China's old finanical capital. Within the province, there are 3 UNESCO World Heritage sites, 3 sites voted as the Most Beautiful Places in China and 5 Historical and Cultural Cities.
Pingyao Ancient City, Jinzhong City Pingyao County
Location: 80km from Taiyuan City
Travel Information: 2 hours from Taiyuan City
Honours: UNESCO World Heritage site
On the city wall
Pingyao is a walled city in the shaped of a turtle.
View of Pingyao Ancient City from city wall
The city houses, streets and layout is preserved in its Ming and Qing dynasty style.
Pingyao Confucius Temple
Street of Pingyao Ancient City
The shops and houses are still in use.
Coal transporting
Shanxi is rich in coal. Coal is still used for heating.
Rishen Bank - China's first draft bank
With the banks, the city became China's finanical centre in the Ming and Qing dynasty.
Mt Wutai
Location: 230km from Taiyuan City
Travel Information: 4.5 hours from Taiyuan City
Honours: UNESCO World Heritage site
View of one of the many Temples
Wutai Mountain is a scared Buddhism ground in China. There are numerous temples and monasteries around the mountain.
Xiantong Temple
Yungang Grottoes
Location: 16km from Datong City
Travel Information: -
Honours: UNESCO World Heritage site
Yungang Grottoes
The 1500 years old Yungang Grottes was built during the North Wei Dynasty. It consists of caves with Buddhism sculptures craved on rocks. The caves were actually dug out from rock cliff walls and the sculpture and the decorations are still visible today. The grottes is a showcase of the engineering expertise at that time.
Yungang Grottoes
Designs in the cave ceiling.
Yungang Grottoes
Buddha statue inside the cave.
Yungang Grottoes
Outdoor Buddha statue.
Hukuo Waterfall
Location: 138km and 2 hours by car from Linfen City.
Travel Information: -
Honours: Most Beautiful Places
Hukuo Waterfall
Hukuo Waterfall
Hukuo Waterfall
Hukuo Waterfall
Hukuo Waterfall
Hukuo Waterfall
Hukuo Waterfall
Hukuo Waterfall
Hukuo Waterfall
Hukuo Waterfall
Yellow River Jinshaan Gorge
Location: along Yellow River from Inner Mongolia Hekuo Town to Zhengzhou Taohua Gorge
Travel Information:
Honours: Most Beautiful Gorge in China
Laoniuwan section of the Gorge.
Yellow River is the border of Inner Mongolia and Shaanxi.
Laoniuwan section of the Gorge.
Laoniuwan Village in Xinzhou prefecture opposite of Qingshui County.
Wanhe Tower at Laoniuwan section of the Gorge.
The tower was used as a watch tower and a beacon.
Laoniuwan section of the Gorge.
Section of Ming Dynasty Great Wall along the cliff. The Great Wall is at Shaanxi Xinzhou Prefecture.
Laoniuwan section of the Gorge.
Section of Ming Dynasty Great Wall along the cliff. The Great Wall is at Shaanxi Xinzhou Prefecture.
Laoniuwan section of the Gorge.
Fishing activity.
Taiyuan City
Location: km south of Taiyuan City
Travel Information: mins by high speed train
Taiyuan Confucius Temple, Yingzhe District
Taiyuan Food Street, Yingzhe District
Taiyuan Food Street, Yingzhe District
Taiyuan Food Street Fried Dough, Yingzhe District
Wenying Park Wenying Lake Xinhai Revolution Site, Yingzhe District
Taiyuan Wenying Park Wanzhi Tower, Yingzhe District
Wenying Park Former Site of the Earliest CPC Party Branch in Taiyuan, Yingzhe District
Shanxi Hotel, Yingzhe District
Old building in Taiyuan, Yingzhe District
Gongji Gate, Xinghualing District
Taiyuan Ancient Mosque, Xinghualing District
Shanxi Government Building, Xinghualing District
Taiyuan Archway, Xinghualing District
The Archway is opposite the Shanxi Government Building.
East Lake Vinegar Park, Xinghualing District
Taiyuan Noodles, Xinghualing District
Taiyuan Food, Xinghualing District
Taiyuan Noodles, Xinghualing District
Taiyuan Food, Xinghualing District
Taiyuan Food, Xinghualing District
Taiyuan North Railway Station, Xiaodian District
Taiyuan Wusu International Airport, Xiaodian District
Datong City
Location: 270km north of Taiyuan City
Travel Information: 4hours by slow train from Taiyuan City
Honours: -
Hanging Temple, Hunyuan County
The hanging monastery has a section built on the mountain cliff and has a history of more than 1400 years. It's a small temple but spectacular especially when seen from far. The part of the structure is above the ground and supported by "columns" that were inserted into the cliff walls. The temple is 65km from Datong City
Hanging Temple, Hunyuan County
Side view of the temple.
Entrance to Heng Shan, Hunyuan County
Heng Shan is one of China's 5 famous mountains.
Pingxing Pass, Lingqiu County
Jinzhong City
Location: 34km south of Taiyuan City
Travel Information: 12mins by high speed train
Qiao Family Courtyard
This was a residential compound built during the Qing dynasty by the rich Qiao family to house several generation of their family members. It is located 64km from Taiyuan City
Linfen City
Location: 279km south of Taiyuan City
Travel Information: mins by high speed train
Yao Temple
Ancient Tree
Yao Temple Square Huabiao
The 21m white marble Huabiao was built. It is one of the largest in China.
Miniature Tiananmen
Miniature Temple of Heaven
Hua Gate
The Hua Gate was built in 2002 to commemorate Emperor Yao. The gate integrates several ancient chinese architectural designs. It is the largest gate in the world.
Linfen West Railway Station
Landscape around Hukou Water Fall, Ji County
Landscape around Hukou Water Fall, Ji County
Hukou Apples, Ji County
Changzhi City
Location: km south of Taiyuan City
Travel Information: mins by high speed train
Ancient City Gate, Cheng District
City God Temple, Cheng District
City God Temple
City God Temple
Antique Market, Cheng District
Shangdan Gate, Cheng District
A National Historical and Cultural Site.
Changzhi Mosque, Cheng District
Changzhi Mosque, Cheng District
Liufu Pagoda, Cheng District
Miniature Tiananmen opposite Bayi Square, Cheng District
Bayi Square, Cheng District
Changzhi Railway Station, Cheng District
Statue of Emperor Yan, Huguan County
The statue is 3km from the city.
View of county from Laoding Hill, Huguan County
Jincheng City
Location: km south of Taiyuan City
Travel Information: mins by high speed train
Jingde Bridge
Wenbifeng Pagoda
33m pagoda near the railway station was built during the Ming Dynasty.
Jincheng Railway Station
Xinzhou City
Location: km south of Taiyuan City
Travel Information: mins by high speed train
Dai County Confucius Temple
Bianjing Tower, Dai County
Bell Tower, Dai County
Great Wall Yanmen Pass
Xinzhou Ancient City
Battle site of Yangming Fort Airport
This site located in Dai County was where a major vicotry in the Anti-Japanese War took place. On 19 October 1937, the 769th regiment of the 129th Division of the Eight Route Army launched a night attack klling more than 100 enemy troops and destroyed more than 20 aircraft to slow down the Japan offensive in the province.