Yanggao County Travel

Yanggao County, Datong, Shanxi — integrating ancient human sites, Ming Dynasty Great Wall, and mountain scenery, known as the "Hometown of Chinese Dried Apricots." A 2-day 1-night in-depth tour decodes ancient civilization, experiencing the blend of frontier fortress customs and pastoral scenery.

100,000+

Years of Xujiayao Site History

30+

Great Wall Beacon Towers

Core Attractions

Specialty Foods

Explore Districts and Counties of Datong City

Shoukoubao Great Wall - Ming Dynasty Frontier Fortress Pass

Iconic landscape of Yanggao County, an important Ming Dynasty Great Wall fort, the wall winds along the mountain ridges with well-preserved enemy towers and beacon tower ruins. Apricot blossoms in spring complement the ancient Great Wall, known as the "Top Apricot Fortress Beyond the Great Wall"

Yanggao County Two Days One Night Ancient Frontier Exploration Tour

Explore ancient human sites, climb Ming Dynasty Great Wall passes, enjoy Liuleng Mountain scenery, taste apricot town specialty foods, unlock the dual experience of ancient civilization and frontier fortress history

                        
Duration
2 Days 1 Night

                        
Main Destinations
Xujiayao Site, Shoukoubao Great Wall, Liuleng Mountain, Yunlin Temple, Yanggao County Museum

                        
Suitable For
Archaeology enthusiasts, history researchers, photography enthusiasts, outdoor hikers

                        
Budget per Person
¥400-¥700

Ancient Times and Frontier

Xujiayao Site · Shoukoubao Great Wall · Yanggao County Museum · Apricot Garden Night View

Highlights

Morning: Explore Xujiayao Site to trace ancient human activity traces. Afternoon: Climb Shoukoubao Great Wall to experience frontier fortress scenery, visit Yanggao County Museum to systematically learn about local history. Evening: Stroll through the apricot garden to enjoy the light show.

Attractions

Xujiayao Site

National key cultural relic protection unit, a Paleolithic site dating back about 100,000 years. Over 20,000 ancient human fossils, stone tools and animal fossils were unearthed in 1974. The "Xujiayao Man" parietal bone fossil is an important discovery in Chinese paleoanthropology, known as the "Treasure House of North China Paleolithic Culture."

Shoukoubao Great Wall

Important Ming Dynasty Great Wall fort, built in the 25th year of Jiajing (1546), named for "guarding the pass." Existing wall body about 4 km long with 16 enemy towers and 3 beacon towers. The wall undulates along the mountain ridge with majestic momentum. In spring, apricot blossoms cover the hillsides, making it an excellent photography location.

Yanggao County Museum

A comprehensive museum showcasing Yanggao County's history and culture, with exhibition areas such as "Ancient Footprints," "Frontier Fortress Scenery," and "Folk Customs." Houses valuable collections including Xujiayao Site artifacts, Great Wall brick carvings, and Ming and Qing folk utensils, systematically presenting Yanggao's development from ancient times to modern times.

Practical Information

Accommodation Recommendations

Hotels in Yanggao County town
Guesthouses in Shoukoubao Village
Apricot garden themed inns

Food Recommendations

Yanggao Dried Apricot
Fried Glutinous Rice Cake
Bean Paste Rice Porridge
Yanggao Lamb Offal

Travel Tips

Xujiayao Site requires advance booking for guided tour (30 RMB/time)
Some sections of Shoukoubao Great Wall are steep, wear non-slip shoes
Museum entry is free with ID card, allow 1 hour for visit

Mountain and Ancient Temple

Liuleng Mountain · Yunlin Temple · Dried Apricot Industrial Park · Return Journey

Highlights

Morning: Climb Liuleng Mountain to enjoy mountain scenery, visit Yunlin Temple to experience Ming Dynasty Buddhist art. Afternoon: Tour the Dried Apricot Industrial Park to learn about production techniques and purchase specialty products. Evening: Return journey.

Attractions

Liuleng Mountain

Highest peak in Yanggao County, named for its hexagonal shape, main peak elevation 2375 meters. Features glacial relics, meadows, waterfalls and other natural landscapes. Cool climate in summer, an ideal place for leisure and summer escape. The summit offers panoramic views of Yanggao and Tianzhen counties.

Yunlin Temple

National key cultural relic protection unit, first built in the Ming Dynasty. Existing Mahavira Hall, Heavenly King Hall and other buildings. The Ming Dynasty murals inside the hall cover an area of 120 square meters, depicting Buddhas, bodhisattvas and guardians with brilliant colors and smooth lines, a treasure of Ming Dynasty mural art in northern Shanxi.

Yanggao Dried Apricot Industrial Park

Processing park using high-quality Yanggao apricots as raw materials. Yanggao County is the "Hometown of Chinese Dried Apricots" with over 300 years of cultivation history. The park offers visits to the dried apricot production process, fresh apricot tasting (June-July), dried apricots, apricot jam and other series products.

Practical Information

Transportation Guide

County town to Shoukoubao: take rural bus (about 30 min)
Liuleng Mountain has no public transport, self-driving or charter recommended
Taxis in the county start at 5 RMB, convenient for short trips

Ticket Information

Xujiayao Site: 20 RMB
Yunlin Temple: 15 RMB
Liuleng Mountain: Free
Yanggao County Museum: Free

Return Guide

Yanggao County is about 70 km from Datong city center, 1 hour by car
Yanggao Station has trains to Datong, Zhangjiakou and other cities
Dried apricots and other specialties recommended to buy at the industrial park for a wide selection

Must-Try Foods in Yanggao County

Yanggao Dried Apricot

Signature specialty of Yanggao County, made from high-quality local apricots through traditional techniques of pitting, sun-drying and curing. Golden color, sweet and sour taste, rich in vitamins, known as the "King of Northern Preserved Fruits," a national geographical indication product.

Yanggao Lamb Offal

Local traditional snack, made with lamb offal and vermicelli as main ingredients, boiled with chili, Sichuan pepper and other seasonings. Bright red soup, spicy and delicious, warming and energizing in winter, a common street-side flavor.

Fried Glutinous Rice Cake

Yanggao traditional festive food, made from yellow millet flour as wrapper, filled with red bean or date paste, deep-fried until golden. Crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, sweet and delicious, symbolizing "rising step by step," a must-have food at wedding banquets and Spring Festival occasions.

Bean Paste Rice Porridge

Yanggao farmhouse traditional staple food, made with mung bean starch as soup base, cooked with millet, potatoes, radish and other ingredients. Slightly sour flavor, appetizing and refreshing, best enjoyed with pickled vegetables, a local summer cooling food.

Yanggao County Travel Tips

Best Time to Visit

Spring (Apr-May): Apricot blossoms in full bloom at Shoukoubao, perfect for photography
Summer (Jun-Aug): Escape the heat at Liuleng Mountain, fresh apricot picking
Autumn (Sep-Oct): Clear skies, suitable for Great Wall hiking

Must-Try Foods

Yanggao Dried Apricot (recommended "Wangguantun Old Workshop" "Yanggao Apricot Garden Cooperative")
Yanggao Lamb Offal Noodle Soup
Fried Glutinous Rice Cake with Pickled Vegetables
Bean Paste Rice Porridge
Yellow Millet Cold Cake

Budget Reference

Tickets: approx. 50 RMB
Accommodation: 80-150 RMB/night
Meals: 40-70 RMB/day
Transportation: 60-100 RMB (self-driving fuel cost)
Total: 400-700 RMB

Frequently Asked Questions

What artifacts can be seen at Xujiayao Site? → Mainly replicas; originals are kept in provincial museums, with archaeological site restoration displays
How difficult is hiking Shoukoubao Great Wall? → Eastern section is relatively gentle, western section has steep slopes, choose according to fitness level
When is the fresh apricot picking season? → Late June to early July is the best time
What are the characteristics of Yunlin Temple murals? → Blend Buddhist and Taoist elements with Ming Dynasty court painting style