Taiyuan, Shanxi Province

The turbulence of history has left very few ancient Chinese mansions intact, and the passage of years makes it even harder to preserve their typically wooden structure.

Sadly, only two original Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907) mansions can be found in Shanxi province, where it is estimated that 90 percent of Chinese architecture from before the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) exists. Its capital, Taiyuan, the political, economic and cultural hub of the province, still offers the best of ancient North China's culture.

During the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), Shanxi merchants became the epitome of national wealth for their cleverness in managing their fortunes. During this period, Taiyuan became the financial center of the Qing Dynasty. The capital has become a hub for heavy industrial since 1949, with its surrounding areas accounting for more than half of China's total coal mining output.

However, Taiyuan is adjusting its reliance on heavy industries, which have brought it wealth but also heavy pollution. The city is balancing its industry structure in an effort to attract tourists to its rich and storied culture. Here are some of the places you should not miss.

1. Jinci Temple

Located 25 kilometers away from downtown Taiyuan, Jinci Temple is a grand collection of ancient wooden buildings set against a lush landscape of cypresses that was built in memory of Tang Shuyu, the local king during the Western Zhou Dynasty (c.11th century-771 BC). His decision to make use of the nearby Jin River to irrigate and foster agriculture transformed Taiyuan from barren lands to a thriving city.

The Hall of the Sacred Mother is the most famous building in Jinci Temple, with its 43 Song Dynasty (960-1279) figures of maids set in two rows to serve Yijiang, Tang Shuyu's revered mother. The clay sculptures inside are an important source for scholars studying the clothing style of the Song Dynasty.

On the right side of the hall stands a famous cypress that is at least 1,000 years old. Legend has it that a Taoist was selling ointments under the dead cypress, but no one was buying them. The Taoist sighed and plastered ointment on the tree, which soon sprang to life. Today, most travelers stop to pray under the tree in the hope of bringing eternal health to their family.

Nanlao Spring gurgles from the hill behind the hall and flows ceaselessly in any season. The statue of the Sacred Mother, the maid sculptures and the spring are known as the three wonders of Jinci Temple.

2. The Giant Buddha of Mengshan Mountain

This 1,461-year-old Buddha statue was carved on one side of a south-facing hill cliff located 20 kilometers southwest of downtown Taiyuan. It is believed to be 162 years older than the world's largest sitting stone sculpture of the Buddha in Leshan, Sichuan province, but is not as well known.

The Mengshan Mountain Buddha statue is 63 meters tall. When first discovered in the 1980s, parts of the main body were buried, and it was not until 2008 that it was opened to visitors after years of restoration.

3. Tianlong Mountain Grottoes

These grottoes, 40 kilometers southwest of Taiyuan, include a series of 24 caves in the mountainside.

Nestled within them are 1,500 Buddhist sculptures that are as magnificently carved as they are solemn. The second and third grottoes have a history of more than 1,500 years.

The multi-story ninth grotto is home to an eight-meter-tall Maitreya statue as well as an 11-meter-tall, soberly clothed Bodhisattva statue. The ornaments on the stone carvings are succinct and in line with the dogma of Buddhism. The roof of the shrine is decorated with motifs such as lotus and dragon.

4. Shanxi Museum

The four-story building is located at 13 Binhe West Road, situated along the Fen River in central Taiyuan.

The collection of antiques on display is rich and important as Chinese civilization first began to develop in Shanxi, Shaanxi and Henan provinces. The building itself is architecturally pleasing, and is designed to depict structures of the past. Visitors will be mesmerized by the many Buddhist statues, porcelain, paintings and calligraphy.

Food and Drinks

Shanxi claims to have more than a hundred varied styles of noodles - there are sliced noodles, pulled noodles and maoerduo (cat's ears) to name a few. Daoxiaomian (sliced noodles) are the most popular. The cook's ability to fashion noodles from dough requires years of training and is considered an art.

The famous dish here is guoyourou (fried boiled pork). Like most Taiyuan delicacies, it is flavored with vinegar and tastes salty and is crispy. Travelers might also try some local snacks such as tounao, a Muslim soup with three large pieces of lamb and Chinese herbs.

Scenery of Jueshan Temple in Lingqiu county, Shanxi province

Photo taken on July 20, 2012 shows an old pagoda of Jueshan Temple in Lingqiu county,Shanxi province. Jueshan Temple, also known as Puzhao Temple with an area of 8,100 square meters, was built in the fifth century. The thirteen-tier Jueshan Temple Pagoda, a masterpiece of classical architecture, is the landmark of the temple.



Photo taken on July 20, 2012 shows exquisite frescos in Jueshan Temple in Lingqiu county, Shanxi province. Jueshan Temple, also known as Puzhao Temple with an area of 8,100 square meters, was built in the fifth century. The thirteen-tier Jueshan Temple Pagoda, a masterpiece of classical architecture, is the landmark of the temple.

Tourists visit Jueshan Temple at the hillside of Jueshan Mountain in Lingqiu county, Shanxi province, July 20, 2012. Jueshan Temple, also known as Puzhao Temple with an area of 8,100 square meters, was built in the fifth century. The thirteen-tier Jueshan Temple Pagoda, a masterpiece of classical architecture, is the landmark of the temple.

Photo taken on July 20, 2012 shows a gate decorated with carved bricks of Jueshan Temple in Lingqiu county, Shanxi province. Jueshan Temple, also known as Puzhao Temple with an area of 8,100 square meters, was built in the fifth century. The thirteen-tier Jueshan Temple Pagoda, a masterpiece of classical architecture, is the landmark of the temple. (Source: Xinhua)

Datong- The Height Of Art

Source: China Daily

Located on the northeastern edge of the Loess Plateau, the site of some of the earliest settlements of Chinese civilization, Datong is a city steeped in history and culture. Wedged between the outer and inner sections of the Great Wall, the city has a history going back more than 2,400 years. It grew in importance during the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC) on the back of its geographical advantages.

The city served as the capital for six years during the Northern Wei Dynasty (AD 386-534) and became the political, economic and cultural center of the north. Throughout history, Datong has been home to many different ethnic groups from all parts of China and beyond - resulting in multicultural mix that can be seen in some of the more than 60 well-preserved historical sites.

Described as the "Lock of the North", Datong continues to play a crucial part in connecting the country's eastern coastal areas and its western inland territories. It is also the "throat" between the Inner Mongolia autonomous region and Shanxi, and modern transport strengthens that regional significance.

Datong boasts an enormous variety of natural resources that has helped enrich the city since ancient times. Apart from coal, there are many other resources, such as gold and silver.

Here are three attractions tourists can look forward to in Datong.

1. Yungang Grottoes

The Yungang Grottoes are 16 kilometers southwest of Datong. Sitting at the base of the Wuzhou Mountains, Yungang originally meant a high point in the area and later became the name of the grottoes. The site is one of the three most famous grottoes in China, with the other two being Longmen in Henan province and Mogao in Gansu province.

The first grottoes of the area were built in the Northern Wei Dynasty, when Datong served as the capital, then called Pingcheng. The emperor ordered Tanyao, a high-ranking Buddhist monk, to lead the construction of the grottoes. Most of the grottoes were completed before the capital was moved to Luoyang city. More than 40,000 laborers helped build the grottoes and the project took nearly 50 years to complete. Buddhists from Lion Kingdom, now known as Sri Lanka, joined in the construction and the grottoes still carry marks of cultural amalgamation. The Yungang Grottoes are said to date back 1,500 years.

The grottoes integrate traditional Chinese elements and aspects of Indian Buddhist art. They form a significant part of the sculptural achievements of humankind and showcase some of the highest forms of Chinese Buddhist art.

There are 53 caves in Yungang and more than 51,000 stone sculptures, making the site one of the largest collections of grottoes in China. The mountains divide the grottoes into three parts, the east, the west and the middle.

The third cave is the largest and its broken facade is 25 meters tall. It is said to have been the study of the monk Tanyao as he translated scriptures. There are two rooms in the cave, with the one at the back home to three exquisitely designed Buddha sculptures. The primary one standing in the middle is 10 meters tall, and the other two beside it reach up to 6.2 meters. The style and carving methods of these three sculptures are said to date back to the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907).

The biggest Buddha sculpture in the grottoes lies in the fifth cave, on the northern wall of its back room, at 17 meters tall. There are also five four-story buildings in front that were rebuilt in 1651, during the time of the Shunzhi emperor in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

2. Hengshan Mountain

Hengshan Mountain is one of the Five Great Mountains of China. The mountain is the dividing line of the Haihe River's two tributaries, the Sanggan and Hutuo rivers. It stretches about 150 km from east to west and spans both Shanxi and Hebei provinces. The highest peak of the mountain is in the south of Hunyuan county and is 2,016 meters above sea level.

Legend has it that 4,000 years ago, the ancient Emperor Shun was hunting here and saw the splendid mountain views. He later called it the Northern Great Mountain. In the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC), Emperor Qinshihuang selected 12 sacred mountains and Hengshan ranked second on his list. Throughout history, the mountain has been a popular place for emperors. Poets such as Li Bai and geographers like Xu Xiake also left well-known impressions of the mountain.

There are also famous man-made attractions such as the Morning Palace, Huixian Mansion, Jiutian Palace and Xuangong Temple.

In China, great mountains are often linked to religion. Hengshan is deeply associated with Taoism, and temples have been an important part of it, with Xuankong Temple being one of the most famous of these. According to one legend, Zhang Guolao, one of the Eight Cave Celestials of Taoism, cultivated himself here.

3. Pagoda of Fogong Temple

This wooden pagoda is part of the Fogong Temple in Yingxian county, 70 km from Datong city. Also called the Sakyamuni Pagoda, it was built in 1056. The building has survived the elements and natural disasters, including earthquakes, which many say is solid proof of its building quality and practical design.

According to one story, Yingxian county once occupied an important position within the inner part of the Great Wall and became a prized location for competing military powers. To detect rivals and promote Buddhism at the same time, a huge wooden pagoda was built in the area. Documents show that the structure took more than 100 years to build. With no suitable wood in the area for building, huge efforts were made to import a vast amount of wood for its construction and the total cost remains a mystery.

Many consider the pagoda to be the oldest and largest of all extant wooden structures.

The pagoda is 67 meters tall and the diameter of its base is about 30 meters. The base consists of two parts, the one above square and the one below octagonal, just like the main body. From the outside, the pagoda seems to have five floors but there are another four hidden floors inside, making the total number nine.

Grand sculptures and vivid portraits displaying the spirit of Buddhism form some of the major attractions inside the building. From emperors to local residents, devout followers of Buddhism have left words of wisdom inside the pagoda as they helped repair and improve the structure.

Traditions and celebrations

There are a thousand ways to celebrate Spring Festival or Lunar New Year because of the vastness of the country. We track from north to south and from east to west to give you four different ways.

Harbin in Northeast China offers you the coldest ice sculptures and frozen pears with the hottest yangko dance and dumplings. Sanya in South China brings the warmest tropical wind and bluest ocean.

In Hunan's Fenghuang ancient town, the starlight-like river lanterns lead you into the most poetic scene. At Shanxi's Qikou township, the roaring Yellow River, accompanied by the cracking of ice, thrills you with the best of nature.

Harbin, Heilongjiang

Dubbed "Paris of the Orient", Harbin carries the post-Christmas joy right up to Lunar New Year.

The provincial capital of Heilongjiang province in Northeast China still maintains some traces of Western lifestyle and more than 200 fine examples of Russian architecture in town.

But come Spring Festival, the city blends Eastern and Western elements to perfection. The highlight is the annual Harbin Ice and Snow Festival, bringing with it ice sculptures, on-ice performances and entertainment galore.

From Lunar New Year's eve right up to the 15th day of the first month in lunar calendar, every family has a red lantern in their home. Locals and visitors are treated to the yangko dance, a form of folk dance popular in northern China. The dance is so contagious that tourists are not expected to remain observers for long, but to join the dancers and have a good time.

Like most Chinese, local Harbin residents pay special attention to family reunion dinner on the eve of Lunar New Year. The meal must include the "big four" - chicken, fish, ribs and pork leg. If any of the "big four" is missing, it is not considered a reunion dinner with Northeast flavor.

And of course, dumpling is the most important food on the dinner table. The filling can range from sauerkraut to pork, shallot and lamb, and tomato and egg.

Making dumplings with family members is the best bonding activity, and the fastest way for new friends to warm up. Some families will also put a few coins into some of the dumplings. There is a belief that those who chance upon the "fortune dumplings" will be blessed with good luck throughout the coming year.

After a sumptuous dinner, sink your teeth into a frozen pear - a genius creation that can only be inspired by a temperature of -30 C.

Sanya, Hainan

If you are not coping with the cold in North China very well, you will love Sanya in South China. Celebrating Lunar New Year in the tropics is equally exciting.

Nature has blessed Sanya with the best weather, the freshest air, the sunniest sunshine, the bluest ocean and the most delicious seafood. Staying in the island makes you forget about time.

Yalong Bay is a half-moon-shaped bay of 7.5 km in Southeast Sanya. Sand here is soft and glitters under the sun, while the sea is blue and as clear as crystal, with an average temperature of 25 C, making it an ideal year-round swimming paradise.

You may also consider having your wedding portraits done in Sanya. With the breathtaking scenery, you are guaranteed the best and most memorable photographs.

Fenghuang, Hunan

With a name that means "phoenix", you can be assured of a remarkable Spring Festival celebration in this ancient small town in western Hunan province.

The locals keep to the traditional way of celebrating the Lunar New Year. Before reunion dinner, they will have a ceremony to worship their ancestors and after dinner, the older generations in the family will distribute hongbao or red envelops with money to children. And everyone stays up until the wee hours of the morning to usher in the New Year.

Fenghuang cuisine is mainly hot and sour, which makes you perspire as you savor the dishes. The names of the dishes, such as potted mushrooms and sour soup tofu, are enough to make you salivate.

Customs like making sausages and sweet wine, and shopping on the New Year Miao ethnic market remain very much alive.

The most interesting tradition is to float the river lantern. People gather on the Tuojiang River, put the paper-made lanterns on the water surface, light the candles and let the river takes the lanterns and the wishes of the people to wherever it flows. At midnight of New Year's eve, the local government will let off large-scale fireworks, which last for 40 minutes and are really a feast for the eyes.

From the first day to the 15th day of the Lunar New Year, there are also all kinds of performances and galas from various organizations and villages on Phoenix Congwen Square.

Qikou, Shanxi

The Qikou township is a remote town along the Yellow River in Shanxi's Linxian county. Its location at the boundary of Shanxi and Shaanxi provinces gives it the rich culture and characteristics of both the places.

At Qikou, you can watch the ice floating along the Yellow River during the Spring Festival. The Yellow River looks like a huge snake that is casting off its skin. The ice cracks and rumbles like a rock concert on the river.

You can hide in one corner and daydream, or you can sit on heated adobe bed and learn to make cloth tiger and paper-cut decorations from local villagers.

Source: By Zhang Zixuan (China Daily)

800-year-old ancient village in Shanxi

With the history of more than eight hundred years, Dacan ancient village, located in Yuxian, north China's Shanxi province, is surrounded by mountains.

Eight years ago, there were 85 households and more than 320 villagers, but now there are only 11 households and 17 residents, with the oldest being 90 years old and the youngest 50 years old.

Dacan ancient village is also called stone village because the whole village is built on a rock slope and all the houses were made of stones

Source: china.org

A step back in time into the ancient town of Pingyao

Pingyao Ancient Town is located in the middle of Shanxi Province, about 715 kilometers from Beijing. It is one of the best-preserved ancient towns in China. The town was first founded during the reign of King Xuan (827-782 BC) of the Western Zhou Dynasty. After thousands of years, the ancient walls, streets, houses, shops and temples have been almost kept intact. In 1986, the State Council proclaimed Pingyao as a historical and cultural site. Also, it was listed to the UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997

Source: china.org

China's Dead Sea: Yanchi in Yuncheng city

Yanchi, located in Yuncheng city of Shanxi province, is China’s famous inland salt lake. It covers an area of 130 square kilometers, with a length of 30 kilometers and a width of 2.5 kilometers.

Because of its high salinity, fishes cannot survive in Yanchi, and people can float on the surface of the lake. Therefore, Yanchi is named as Dead Sea in China.

The exploration of the Yanchi, one of China’s oldest salt pond, dates back to 3,000 years ago

Source: china.org

Wutai Mountain through the lens

Situated in Xinzhou City of Shanxi Province, Mt.Wutai is crowned as one of four famous Buddhist mountains in China. Presently, there are 95 Buddhist monasteries located nearby Taihuai Town. Mt. Wutai is one of the few religious holy lands for Buddhism in China


Source: china.org

800-year-old ancient village in Shanxi

With a history of more than eight hundred years, Dacan village, located in Yuxian, Shanxi province, is surrounded by mountains. Eight years ago, there were 85 households and more than 320 villagers, but now there are only 11 households and 17 residents, with the oldest being 90 years old and the youngest 50 years old.

Dacan ancient village is also called 'stone village' because the whole village is built on a rock slope and all the houses are made of stones.

Source: people's daily via china.org