Jincheng Roaming: Exploring the Ancient Imperial City, Discovering the Mysteries of Mang River, and the Iron Soul Reflecting a Millennium of Fireworks1

Jincheng is located in the southeast of Shanxi Province, boasting rich natural landscapes and cultural heritage. Here is a travel guide featuring six attractions:

Day One

- Morning: Visit the Imperial City Xiangfu Mansion, the former residence of Chen Tingjing, a Qing dynasty scholar and official who was a Grand Secretary of the Wenyan Pavilion, Minister of Personnel with a third rank, and chief editor of the Kangxi Dictionary. It is also a rare castle-style official residence complex from the Ming and Qing dynasties, praised by experts as "the largest cultural clan residence in northern China." The buildings are grand and well-preserved, offering insight into Ming and Qing official residence culture. Recommended visit time: 2-3 hours.
- Afternoon: After visiting the Imperial City Xiangfu Mansion, head to the Mang River Nature Reserve, which features rare karst landforms in Shanxi and is known as the "Little Guilin of the North." The reserve offers sights of macaque troops, waterfalls, and canyons. Recommended visit time: half a day.
- Evening: Arrive at Situ Town, a folk culture experience site. In the evening, enjoy the large-scale live landscape drama "Millennium Iron Soul," which combines iron flower forging with stage drama, enhanced by dazzling lighting and stunning sound effects—truly spectacular. The area also includes cultural streets like Six Chi Alley, where you can taste Jincheng’s specialty foods.

Day Two

- Morning: Visit the Jade Emperor Temple, originally built in the ninth year of the Xining era during the Northern Song Dynasty under Emperor Shenzong. The temple’s architecture is meticulously arranged along a central axis, including the first and second mountain gates, the Cheng Tang Hall, the Offering Hall, and the Jade Emperor Hall. Inside, there are over 280 polychrome sculptures and 120 square meters of murals from the Jin, Yuan, and Ming dynasties. The clay sculptures of the Twenty-Eight Mansions are especially valuable and considered unique treasures nationwide.
- Noon: Enjoy Jincheng’s local specialties nearby, such as clear soup noodles and the "Top Ten Bowls of Jincheng."
- Afternoon: Visit Jue Mountain Scenic Area, a famous Taoist mountain known for its twin peaks and unique earth mounds. The main peak stands at 973 meters and was historically called "Little Huashan" or "Little Wudang." The mountain is often shrouded in mist, resembling a fairyland. In autumn, you can also enjoy the red leaves. Recommended visit time: 3-4 hours.

Transportation and Accommodation

- Transportation: Jincheng has opened tourist bus lines from the East High-Speed Rail Station to the Imperial City Xiangfu Mansion, Jade Emperor Temple, Jue Mountain, and other sites, making travel convenient. You can also choose to drive or hire a car to visit the attractions.
- Accommodation: Recommended is the Jincheng Fengcheng Health Center, which offers a serene and pleasant environment with mountains and water, and beautiful night views. Alternatively, you can stay at the Jincheng Fengyang Yitang Hot Spring Hotel for a one-stop hot spring therapy experience.

Post by Liam84 Reed. | Aug 29, 2025