I've been to Chang Family Manor three times and finally figured it out.

Here's a guide to visiting Chang Family Manor:

Preparation

• Tickets: Full price tickets are CNY 80/person and can be booked online in advance.

• Opening hours: 8:00–18:00 from April 1 to October 31, and 8:30–17:30 from November 1 to March 31 of the following year.

• Transportation: Take bus 901 from Taiyuan to Yuci Old Town, then transfer to bus 12 to Chang Family Manor. If driving, take Taiyu Road or National Highway 108 to Dongyang Town, Yuci, then turn right.

Tour Route

• Architecture Appreciation Route: Enter from the west gate, first see the "Fish Leaping over the Dragon Gate" stone carving, then stroll along West Street and Back Street to admire the houses and courtyards. Visit the Chang Family Ancestral Hall to experience the family culture, and then go to the Shiyunxuan Academy to appreciate the cultural heritage of the Confucian merchants.

• Garden Leisure Route: Enter the Jing Garden to appreciate the beauty of the fusion of the grandeur of northern gardens and the exquisiteness of southern gardens, and admire the exquisite couplets, plaques, calligraphy, and rubbings.

Photo Spots

• Architectural photo spots: Take photos with the exquisite gate towers and screen walls as backdrops.

• Garden photo spots: Take photos by the pavilions, terraces, and towers, as well as the lakes and waterscapes in Jing Garden.

Dining and Shopping

• Dining: You can taste local specialties such as Yuci stuffed sausage, Pingyao beef, and Taigu cakes.

• Shopping: You can buy local specialties such as Shitie Maogu millet and Siyanjing vinegar.