Shanxi

A province rich in above-ground cultural relics, with dense concentrations of ancient architecture, cave temples and Shanxi merchant mansions; Mount Wutai, Pingyao and Datong are classic destinations.

Shanxi lies in the eastern Loess Plateau, with the Taihang Mountains to the east and the Yellow River forming its western and southern borders, and mountains run throughout. It preserves a large number of timber-frame buildings from the Yuan dynasty and earlier, and is called a "treasure house of ancient Chinese architecture." The ancient city of Pingyao, the Yungang Grottoes in Datong and Mount Wutai are all World Heritage sites. Shanxi merchant mansions, Hongdong in Linfen, the Yellow River town of Qikou and the Yanmen Pass Great Wall each have their own character, while the Taihang Grand Canyon in Changzhi and Luya Mountain in Ningwu are known for mountain nature. Spring and autumn are pleasant, and in summer people head to Mount Wutai to escape the heat. The capital, Taiyuan, is the transport gateway, and Datong, Yuncheng and other places also have airports and high-speed rail.

Destinations

Itineraries