Yuncheng

Hometown of Guan Yu, with the Guandi Temple in Xiezhou, Stork Tower, the Yongle Palace murals and Yuncheng Salt Lake, "China's Dead Sea" – all much more popular since appearing as locations in Black Myth: Wukong.

Yuncheng lies at the southern tip of Shanxi Province, in the southeast corner of the Yellow River's great "Ji"-shaped bend, facing Shaanxi and Henan across the river. Known in ancient times as Hedong, it is the hometown of Guan Yu and one of the key birthplaces of Chinese civilization (both Shun's capital Puban and Yu's capital Anyi lie within its borders). Salt has been produced at Yuncheng Salt Lake for thousands of years, and the city's name itself comes from "the city of salt transport".

There are three main routes. Around the city: Yuncheng Salt Lake (the colorful salt ponds and Dead Sea–style floating) and the Guandi Temple in Xiezhou, both about 20 km from downtown. Southwest toward Yongji: Stork Tower, Pujiu Temple, the Pujin Ferry ruins (with their Tang dynasty iron oxen of the Yellow River) and Wulao Peak in the Zhongtiao Mountains. South to Ruicheng: the Yuan dynasty murals of Yongle Palace, with Yellow River scenery along the way. North to Wanrong: the Autumn Wind Pavilion at the Houtu Temple, Feiyun Tower at the Dongyue Temple, and the Li Family Compound, a Shanxi merchant mansion. Allow 3–4 days in total.

Getting there: high-speed trains from Yuncheng North Station reach Xi'an (about 1.5 hours) and Taiyuan (about 2.5 hours), and Yuncheng Salt Lake Airport has flights to major cities. Sights are scattered across Yongji, Ruicheng, Wanrong and other counties with infrequent public transport, so self-drive or hire a car. Spring and autumn are the best seasons; in summer (Jun–Sep) high temperatures and strong evaporation make the salt lake's colors most vivid – ideal for aerial photography (drones must follow local no-fly rules). Local food to try: Yuncheng mutton paomo, Wenxi zhubing (boiled cakes) and Yongji beef dumplings.

Top sights

Where to eat

Itineraries