Linfen

A place where Chinese people trace their ancestral roots: the Great Pagoda Tree of Hongdong, the Flying Rainbow Pagoda at Guangsheng Temple, Xiaoxitian Temple in Xi County and the old villages of Mount Yunqiu, plus the Jin State Museum and Yuan-dynasty opera stages scattered all over the area.

Linfen lies in southwestern Shanxi, in the basin of the middle and lower Fen River. Known in ancient times as Pingyang, it is said to have been the capital of the legendary Emperor Yao. Bordered by Huozhou to the north and Xiangfen and Quwo to the south, it has one of the densest concentrations of historic architecture in southern Shanxi. The area breaks down into four parts: in the city itself are the Temple of Yao, Huamen Gate, the Drum Tower, Iron Buddha Temple and the Linfen Museum; to the north, Hongdong County is the heart of the region, home to the Great Pagoda Tree Ancestral Root-Seeking Park, Su San Prison and the Flying Rainbow Pagoda at Guangsheng Temple; the western mountains hold Xiaoxitian Temple in Xi County, Dongyue Temple in Pu County and Mount Yunqiu in Xiangning, all of which shot to fame as filming locations for the game Black Myth: Wukong; in the south, Xiangfen and Quwo have the Taosi archaeological site, Dingcun, the Fencheng historic building complex and the Jin State Museum, while Huozhou in the north offers the Huozhou Government Office, Shijiagou and Qiliyu. The best seasons are Apr–May and Sep–Oct; summers are hot, while winters are dry and cold but quiet. High-speed trains from Linfen West and Hongdong West stations connect to Taiyuan and Xi'an, and Linfen Yaodu Airport has flights. Sights are spread out, so self-driving or hiring a car with driver is recommended. Allow 3–4 days: one for the city and the Mausoleum of Yao, one for Hongdong, one for the western route (Xiaoxitian and Dongyue Temple), and one for Mount Yunqiu or the southern route. Popular sights require advance booking on public holidays, and photography is banned inside the halls of Xiaoxitian and other historic temples. Food to try: Linfen beef meatball noodles, Hongdong fried sticky-rice cakes and Xiangfen fried tofu.

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Itineraries