front of the Prince Dai's Mansion of Zhu Gui, the 13th son of Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang, with a history of more than 600 years. The wall is 8 meters high, 2.02 meters thick, and 45.5 meters long. Nine flying dragons are evenly and harmoniously distributed on the wall, with sun and moon patterns on both sides. The wall surface is paved with 426 specially made colorful glazed components. The nine flying dragons are majestic, with a vivid sense of soaring on the wall.
Practical Information
Accommodation Recommendations
  • Jianguo Hotel Yungang Datong
  • Royal Palace Hotel Datong
  • Howard Johnson Jindi Hotel Datong
Food Recommendations
  • Datong Sliced Noodles
  • Sheep Offal Soup
  • Yellow Rice Cake
Travel Tips
  • It is recommended to hire a professional guide for Yungang Grottoes
  • The Mahavira Hall of Huayan Temple is the largest existing Liao-Jin Buddhist hall
  • The Nine-Dragon Wall is open for free visit
04
Wutai Mountain Buddhist Holy Land
Xiantong Temple · Tayuan Temple · Pusading (Bodhisattva Summit)
Itinerary Highlights

Travel to Wutai Mountain, the first of China's four great Buddhist mountains. Visit Xiantong Temple, the oldest temple with a long history, pay homage to Tayuan Temple where the iconic White Pagoda is located, and climb Pusading to overlook the panoramic view of Wutai Mountain, experiencing the solemnity and tranquility of the Buddhist holy land.

Attraction Arrangement
Xiantong Temple
Located north of Taihuai Town in the central area of Wutai Mountain, it is the oldest and largest temple on Wutai Mountain. First built during the Yongping period of the Eastern Han Dynasty (58-75 AD), it was initially named Dafu Lingjiu Temple, and renamed Daxiantong Temple in the 26th year of Kangxi in the Qing Dynasty (1687 AD). As the founding temple of Buddhism on Wutai Mountain, it is one of the earliest temples in China along with the White Horse Temple in Luoyang.
Tayuan Temple
Originally the pagoda courtyard of Xiantong Temple, it became an independent temple after the reconstruction of the Relic Pagoda in the Ming Dynasty, and was named Tayuan Temple because of the White Pagoda in the courtyard. The towering White Pagoda is the main symbol of the temple and also the iconic building of Wutai Mountain, set off by red walls and glazed tile roofs, appearing particularly spectacular. The pagoda is about 50 meters high, with a square base and a body shaped like an alms bowl. The top of the pagoda is covered with eight copper plates in a circular shape, placed according to the eight trigrams positions of Qian, Kan, Gen, Zhen, Xun, Li, Kun, Dui, etc.
Pusading (Bodhisattva Summit)
Located on Lingjiu Peak of Taihuai Town, Wutai Mountain, it is the principal temple among the ten Yellow Temples (Tibetan Buddhist temples) on Wutai Mountain. Due to its magnificent and resplendent architecture, it looks like the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet from a distance, so people also call it the Lama Palace. Pusading is a Manchu term, meaning the place where Manjushri Bodhisattva resides. With a long history, during the Qing Dynasty, it actually became a royal temple with an extremely distinguished status.
Practical Information
Accommodation Recommendations
  • Friendship Hotel Wutai Mountain
  • Marriott Hotel Wutai Mountain
  • Qixiange Hotel Wutai Mountain
Food Recommendations
  • Wutai Mountain Vegetarian Meal
  • Tai Mushroom
  • Globeflower Tea
Travel Tips
  • Large temperature difference between day and night on Wutai Mountain, keep warm
  • Respect Buddhist customs and pay attention to dress code
  • Experience vegetarian meals in temples
05
Hanging Temple & Return Trip
Hanging Temple · Earth Forest · Return Trip
Itinerary Highlights

Travel to Hengshan to visit the Hanging Temple, known as the "great spectacle under heaven". This thousand-year-old ancient temple built on the cliff is a miracle of ancient Chinese architecture. Then visit the Datong Earth Forest to appreciate the unique loess karst landform. Finally, go to the airport or railway station according to the flight or train schedule to end the pleasant trip to Shanxi.

Attraction Arrangement
Hanging Temple (Xuankong Temple)
Located on the cliff of Cuiping Peak west of Jinlong Gorge, Hengshan Mountain, Hunyuan County, Datong City, Shanxi Province, it is known by the folk saying "Hanging Temple, half sky high, three horsetail hairs hanging in the air" for its precipitous location. Built in 491 AD, it is the only unique temple in China integrating Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism. Originally named "Xuankong Pavilion", "Xuan" is derived from the teachings of traditional Chinese Taoism, and "Kong" comes from Buddhist teachings. Later it was renamed "Hanging Temple" because the whole temple is like hanging on the cliff.
Datong Earth Forest
Located in Duzhuang Village, Datong City, it is a unique geological landscape formed by soil erosion and wind erosion on the Loess Plateau. The earth forest is scattered in height with various shapes, some like castles, some like spires, some like mushrooms. Under the setting sun, it presents different colors such as golden yellow and reddish brown, which is very spectacular, known as the "Karst on the Loess Plateau".
Practical Information
Accommodation Recommendations
  • Flexible arrangement according to return time
Food Recommendations
  • Hunyuan Cold Noodles
  • Fried Yellow Rice Cake
  • Buy Shanxi Mature Vinegar as souvenirs
Travel Tips
  • Hanging Temple has a limit on the number of visitors, it is recommended to book in advance
  • The best shooting time for Earth Forest is sunrise and sunset
  • Reserve sufficient time to go to the airport/railway station