Southeastern Shanxi

Changzhi and Jincheng, with the dramatic scenery of the Taihang Mountains Grand Canyon and Wangmangling, ancient fortified manors such as Huangcheng Xiangfu, and a dense cluster of early timber-frame buildings.

Southeastern Shanxi is the southeastern section in the commonly used four-region division of Shanxi. It covers two prefecture-level cities, Changzhi and Jincheng, known in ancient times as Shangdang, with the Taihang Mountains to the east and Henan to the south. It is one of the areas with the greatest concentration of Taihang scenery: the Taihang Grand Canyon in Huguan, Changzhi, is famed for its sheer cliffs and deep gorges, while around Pingshun, canyons link up with ancient villages. Wangmangling in Lingchuan, Jincheng, offers sea-of-clouds views and sunrises, and the cliff-hanging road at Xiyagou is breathtaking. Huangcheng Xiangfu in Yangcheng, Jincheng, was the residence of the Qing-dynasty chancellor Chen Tingjing; nearby Guoyu Ancient Town, Xiangyu Fortress and the Liu family residences in Qinshui form a group of fortified manors and dwellings. Southeastern Shanxi is also renowned for its many early timber-frame buildings, and Qinglian Temple and Yuhuang Temple in Jincheng, as well as Tiantai Temple and Dayun Temple in Pingshun, Changzhi, are treasured by architecture enthusiasts. The Eighth Route Army Taihang Memorial Hall in Wuxiang, Changzhi, is an important site for "red tourism". A classic itinerary is one day at Huangcheng Xiangfu and the fortified manors in Jincheng, one day at Wangmangling, then one to two days north at the Taihang Grand Canyon in Changzhi, for a total of three to five days; self-driving is best. For transport, Changzhi Wangcun Airport has flights to some cities, and the Taiyuan–Jiaozuo high-speed railway runs through Changzhi and Jincheng to link Taiyuan with Jiaozuo and Zhengzhou in Henan; public transport to mountain sights is limited. Mountain weather is changeable, so watch for rockfalls and flash floods in the rainy season and slippery roads in winter; the cliff-hanging road has sharp bends and steep grades, so drive with care.

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Itineraries