Northern Shanxi

Datong, Shuozhou and Xinzhou: the Yungang Grottoes, Mount Wutai, the Yingxian Wooden Pagoda and Yanmen Pass make up the finest of northern China's ancient architecture and Buddhist art.

Northern Shanxi is the northern block in the commonly used four-region division of Shanxi and includes three prefecture-level cities: Datong, Shuozhou and Xinzhou, bordering Jinzhong, where Taiyuan is located, to the south. Datong was the old capital of the Northern Wei and a secondary capital of the Liao and Jin; the Yungang Grottoes are a World Cultural Heritage site, Huayan Temple, Shanhua Temple and the restored city wall show the character of the old city, and the Hanging Temple and Mount Heng, the Northern Peak, in Hunyuan are also within Datong. The Yingxian Wooden Pagoda in Shuozhou is one of the oldest and tallest surviving timber multi-story pagodas. Mount Wutai in Xinzhou is the foremost of China's four sacred Buddhist mountains and is also a World Cultural Heritage site, with temples densely clustered in Taihuai Town; Yanmen Pass in Dai County is a famous Great Wall pass, Luya Mountain and the Wannian Ice Cave in Ningwu are good for summer cool-downs, and at Laoniuwan in Pianguan you can see the Yellow River meet the Great Wall. The classic route is two days in Datong, south via the Yingxian Wooden Pagoda and the Hanging Temple to two days at Mount Wutai, then on to Yanmen Pass and Luya Mountain, for five to seven days in total, and it is very well suited to a self-drive. For transport, Datong Yungang International Airport and Xinzhou Wutaishan Airport have direct flights to some cities, the Datong–Zhangjiakou high-speed railway links Datong with Beijing, and the northern section of the Datong–Xi'an high-speed railway connects Datong, Xinzhou and Taiyuan. Mount Wutai is at a high altitude, with cool mornings and evenings in summer, so bring a jacket; winters are bitterly cold, and some mountain attractions and roads are affected by ice and snow; when visiting temples, dress appropriately and observe the rules of Buddhist etiquette.

Destinations

Itineraries