Day 1 → → → → → Taiyuan gathering day
All day
Tourists will check in at designated hotels after 2:00 PM. Please report your "China-Travel Note + Name" at the front desk. You will then be free to move around. Please keep your belongings safe and take care of yourself.
Recommended attractions
Museums: Bronze Museum, Shanxi Merchants Museum, China Coal Museum, etc. (Please make reservations in advance through the official WeChat accounts of each museum)
Other attractions in the city: Shuangta Temple Park, Chunyang Palace, Governor's Mansion, Donghu Vinegar Garden
Surrounding areas: Tianlongshan Grottoes, Taiyuan Ancient County (the atmosphere during the Lunar New Year is absolutely stunning), Mengshan Giant Buddha (it is recommended to take a taxi directly to the surrounding attractions for easier access)
Food recommendations
Taiyuan Liuxiang Bell Tower Street, Old Taiyuan Restaurant, Shanxi Restaurant, Yangji Sausage on Food Street, Hao Ganggang Lamb Offal in Liuxiang, Qingheyuan Restaurant, Laoshuku Yuanxiao, Bofan Old Tavern, Yixiang Pavilion, Qingheyuan's Head, Renyili (Halal cuisine), etc.
Traffic Tips
Taiyuan Wusu Airport and Taiyuan High-speed Railway Station/Railway Station are very close to Taiyuan city center. A taxi ride takes about half an hour and costs around 20-30 yuan. Pick-up service is not included. Please make your own way to the meeting hotel.
Day 2 Taiyuan → Niangzi Pass → Cangyan Mountain → Stay in Pingding County
All day
After breakfast, head to [Yangquan Niangzi Pass], the ninth pass of the Great Wall, where the steel fortress meets the Jiangnan water village.
This is the pass where Princess Pingyang spent her life guarding a famous section of the Great Wall of China. Its treacherous mountains, river valleys, and the Great Wall form a natural barrier between Shanxi and Hebei. Climb the Great Wall, touch the ancient bricks, and experience the vicissitudes of history while taking in the magnificent views of the Taihang Mountains. In the distance, the Mianhe Iron Bridge, known as the "inverted Eiffel Tower," is a key section of the Zhengtai Railway, where trains still roar past. Niangziguan Waterfall cascades down the cliffs, bringing a refreshing summer breeze. Passing through the ancient alleys of the gatehouse, you'll arrive at the Niangziguan Waterfront Village. A stream fed by springs weaves its way through the streets, gurgling and flowing through every home, creating a beautiful scene of "people living on the water, water flowing beneath." The desolate beauty of the beacon tower meets the warmth of the Jiangnan region, creating a uniquely romantic Niangziguan. The Niangziguan Power Plant was the inspiration for Liu Cixin, the author of the science fiction masterpiece "The Three-Body Problem". Now the power plant has been closed down, leaving only the science fiction murals outside the wall and three huge cooling towers for science fiction fans to check in.
Then head to [Jingxing Cangyan Mountain], the filming location for the game "Black Wukong" and the movie "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon". Why is this place so popular?
Cangyan Mountain is a hidden gem of the Taihang Mountains! Located at a low elevation, it's home to millennia-old cypresses, lush green sandalwood trees, and cascading cliffs. A stroll through the lush greenery offers a welcome escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. A truly iconic landmark is the Qiaolou Temple, one of China's three greatest hanging temples. The dramatic scene where Jade Fox leaps into the sea of clouds at the end of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" was filmed here. The ancient bridge, like a rainbow, spans the abyss, and the red-walled, green-tiled pavilions nestle among the cliffs. Capturing this scene directly from your phone, it feels like you're in a martial arts film! "Black Wukong" was filmed at Fuqing Temple on Cangyan Mountain. Built during the Sui Dynasty, this ancient temple still boasts remnants of murals and painted sculptures, a true inspiration for Eastern mythology. It truly lives up to the saying, "Among the Five Great Mountains, Cangyan is the only one of them, and among the Taihang peaks, Cangyan is the only one!"
Afterwards, we'll head to Pingding County for our overnight stay. You can try local specialties like Yangquan fried pork, Pingding Sanbaxi, Hudu, Piaominqu, Min'edou, and jujube cake.
Day 3 Pingding → Matan Eighth Route Army Memorial Hall → Huangya Cave → Stay in Changzhi
All day
After breakfast, go to [Matan Eighth Route Army Memorial Hall] The red Taihang Mountains hide the hot tears of history
Hidden deep in the Taihang Mountains, this is the command center of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. Here, the red flames of the prairie fire were ignited. Peng Dehuai, Zuo Quan, and Deng Xiaoping once planned their strategies here. Every brick and tile bears witness to the era of "millet and rifles"! At the foot of the majestic Taihang Mountains, we entered the old revolutionary residence. The earthen kang, kerosene lamps, old telephones, yellowed manuscripts, and military maps all made us imagine General Zuo Quan's heroic battles here. The surrounding Taihang Mountains even boast a strikingly similar General Peak, where the Taihang Army's spirit lives on forever.
Then go to Huangyadong, a small canyon in Taihang Mountains, a legendary military site on the cliff.
Huangyadong, once an ordnance base behind enemy lines in North China, was the earliest and largest arsenal established by the Eighth Route Army. It is known as the "unwalled museum of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression." This naturally formed cave features a forest of bizarre peaks and rocks, with sheer cliffs towering into the clouds. Composed primarily of red quartz sandstone, the mountain presents a majestic spectacle under the sunlight. The main canyon stretches approximately 15 kilometers, with sheer cliffs rising as high as a knife, reaching over 200 meters at its highest point. A clear stream flows through the canyon, weaving through the boulders and forming numerous deep pools and waterfalls. The Weng'erlang (Weng'erlang) is the core attraction of Huangyadong. With its sheer cliffs, only a thin sliver of sunlight can penetrate the top, it feels like entering a mysterious tunnel through time, a marvel at the wonders of nature.
After enjoying the fun, we will go to Changzhi to stay overnight. You can enjoy local specialties such as Shangdang cured donkey meat, crispy fire-baked bread, Lucheng flipping cakes, and Changzi fried cakes.
Day 4 Changzhi → Guanyin Hall → Dayun Temple → Tongtian Gorge → Stay in Linzhou
All day
After breakfast, walk into the Changzhi Guanyin Temple and feel the shock of the hanging sculptures.
Built during the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty, the Guanyin Hall houses over 500 statues of various sizes within this small, three-room hall. It's one of the three best-preserved Ming Dynasty hanging sculptures in Shanxi Province. Entering the hall, one cannot help but hold their breath, transported by a vibrant world of art. The statues, some seated on the altar, some leaning against the gables, some resting on pillars, and some gazing from rafters, range from majestic and powerful to graceful and elegant, some serene and benevolent, and some possessing handsome expressions. From the Eighteen Arhats, the Twenty-Four Devas, and the Twelve Perfect Enlightenment Bodhisattvas to the popular deities of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism, interspersed with pavilions, towers, exotic flowers and plants, auspicious clouds, and thunderbolts, the scene is truly breathtaking!
Then go to Dayunyuan, the only surviving murals of the Five Dynasties in China, full of animated fairy tales
Dayun Temple, one of three Five Dynasties wooden structures in Shanxi Province, is renowned for the Five Dynasties murals preserved in its Amitabha Hall. 22 square meters of Five Dynasties murals are preserved on the east and fan-shaped walls of the Great Buddha Hall. These are the only known surviving Five Dynasties murals in ancient Chinese Buddhist temples and are extremely valuable. The east mural depicts "Vimalakirti's Transformation," followed by "Western Pure Land Transformation," with a celestial palace and pavilion suspended above. Due to the erosion of time and human damage, most of the murals have become blurred. Life is short, so don't miss out on these fragile yet beautiful pieces.
Then go to Tongtianxia, a place with a flat lake in the mountains and a small Jiuzhaigou in the north.
Tongtian Gorge is one of the ten great gorges in the Taihang Mountains. The main canyon, approximately 26 kilometers long, is the most treacherous, longest, and steepest of the Taihang Mountains. With its lush peaks and deep ravines, the canyon rises in the west and drops in the east. Millions of years of geological history, natural collapses, and tectonic erosion have shaped this vast and profound landscape, creating a series of unique peaks and ridges, pictographic rocks, and a string of rapids and streams intertwined with secluded, serene pools. Together, the canyons, peaks, valleys, and narrow ravines create a breathtaking and breathtaking landscape, making it an ideal spot for a refreshing summer getaway. Every winter, the area is bathed in cascading icefalls and icy shrouds, creating a unique, almost Icelandic world for the Shanxi people.
After enjoying the sightseeing, we will go to Linzhou to stay overnight. Linzhou stew, knife-cut noodles, Linqi pan-fried buns, fried bran, pickled mustard greens and millet are all local specialties.
Day 5 Linzhou → Jindeng Temple Grottoes → Shenlongwan Cliff Road → Stay in Baquanxia
All day
After breakfast, go to [Jindeng Temple Grottoes] National VI, the thousand-year-old lamp on the Taihang cliff
The Jindeng Temple Grottoes, built during the Northern and Southern Dynasties, are located on the precipitous cliffs of the Taihang Mountains, dating back over 1,000 years. Today, they boast 17 caves, 281 statues, and over 1,200 reliefs. The Water and Land Hall is exceptionally exquisite. A mountain spring flows from a crevice in the northwest corner of the main hall. The ingenious grotto creators carved a caisson into the floor to store the water, creating a lake. The relief murals within the grottoes are reflected in the clear spring water, creating a tranquil and serene scene. This is the only ancient temple to combine the Buddhist concept of water and land with the reality of waterways. The Jindeng Temple Grottoes are particularly notable for their hall-like structures, featuring Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, Vajras, Heavenly Kings, Arhats, and other figures from Buddhist stories. These are all beautifully formed and meticulously carved, embodying the unique elegance of the Ming Dynasty and possessing immense artistic value. They represent a masterpiece from the final era of Chinese grotto sculpture.
Then go to [Shenlong Bay Cliff Road]
This over 1,500-meter-long highway tunnel, like a giant dragon, winds its way through the cliffs. This road of hope, carved inch by inch by the villagers of Jingdi Village over 14 years, with their lives, blood, and sweat, is a true wonder of the world. The tunnel features 33 conjoined tunnels and 39 windows, each like a dragon's eyes, gazing upon the passage of time. From the observation deck, you can admire the towering mountains, a truly adrenaline-pumping spectacle.
Afterwards, we will go to Baquanxia in Taihang Mountain to check in and have a good rest.
Day 6: Taihang Mountain Baquan Gorge → Iron Flower Making in Situ Town → Stay in Jincheng
All day
After breakfast, head to [Taihang Mountain Baquan Gorge] the most majestic gorge in Taihang Mountains and the first water gorge in the north
Baquan Gorge boasts a unique landscape of dramatic ups and downs, with numerous springs and streams, and deep, treacherous gorges. It is one of the most scenic gorges in the Taihang Mountains. The highest peaks in the area reach over 1,700 meters above sea level, while the lowest ravines are only 600 meters, resulting in a drop of over 1,100 meters. The gorge stretches 13 kilometers and covers a drainage area of 60.33 square kilometers. It boasts over 300 springs and 30 waterfalls. At the rear of the gorge, the eight springs originate from the same source. In the middle of the gorge, two spring clusters each contain eight springs. The total number of springs in these three clusters is eight, giving it the name Baquan Gorge. "Seeing from the ground, observing from the sky, swimming in the water, and walking among the clouds" is the authentic experience tourists experience in Baquan Gorge.
After that, we went to [Situ Town] Shanxi Folk Customs Collection, and watched the iron flower show.
Located northeast of downtown Jincheng, Situ Town recreates the authentic life of Shanxi's urban life over a millennium. It's a great place to experience the vibrant Shanxi folk customs and savor Shanxi delicacies. Spring Festival is a prime time to visit Situ Town. Stroll through the quaint old town, where hanging lanterns create a festive atmosphere. Folk performances like lion and dragon dances, stilt walking, and land boat racing draw applause from the audience. Traditional folk arts like blowing sugar figurines, painting sugar paintings, paper cutting, and facial makeup are showcased throughout the town, creating a sense of time travel back to the Ming and Qing dynasties.
In the evening we will watch the shocking iron flower show "Millennium Iron Soul"
It's worth noting that the Situ Town team of over a thousand people crafting iron flowers is the first such feat in Chinese history. As night falls, shirtless individuals simultaneously strike out, the furnaces blazing, the molten iron ablaze, their sweat mingling with the molten iron, creating a dazzling display of flowers scattered from heaven. Under the night sky, sparks shimmer like celestial flowers.
Due to the rapid development of high-speed rail, there are many trains from Jincheng to Taiyuan/Jincheng to Zhengzhou. If you are leaving from Jincheng, please inform the tour leader in advance and sign the departure agreement. We recommend that you take a taxi to Jincheng Station or Jincheng East Station to disband the group.
It takes about 15 minutes by taxi from Situ Town to Jincheng East Station. The iron flower show time depends on the weather and usually ends around 20:45. It is recommended to purchase the ticket after 22:00. (The show time varies according to the season, so please check with the tour guide in advance for the specific time.)
Day 7 Jincheng → Iron Buddha Temple → Jade Emperor Temple → Disband at Jincheng East Station
All day
After breakfast, go to Gaoping Iron Buddha Temple. "Black Myth: Wukong" is online and it's a hit. Why is it so popular here?
Gaoping Iron Buddha Temple, named after an Iron Buddha statue that was returned to the temple in the seventh year of the Jin Dynasty's Dading reign, gained widespread public attention in 2010 during a field trip by faculty and students from the Sculpture Department of the Central Academy of Fine Arts. The temple stands as a tangible example of the transitional evolution of local architectural styles from the Jin and Yuan dynasties to the Ming dynasty. The 27 existing statues are arranged in the order of the Twenty-Four Heavenly Kings, with the Four Heavenly Kings at the corners and Yang Jian and Guan Yu at the southern end, a distinctly southeastern Shanxi style. Each statue is constructed with extensive iron wire, embodying the core construction technique of "iron for the skeleton and iron for the form," imbuing the painted sculptures with a sense of depth and dimension. The sculptures' bold silhouettes, exaggerated body language and expressions, and richly layered drapery are truly unique and unparalleled. You will surely be deeply moved by this artistic technique of exaggeration.
Then, we will go to Jincheng Jade Emperor Temple, a masterpiece in the history of Chinese sculpture, and the rare Taoist Twenty-Eight Constellations colored sculptures.
The Jade Emperor Temple's various halls contain statues from the Song, Yuan, and Ming dynasties. The Yuan Dynasty statues of the Twenty-Eight Constellations are the most impressive in the temple. Inferred to be the work of the great Yuan Dynasty sculptor Liu Luan, these statues are characterized by Greek noses, slender waists, and rich and profound facial expressions, representing the pinnacle of ancient Chinese sculpture. The Twenty-Eight Constellations painted sculptures exemplify the fusion of realism and romanticism in ancient Chinese sculpture, fully leveraging the maximum and richest expressive potential of clay sculpture. Some deities are as calm as water, while others are extraordinarily flamboyant. Their flowing clothing creates a sense of presence outside the temple, evoking a celestial palace, evoking the feeling of "the gates of the Nine Heavens open to the throne, and the people of all nations pay homage to the emperor."
After enjoying the tour, we will disband at Jincheng East Station. We are expected to arrive at Jincheng East Station around 13:00. We recommend booking a ticket after 14:00 to avoid delays.
We bid farewell and end our happy journey~
