Xinzhou & Yanmen Pass
Yanmen Pass, first among the "Nine Great Passes", commands Gouzhu Mountain, joined by Dai County's Bianjing Tower and Ashoka Pagoda, the night market of Xinzhou Ancient City and Luya Mountain in Ningwu.
Xinzhou lies in north-central Shanxi, separated from Datong and Shuozhou by Mount Heng and Gouzhu Mountain to the north and bordering Taiyuan to the south; it is rich in the Great Wall and historic architecture of northern Shanxi. This destination centres on Dai County, covering Yanmen Pass, the Guangwu Great Wall, Daixian Old Town and central Xinzhou, and extends to Chongfu Temple in Shuozhou. There are three main areas: first, Dai County, where the Ming-dynasty fortress and Great Wall at Yanmen Pass are the top sight; the county town has Bianjing Tower, the Ashoka Pagoda and the Confucian Temple, and on the outskirts are the Zhao Gao Temple and the Yang Zhongwu Shrine of the descendants of the Yang family generals; second, north of Yanmen Pass, where the Guangwu Great Wall and the old walled town of Jiu Guangwu offer stark scenery best for autumn hikes and photography — about 30 km further northwest, the Jin-dynasty Chongfu Temple in old Shuozhou can be paired with the Yingxian Wooden Pagoda on an architecture route; third, Xinfu District and Dingxiang, with evening strolls and the night market in Xinzhou Ancient City, Xiuyong Academy, Yuwang Cave and Yan Xishan's former residence in Hebian Town. Xinzhou is also the gateway to Mount Wutai. Ningwu's Luya Mountain, Fanshi's Yanshan Temple and others are covered under the separate Ningwu · Luya Mountain and Mount Wutai destinations. The best season is May–Oct, with the Great Wall of northern Shanxi at its most colourful in autumn; winters are cold and windy. Xinzhou West Station has high-speed trains to Taiyuan and Datong, and Dai County also has a high-speed rail station; sights are spread out, so driving is recommended, with 2–3 days for a relaxed pace. Food to try: Xinzhou wasu pastry, oat-flour kaolaolao, mutton offal soup and Dai County mapian sesame brittle.
Top sights
- Yanmen Pass – “Of the Nine Passes under Heaven, Yanmen ranks first.” A national 5A-level scenic area, with a Ming-dynasty pass and Great Wall sections pe…
- Guangwu Great Wall – A Ming-dynasty Great Wall along the ridge north of Yanmen Pass, with rammed-earth walls and brick beacon towers rising and falling across t…
- Xinzhou Ancient City – An old-town district centered on the north gate, Gongchen Gate, with lively night views and night markets. Try wasu pastry, liangmian noodl…
- Bianjing Tower – A Ming-dynasty drum tower in the center of Dai County, about 40 meters tall and known as “the Number One Tower under Heaven,” it is the lan…
- Daixian Ashoka Pagoda – A Yuan-dynasty white dagoba at Yuanguo Temple in Dai County, about 40 meters tall, which complements Bianjing Tower.
- Daixian Confucian Temple – A grand Confucian temple in the ancient city of Daizhou, with a well-preserved Great Achievement Hall and a quiet courtyard shaded by ancie…
- Zhaogao Taoist Temple – A Taoist temple built into the cliffs of Tiantai Mountain in Dai County, with halls and pavilions set among caves and precipices, and drama…
- Yang Zhongwu Ancestral Temple – The family ancestral hall of the descendants of the Yang Family Generals, in Lutijian Village, Dai County, and a National Key Cultural Reli…
- Old Guangwu Fortress – A well-preserved Ming-dynasty brick-and-stone fortress, with the vast Guangwu Han tomb cluster to its north and Great Wall fortress scenery…
- Xiurong Academy – A Qing-dynasty academy built in tiers on Jiulong Ridge, with pavilions, gateways and halls scattered across the slope, offering views over…
- Yuwang Cave – A karst limestone cave in Xinfu District, set in Xizhou Mountain, with rich stalactite formations, said to be linked to Yu the Great's floo…
- Former Residence of Yan Xishan – A grand Republican-era compound in Hebian Village, Dingxiang County, with architecture that blends Chinese and Western styles and tells the…
- Hongfu Temple (Dingxiang) – A Jin-Yuan era temple in Dingxiang County, with well-preserved old architecture and colored sculptures, a hidden gem for fans of northern S…
- Chongfu Temple (Shuozhou) – One of the three great Liao and Jin Buddhist temples in the old town of Shuozhou. Its Jin-dynasty Hall of Amitabha, colored sculptures, mur…
Itineraries
- Northern Shanxi: Great Wall, Yellow River & Summer Escape Loop – Depart from Taiyuan to loop through Yanmen Pass, Laoniuwan, and Mount Luya, combining the Great Wall, the Yellow River…
- Grand Shanxi Loop: The Ultimate Ancient Architecture Tour – A comprehensive loop from Taiyuan through northern, central, southern, and southeastern Shanxi, covering all the provin…