8-Day Shanxi Itinerary

️ Travel Route (Save & Bookmark!)
Day1 📍Taiyuan
Jinci Museum → Taiyuan Ancient County Scenic Area → Zsmart Zhishang Hotel (Zhonglou Street Branch) → Night stroll at Food Street & Zhonglou Street → 🌟May First Square night view
Jinci is truly worth visiting—consider hiring a guide. Taiyuan Ancient County is just average.

Day2 ✨Datong Classic Tour
Awe-inspiring! Yungang Grottoes → Shanhua Temple →🏰Walk along Datong Ancient City Wall
Departed from the hotel at 7:30 AM, drove 4+ hours to Yungang. Had lunch nearby before entering the site in the afternoon. The sun wasn’t too harsh, and hiring an on-site guide was very helpful.
After returning from Yungang, visited Shanhua Temple and took an evening stroll on Datong’s ancient city wall to soak in the night atmosphere.

Day3 🏮Datong In-Depth Exploration
Hanging Temple → Guandi Temple route → Fahua Temple (the first ancient temple beyond the Great Wall) → China’s oldest surviving Nine-Dragon Wall → Huayan Temple’s bronze underground palace → Sunset at Volcanic Geopark🌄 → Tulin landform (super photogenic!)
The schedule looked packed, but it was manageable.

Day4 ⛰️Legend of the Northern Sacred Mountain
Hanging Temple (enter with the first batch at 8 AM!!) → Wooden Pagoda (world’s tallest wooden pagoda) → Overnight at hot spring homestay in Xinzhou Ancient Town♨️
The homestay was incredibly cozy, making the trip relaxing. Though we queued 2–3 hours to reach the top of Hanging Temple, it was absolutely worth it.
Yingxian Wooden Pagoda is a photographer’s dream!

Day5 🏡Tour of Shanxi Merchant Mansions
Qiao Family Compound (must hire a guide) → Zhenguo Temple’s Five Dynasties painted sculptures → 🎭Must-see immersive show *See You Again in Pingyao*

Day6 🏮Pingyao Ancient City
Explore old banks and escort bureaus → Shuanglin Temple’s "Oriental Treasure House of Painted Sculptures" → Stay in a traditional kang-bed homestay

Day7 🏯Treasures of Jinzhong
Pingyao Ancient City → Check into the century-old Shanxi Grand Hotel
Afternoon visit to the Provincial Museum

Day8 🎨Taiyuan Cultural Finale & Departure
Chunyang Palace (Taoist architecture) → Shanxi Museum (book a guide in advance)

🔥Top 5 Must-Visit:
1️⃣Yungang Grottoes: UNESCO World Heritage, imperial project of the Northern Wei Dynasty
📍No. 1, Yungang Town, Yungang District, Datong
⏰9:00-17:00

2️⃣Pingyao Ancient City: One of China’s best-preserved ancient cities
📍Gutao Town, Pingyao County
⏰Open all day

3️⃣Jinci Museum: China’s earliest surviving imperial garden
📍Jinci Town, Jinyuan District, Taiyuan
⏰8:30-18:00

4️⃣Yingxian Wooden Pagoda: One of the world’s three wonder pagodas
📍Liao Dynasty Cultural City, Yingxian County
⏰8:00-18:00

5️⃣Hanging Temple: Top 10 most dangerous buildings globally
📍Foot of Hengshan Mountain, Hunyuan County
⏰8:00-17:00

💡Tips:
✔️Visit Yungang Grottoes early to avoid crowds
✔️Pingyao Ancient City combo ticket valid for 3 days
✔️Hanging Temple has visitor limits—book ahead
✔️Bring sunscreen and a light jacket in July
✔️Share guide costs for merchant mansions

🚗Transport Tips:
Rent a car in Taiyuan/Datong for self-driving
Walk or use electric carts in Pingyao Ancient City

🏨Recommended Stays:
▫️Taiyuan: Zsmart Zhishang Hotel (prime location)
▫️Datong: Lavande Hotel (near ancient city)
▫️Pingyao: Yuse Zen Homestay (Shanxi merchant culture experience)