Central Shanxi

Four cities (Taiyuan, Jinzhong, Yangquan and Lüliang) forming the heartland of Shanxi merchant culture, with Pingyao Ancient City, merchant family compounds, Jinci Temple and Qikou on the Yellow River.

Central Shanxi here refers to the central section in the commonly used four-region division of Shanxi. It covers four prefecture-level cities: Taiyuan, Jinzhong, Yangquan and Lüliang. Be careful not to confuse it with Jinzhong city alone. Pingyao Ancient City is a UNESCO World Heritage Site; its city walls, the Rishengchang draft bank, the Ming and Qing streets, and the nearby Shuanglin Temple and Zhenguo Temple form the core of any visit. The Qiao Family Compound in Qixian, the Wang Family Compound in Lingshi and the Chang Family Manor in Yuci showcase the grand residences of Shanxi merchants, while Mianshan in Jiexiu and Zhangbi Ancient Fort are also worth a visit. Taiyuan, home to Jinci Temple, the Shanxi Museum, Twin Pagoda Temple and the Tianlongshan Grottoes, is the best starting point for understanding the history of Shanxi. Qikou Ancient Town in Linxian County, Lüliang, sits on the bank of the Yellow River; together with nearby Lijiashan Village, it presents the cave-dwelling settlements of the Loess Plateau, and Xinghua Village in Fenyang is famed for Fenjiu liquor. Niangziguan in Yangquan is a celebrated pass on the Great Wall, with distinctive springs and waterfalls below it. A classic itinerary is one day in Taiyuan, two days in Pingyao and one day at the merchant compounds, then one to two more days heading west to Qikou, for a total of four to six days. For transport, Taiyuan Wusu International Airport is the main gateway, with Lüliang Dawu Airport as a supplementary option; the Datong–Xi'an high-speed railway has a Pingyao Ancient City station, and the Shijiazhuang–Taiyuan high-speed line links Yangquan with Shijiazhuang. Getting to Qikou and the compounds is mostly by self-drive or chartered car. Pingyao is very crowded on public holidays, so book inns inside the ancient city early; the Loess Plateau is dry, so drink plenty of water and wear sun protection.

Destinations

Itineraries