Puxian Travel

Puxian, Linfen, Shanxi — historically known as the State of Puzi, boasts profound Taoist heritage and superior ecology. It integrates Dongyue Temple, Wulu Mountain National Nature Reserve, Cuiping Mountain, and Puzi Mountain, embodying Taoist culture, primeval forests, and ancient county customs. A 2-day 1-night in-depth tour decodes the elegance and profoundness of western Shanxi, appreciating the unique charm of 'The Dongyue Divine Palace hides ancient rhymes, and the Wulu Forest Sea contains vitality'.

1000+

History of Dongyue Temple Construction

20,600 Hectares

Area of Wulu Mountain Reserve

Core Scenic Spots

10+

Specialty Foods

Explore Travel in Various Districts and Counties of Linfen City

Puxian Dongyue Temple - A National Treasure of Taoist Culture

A Major National Historical and Cultural Site, first built in the Tang Dynasty, famous for its 'Hell Transformation' clay sculptures. It preserves buildings such as the Yuan Dynasty main hall and the Offering Pavilion, being one of the largest existing palaces of the Eastern Yue Emperor in China, with extremely high value in Taoist culture and sculpture art.

2-Day 1-Night Taoist Ecological Tour in Puxian

Visit Dongyue Temple to admire the clay sculpture wonders, explore Wulu Mountain to seek primeval ecology, climb Cuiping Mountain to view the panoramic view of the county, and tour Puzi Mountain to trace the origin of the Pu State

                        
Trip Duration
2 Days 1 Night

                        
Main Destinations
Dongyue Temple, Wulu Mountain, Cuiping Mountain, Puzi Mountain, Puxian Museum, Guxian Village

                        
Suitable For
Taoist culture researchers, ecology enthusiasts, outdoor hikers, history explorers, family with children

                        
Per Capita Budget
¥550-¥900

Seeking Taoist Rhymes

Dongyue Temple · Cuiping Mountain · Puxian Museum

Itinerary Highlights

Explore Dongyue Temple in the morning to admire the Yuan Dynasty 'Hell Transformation' clay sculpture art, climb Cuiping Mountain in the afternoon to overlook the panoramic view of the county, visit Puxian Museum to systematically understand the regional history, and stroll around the county in the evening to experience the local customs of Puxian.

Attraction Arrangement

Dongyue Temple

A Major National Historical and Cultural Site, first built in the Tang Dynasty and flourished in the Yuan Dynasty, it is a Taoist sacred place for worshipping Huang Feihu, the Eastern Yue Emperor. The existing buildings include Feiyun Tower, Offering Pavilion, Dongyue Main Hall, etc., and it is especially famous for the 'Hell Transformation' clay sculpture group, with more than 140 colored sculptures. The sculptures are exaggerated and vivid, reflecting the social ethics of the Yuan Dynasty, and are known as 'a treasure of Oriental sculpture art'.

Cuiping Mountain Park

A landmark mountain park in Puxian County, named for its mountain shape resembling a green screen. The main peak is 1100 meters above sea level. There are trails, viewing platforms, pavilions and other facilities in the mountain, with vegetation mainly consisting of Chinese pine and Oriental arborvitae. Climbing to the top allows a 360-degree overlook of the entire Puxian County and the surrounding mountains and rivers, making it an ideal place for citizens to relax and exercise and for tourists to enjoy the panoramic view of the county.

Puxian Museum

A comprehensive museum with the theme of 'Ancient Pu State · Millennium Taoist Rhymes', divided into three exhibition areas: 'Ancient Pu Civilization', 'Taoist Culture', and 'Natural Ecology'. Through more than 300 exhibits such as cultural relics from Dongyue Temple, artifacts unearthed from the ancient Pu State site, and animal and plant specimens from Wulu Mountain, it systematically shows the development context of Puxian from ancient times to the present.

Practical Information

Accommodation Recommendations

Hotels in the county center
Homestays around Dongyue Temple
Inns at the foot of Cuiping Mountain

Food Recommendations

Puxian Bowl Noodles (Wantuo)
Fried Glutinous Rice Cakes (Yougao)
Hezi Rice (Mixed Grain Porridge with Noodles)
Chaoqi (Fried Dough Biscuits)

Travel Tips

Taking photos of the clay sculptures in Dongyue Temple is prohibited, please abide by the regulations
The Cuiping Mountain trail is about 1.5 hours in total, wear comfortable sports shoes
Free electronic explainers can be collected at the museum

Exploring Ecological Wonders

Wulu Mountain · Puzi Mountain · Guxian Village

Itinerary Highlights

Go deep into Wulu Mountain National Nature Reserve in the morning to explore primeval forests and rare animals and plants, climb Puzi Mountain in the afternoon to trace the history of the ancient Pu State, visit Guxian Village to experience rural folk customs, and return with local specialties in the evening.

Attraction Arrangement

Wulu Mountain National Nature Reserve

A national nature reserve mainly for protecting rare animals and plants such as brown-eared pheasants and Chinese white pines, with a forest coverage rate of 90%. The reserve has landscapes such as Wulu Peak, Dressing Building, and Pearl Cave, and is inhabited by about 200 brown-eared pheasants (National First-Class Protected Animals), and grows a community of thousand-year-old Chinese white pines, being a rare primeval forest ecosystem in North China.

Puzi Mountain

Named after the 'State of Puzi' in the Spring and Autumn Period, the main peak is 1530 meters above sea level, being an important symbol of Puxian's historical culture. There are relics such as Puzi Cave, ancient beacon towers, and Horse Drinking Spring in the mountain, which is said to be the site of the capital of the State of Puzi. Climbing to the top allows a distant view of the loess plateau landscape in western Shanxi, feeling the historical vicissitudes of the 'Ancient State of Puzi'.

Guxian Village

One of the most well-preserved ancient villages in Puxian, first built in the Ming and Qing Dynasties, named for its location near the site of the ancient Puzi State. The village retains buildings such as cave courtyard houses, ancient opera stages, and ancestral halls, with stone-paved streets and lanes scattered in an orderly manner, and still preserves traditional folk crafts such as weaving and paper-cutting, being a living fossil for experiencing rural culture in western Shanxi.

Practical Information

Transportation Guide

About 40 kilometers from the county to Wulu Mountain, 2 tourist buses operate daily
Puzi Mountain is 25 kilometers from the county, self-driving or chartered car is recommended
Guxian Village can be reached directly by bus towards Xueguan Town

Ticket Information

Dongyue Temple: ¥40
Wulu Mountain Reserve: ¥50
Puxian Museum: Free
Other attractions: Free

Travel Tips

A guide is required to enter the core area of Wulu Mountain (guide fee ¥50)
Some sections of Puzi Mountain are steep, it is recommended to bring trekking poles
Farm meals in Guxian Village need to be booked in advance for a better experience

Must-Try Foods in Puxian

Puxian Bowl Noodles (Wantuo)

A traditional specialty snack of Puxian, made from buckwheat flour, steamed and then cooled into a bowl shape, hence the name 'Wantuo'. It can be eaten cold or stir-fried. When eaten cold, it is seasoned with vinegar, garlic, chili, sesame paste, etc., with a smooth and chewy taste, sour and spicy, appetizing. It is one of the most popular street snacks locally, known as 'the unique delicacy of Puxian'.

Puxian Fried Glutinous Rice Cakes (Yougao)

A traditional food made with local soft glutinous millet as the skin, wrapped with jujube paste, red bean paste or vegetable fillings, and fried until golden. It is crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, suitable for both sweet and savory tastes. Because the glutinous millet in Puxian grows in mountainous areas, with strong stickiness and rich fragrance, the fried rice cakes have a unique flavor. It is a must-have food for festivals and weddings, and 'Laoma's Fried Rice Cakes' in the county, inherited for three generations, is the most famous.

Wulu Mountain Mushroom Braised Chicken

A special dish of Puxian, made by slow stewing free-range local chickens from Wulu Mountain with wild mushrooms. The meat is tender, the soup is mellow, and the mushroom fragrance is rich. Due to the excellent ecology of Wulu Mountain, the mushrooms and local chickens are of excellent quality, making it a top-grade dish for entertaining distinguished guests locally, with nourishing and health-preserving effects.

Puxian Hezi Rice (Mixed Grain Porridge with Noodles)

A traditional farmhouse meal in Puxian, made by boiling millet, noodles, potatoes, vegetables, soybeans, etc. together, and eaten with chili and pickles. It has a rich taste and balanced nutrition, reflecting the dietary wisdom of 'making fine food from coarse grains' in western Shanxi. It is a common food on the daily dining table of local people, warming the stomach and filling the belly.

Puxian Travel Tips

Best Travel Time

May-June: Wulu Mountain is full of blooming flowers, and brown-eared pheasants are active frequently
September-October: The weather is clear and crisp, Cuiping Mountain and Puzi Mountain are covered with colorful forests
July-August: A great season for summer resort, the average temperature of Wulu Mountain is 22℃
28th day of the third lunar month: Traditional temple fair of Dongyue Temple, with prosperous incense

Must-Try Foods

Puxian Bowl Noodles (Wantuo)
Puxian Fried Glutinous Rice Cakes (Yougao)
Wulu Mountain Mushroom Braised Chicken
Hezi Rice (Mixed Grain Porridge with Noodles)
Chaoqi (Fried Dough Biscuits)

Budget Reference

Tickets: About ¥90
Accommodation: ¥130-220 per night
Catering: ¥40-80 per day
Transportation: About ¥70
Total: ¥550-900

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the characteristics of the 'Hell Transformation' clay sculptures in Dongyue Temple? → Exaggerated shapes, reflecting the social ethics of the Yuan Dynasty, with extremely high artistic value
Can I see brown-eared pheasants in Wulu Mountain? → The probability is high, it is recommended to observe in the core area in the early morning or evening
Which one is the most authentic Puxian Bowl Noodles (Wantuo)? → 'Li's Bowl Noodles' at the Old Cross Street in the county, a century-old shop
Are there homestays for accommodation in Guxian Village? → There are 3 farm homestays, where you can experience cave dwelling accommodation