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51 A-level scenic spots in Shanxi Province offer free admission to residents of Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai!
Shanxi has a long history and culture. More than 70% of the country's ancient buildings built before the Jin and Yuan Dynasties are gathered here. The number and quality of peerless ancient buildings, thousand-year-old murals, and stunning colored sculptures are the best in the country. It is known as the "treasure house of ancient Chinese architecture."
△ Above: Feihong Pagoda of Guangsheng Temple
△ Picture below: Notre Dame Hall
It is the only province in the country that has the Five Sacred Mountains, the Five Towns, and the Four Famous Buddhist Mountains. To the left is Taihang, and to the right is Luliang. The mighty Yellow River rushes southward along the periphery. The terrain, with mountains and rivers as barriers, was praised by Liu Zongyuan as "mountains and rivers inside and outside".
△ Above: Laoniu Bay
△ Picture below: Yanmen Pass
Although Shanxi is the big brother of heavy industry in the country, under its dark coal-like appearance, it has a heart as soft as pasta, which can accommodate the vicissitudes of life for five thousand years.
△Lijiashan Village
The mountains of Shanxi are lush and green on the outside, under the halo of Buddha, and inside are ice caves about three million years old.
The water in Shanxi is half the vinegar from Ninghua Prefecture, and half the Yellow River that shakes hands with the Great Wall.
People in Shanxi can register more than 300 different names, and their low-key and simple hearts hide their love for this land.
Due to the 2020 pandemic, the government decided to open the scenic spot to the public free of charge. At the beginning of the 2021 opening, tourists from Shanghai, Zhejiang, and Jiangsu will still receive free admission! The offer ends on December 31, 2021!
Compared with Northwest China, Xinjiang and Yunnan, where the scenery is all on the road, transportation and accommodation are the bulk of travel expenses. But for a cultural province like Shanxi, where transportation is convenient and consumption is not high, tickets really account for the majority of travel expenses, so this time, Shanxi really spent a lot of money.
Set a small goal for myself this year! I must go and get some great deals! Oh no! I want to go to Shanxi! Among the many A-level scenic spots, the following are not to be missed!
It is known as one of the "three major stone carving art treasures in the world" along with the Ajanta Caves in India and the Bamiyan Caves in Afghanistan, and is also known as one of the "four major caves in China" along with the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang, the Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang, and the Maijishan Grottoes in Tianshui.
The largest Buddha statue is 17 meters tall, and the smallest is only 2 centimeters. There are more than 51,000 stone sculptures, each of which is exquisite and magnificent. The stories written on the walls are waiting for you to explore.
There are also special caves that are not open to the public, you can follow us to explore them in depth!
Known as the "Wall Street of Asia in the 19th Century", it has a prosperous history of more than 2,700 years. Rishengchang Bank, the forefather of modern Chinese banks, was born here.
Today, Pingyao is not lacking in international charm. The Pingyao International Film Festival initiated by director Jia Zhangke and the well-known "Eight Hundred" and "Carnival" have won honorary awards here.
Here, Zhenguo Temple and Shuanglin Temple, which are listed on the World Cultural Heritage List together with Pingyao, cannot be ignored. The thousands of colorful sculptures on the walls are of various shapes and lifelike, which is jaw-dropping. I really admire the craftsmanship of the ancient craftsmen.
Whether it is "Lu Zhishen makes trouble in Mount Wutai" in "Water Margin" or "Yang Wulang becomes a monk in Mount Wutai" in "The Yang Clan Generals", they are both highly spread among the people, and it is difficult for Mount Wutai not to be famous.
It is the first of the four famous Buddhist mountains in China, the dojo of Manjushri Bodhisattva, and the only Buddhist dojo where both the Green Temple (Han Buddhism) and the Yellow Temple (Tibetan Buddhism) complement each other. A total of 9 emperors have visited it in person. Those who want to come and pay homage should not miss it!
Highly recommended for those who enjoy the great outdoors, this true summer resort is a must-see! Average temperatures are only 6-17°C (6-17°C).
Have you ever wondered why a thousand-year-old temple weighing 10 tons, built on a 20-story cliff, supported by only a few chopstick-like wooden pillars, has remained standing for more than 1,500 years?
Even the word "观" in Li Bai's calligraphy "湛湛" was deliberately written incorrectly. Adding one more "dot" would make it difficult to express his feelings.
As you walk through it, you'll find entrances and exits hidden in subtle places, such as corners or mezzanines, which will give your adrenaline a rush!
A national treasure, lost to time. It has withstood more than 40 earthquakes, over 200 artillery shells, and has stood firm for over 950 years.
At that time, Liang Sicheng climbed to a height of more than 60 meters to survey it personally despite thunder and lightning. This is the Yingxian Wooden Pagoda, which is known as one of the "Three Great Towers in the World" along with the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the Eiffel Tower.
The Leaning Tower of Pisa has an inclination of 3.99 degrees, while the Yingxian Wooden Pagoda has a local inclination angle of up to 15 degrees. Moreover, it is a pure wooden structure without nails or rivets, making it the tallest existing pure wooden structure ancient building in the world.
In addition, the Yingxian Wooden Pagoda has 5 floors on the outside but 9 floors on the inside. It also houses two tooth relics of Sakyamuni Buddha. You must see it with your own eyes!
The Great Wall is a great miracle in human military history, and the Yellow River is the mother river of the Chinese nation. The intersection of the two ancient civilizations, the Yellow River and the Great Wall, is perfectly embodied in Laoniuwan, Pianguan, Shanxi.
Laoniuwan is the first bend of the Yellow River entering Shanxi Province. In the early years, it was located in a remote area and transportation was difficult. However, its spectacular beauty of sunrise and sunset still attracted a large number of photography enthusiasts to cross mountains and rivers to come.
Now the road has been completely renewed, and the original and simple customs here are waiting for you.
Remember the Yellow River canoeing we saw in our textbooks as a child? This ancient tradition still survives in the ancient town of Qikou, known as the "First Town on the Nine-Bend Yellow River." Here, Lijiashan Village is a paradise described by the renowned painter Wu Guanzhong.
Going to an ancient cave dwelling with Shanxi characteristics, listening to the locals singing a Shanxi folk song, watching the sunset at the Black Dragon Temple, or taking a boat ride at the Yellow River Gallery are all good choices.
"Wherever sparrows fly, there are Shanxi merchants." Shanxi merchants, one of the three major business groups in Chinese history, left behind many large mansions in Shanxi. The Wang Family Compound, the Qiao Family Compound, the Qu Family Compound, etc. are all external manifestations of Shanxi merchant culture.
Shanxi merchants have footprints all over the country, both at home and abroad, dealing in everything from silk to onions and garlic. Their spirit is worth inheriting.
Luya Mountain is an absolutely niche and fun treasure trove in Shanxi. The Ningwu Tianchi here is one of the three largest alpine Tianchi in China, and the thousand-year-old ice cave here has a history of more than 3 million years.
The cliff paths and vast forests here give you a feeling of being in Switzerland.
The hanging village here is built on a cliff at an altitude of more than 2,300 meters, and it seems like "heaven on earth".
I have to say that Shanxi is as interesting as a blind box. Every time you come to Shanxi, there will be different ways to open it, and different wonders are waiting for you to discover. Of course, there are many other fun places in Shanxi. Take advantage of the free ticket discount this year, so hurry up!
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