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Best Things to Do
Top 50 Best Things to Do in Shanxi [2025]
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Yungang Grottoes
4.8
/5
28944 reviews
8.9
From US$ 16.85
Based on 995 reviews
>100 km from downtown
Phone +8603527992666
Address: No. 1, Yungang Town, Yungang District, Datong City, Shanxi Province
Recommended sightseeing time: 3-4 hours
Highlights:
Stroll through the grottoes and explore Forty Caves
59,000+ stone sculptures inside caves
Saved by 714 users22420 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
I originally came to see the Buddha statues, but I was unexpectedly struck by the greenery at the Yungang Grottoes. From the parking lot to the entrance, the road was lush with greenery, lush grass, and vibrant flowers. The area itself was also very well maintained, providing a wonderful viewing environment. There are over forty caves, and the stone Buddha statues are exquisite. I marveled at the exceptional craftsmen of that era. The excavation of the Longmen Grottoes began after the Northern Wei Dynasty relocated its capital to Luoyang.
The tour started at 2:00 PM and ended at 5:00 PM. Our guide, Xiaoguan, was very thorough and interesting throughout the entire tour. He answered every question and even recommended some local delicacies. They were quite good. Unfortunately, many of the caves weren't open this time, so we couldn't see the largest and smallest. What a shame!
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The Hukou Waterfall Scenic Area
4.7
/5
16448 reviews
8.6
From US$ 12.64
Based on 213 reviews
Hukou Waterfall Scenic Area | >100 km from downtown
Phone +8603577955000
Address: Yanhu Road, Hukou Town, Jixian County, Linfen City, Shanxi Province
Recommended sightseeing time: 2-3 hours
No.8 of Fall Viewing Attractions in Shanxi
Highlights:
Spring & fall thunderous waterfall
See the Thundering Falls in spring and fall
Saved by 143 users11852 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
It's a truly breathtaking place. When you reach the waterfall, the water splashes into the air, and the sound of the Yellow River is like thunder. Even under scorching sun, standing by the waterfall will cool you down and get soaked by the mist, so bring a raincoat.
It's definitely worth the trip; photos and videos can't capture the breathtaking spectacle of what you see with your own eyes.
This attraction is absolutely amazing! The scenery is incredibly captivating and breathtaking. The service is exceptionally attentive, and the staff are friendly and professional. The facilities are excellent, and the experience is fantastic. It's definitely worth a visit and highly recommended!
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Jinci Museum
4.8
/5
12812 reviews
8.6
From US$ 11.24
Based on 119 reviews
Taiyuan Ancient County/Jinci Temple | 73.1 km from downtown
Phone +864006088608
Address: In Jinci Park, Jinyuan District, Taiyuan City, Shanxi Province
Recommended sightseeing time: 2-4 hours
Featured in 2025 Asia 100 - Family-Friendly Attractions
Highlights:
Growing Buddhist Relics Tower overlooking Jinci's panorama
Jinci's Three Treasures showcase ancient architectural charm
Saved by 129 users9735 positive reviews
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The scenic area's shuttle service was average, but the fare was cheap. There was nowhere to put the stroller on the bus, and the staff just watched and refused to help. The service was lacking.
The guide we hired was quite good at explaining the tour.
I stayed in Taiyuan for 2 nights. It's a bit further from the city center than the Jin Temple. Although it was off-season, there were still a lot of people. I listened to the official audio guide briefly and followed the instructions to walk around. It took about 2-3 hours. It's still worth the trip. There is a museum inside and a large park outside. Many local elderly people come here for a walk.
No.
4
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Pingyao Ancient City
4.6
/5
20132 reviews
8.5
From US$ 17.27
Based on 1,380 reviews
Inside Pingyao Ancient City | 29.2 km from downtown
Phone +8603545690000
Address: No. 58 Zhaobi South Street, Pingyao County, Jinzhong City
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-2 days
Featured in 2025 Asia 100 - Night Attractions
Highlights:
Enjoy stunning sunset views from the city wall in the evening
World-class photography exhibition
Saved by 426 users12673 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
There are many attractions in the city, so it's best to set aside a full day to visit. Xietongqing, the Confucian Temple, and the Pingyao County Yamen are all worth visiting. The county yamen has a court performance, so you can go there in advance to wait for it to start. There are many places to eat in the ancient city. I recommend Tianyuankui. The food is very good, the service is great, and the price is quite affordable with the coupon.
The Pingyao City Wall is located in Pingyao County, Jinzhong City, Shanxi Province. It was first built during the reign of King Xuan of the Western Zhou Dynasty (827-728 BC) and covers an area of approximately 85,690 square meters. The western and northern sides of the wall were built by the Western Zhou general Yin Jifu when he stationed troops here during his northern expedition against the Xianyun. It is a national cultural relic protection unit.
No.
5
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Yingxian Wooden Pagoda
4.8
/5
14162 reviews
8.4
From US$ 6.74
Based on 182 reviews
>100 km from downtown
Phone +8603495088889
Address: Northwest corner of Yingxian city, Shuozhou city
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-2 hours
Highlights:
11-foot Buddha statue inside
Panoramic views of nature & history
Saved by 120 users13003 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
I didn't get a boarding ticket, so I can only look at it below. In addition, to protect the ancient buildings, lighters are not allowed during security checks, which is understandable. However, my family's non-disposable lighters are worth thousands of dollars. The security officer said they would confiscate them, which shocked us all. When we asked her if she was sure, she said in a very cold tone, "Then you should hand them in to the service center." There were no signs from the ticket office to the security checkpoint. The broadcast reminded us of the lighter issue, and they didn't tell us until we were in the queue. As a result, we had to go out and hand them in to the tourist service center and then queue up for security again. It was a very bad experience.
In 1933, after a difficult inspection of the Yingxian Wooden Pagoda, Liang Sicheng hailed it as a marvel of wooden architecture. Its "five visible and four concealed" design, with beams connecting the inner and outer tubes, created an extremely rigid framework that has enabled the pagoda to stand stably for millennia.
No.
6
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Xuankong Temple
4.7
/5
9165 reviews
8.4
From US$ 4.08
Based on 793 reviews
>100 km from downtown
Phone +8603528333081
Address: At the foot of Hengshan Mountain in the southeastern suburb of Wuyuan County, Datong City
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-2 hours
Featured in 2025 Asia 100 - Best Things to Do
Highlights:
Admire Exquisite Wood Carved Murals Along the Plank Road
Cliffside's breathtaking architecture
Saved by 630 users6804 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
The Hanging Temple is located on the cliffs of Cuiping Peak, west of Jinlong Gorge on Hengshan Mountain, south of Hunyuan City in Shanxi Province. Built in the 15th year of the Taihe reign of the Northern Wei Dynasty (491 AD), it is the only remaining temple in China that combines Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism. Because of its steepness, the number of people who can reach the summit is limited each day, making it difficult to buy tickets. While the Ctrip VIP membership is a bit more expensive, firstly, you get a ticket and secondly, you don't have to wait in lines, which start at two hours, saving time. Very good.
It's worth it, saving me a few hours of queuing. Even if I was willing to queue, I couldn't get a ticket, but I was satisfied with spending a little more money. The explanation lady is very beautiful!
No.
7
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Little Western Paradise
4.8
/5
3357 reviews
8.2
From US$ 4.92
>100 km from downtown
Phone +8603576733033
Address: Xiaoxitian, Xicheng Qu, Beijing Shi, China
Recommended sightseeing time: 2 hours
Highlights:
Check out Black Myth: Wukong
Ancient Zen temple from Ming
3090 positive reviews10K views in last month
Verified user reviews
It is so exquisite that I am speechless. I admire and respect the wisdom of the ancients, whether it is dustproof or structure, construction, or grasp of details, I am in awe.
Xiaoxitian Temple in Xi County, Shanxi Province. Black Myth: Wukong, China's first truly global AAA single-player action role-playing game, released on August 20, 2024, features 36 major filming locations across China, with this location being the most famous. Following the game's release, Xi County, Shanxi Province, a small, mostly unknown county, has been flooded with tourists... They spend two hours taking photos (no flash), glittering with the sight of the gods and Buddhas. This is a nationally protected cultural relic, illuminated only by natural light, from 7:30 AM to 10:00 AM daily. The earlier you go, the better; after 10 AM, the main hall becomes difficult to see.
No.
8
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Wutai Mountain
4.6
/5
8055 reviews
8.0
From US$ 10.67
Based on 440 reviews
Wuye Temple | >100 km from downtown
Phone +8618634384269
Address: 205 Provincial Rd, Wutai Xian, Xinzhou Shi, Shanxi Sheng, China, 035515
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-3 days
No.1 of Water fun & Cool Retreats in Shanxi
Highlights:
Pilgrimage to five unique peaks
Panoramic view of Mount Wutai
Saved by 119 users5417 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
On the last day in Mount Wutai, our tour guide Xiao Zhao took us to visit the temples in the central scenic area and told us many interesting stories, which brought our trip to Shanxi to a perfect end.
If you have faith, go to Mount Wutai. If you like taking photos, go to Mount Wutai. If you hike, you must climb to the Big Snail Peak. Climb the 1,008 steps to see all the other mountains. The mountain is in the clouds, the temple is in the mountain, and you are in the temple.
No.
9
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Yanmenguan
4.7
/5
5364 reviews
8.0
From US$ 11.94
Based on 5 reviews
>100 km from downtown
Phone +8603506100519
Address: Daixian, Xinzhou, Shanxi, China
Recommended sightseeing time: 3-4 hours
No.2 of Family-Friendly Attractions in Shanxi
Highlights:
Yang Family's legendary statue
Walk ancient Great Wall path
4546 positive reviews10K views in last month
Verified user reviews
Of the nine great fortresses in China, Yanmen Pass is the most important.
Yanmen Pass is considered the most fortified fortress in the world. The layout of the entire scenic area evokes memories of the great achievements of celebrities throughout history. The scenery is also unique and well worth a visit.
The Yanmenguan scenic area is very large. There are places to eat and some real estate stores in the border trade street. It is not bad and the price/performance ratio is good. The Great Wall ruins are worth visiting. Wengcheng, the city gate, and the ancient ruins seem to feel the time
No.
10
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The Qiao Family Courtyard
4.6
/5
12257 reviews
8.0
From US$ 16.15
Based on 258 reviews
Qiao Family Courtyard | 54.8 km from downtown
Phone +8603543831421
Address: Qiaojiabao Village, Dongguan Town, Ji County, Jinzhong City
Recommended sightseeing time: 2-3 hours
Highlights:
Exquisite wood & stone carvings
200-year-old Jin merchant architecture
8503 positive reviews10K views in last month
Verified user reviews
The tour guide spoke very well and was very patient. I learned a lot about the history of Qiao Family Courtyard. She asked questions and took photos as we walked. There were also elderly people present. The explanation, which was supposed to last from one to one and a half hours, stretched to two hours without any impatience. I was very happy.
The Qiao Family Compound is a famous residential complex in Shanxi Province, located in Qiaojiabao, Qi County. The family's fortune began with the first owner, Qiao Guifa, who, due to poverty, ventured out to explore the countryside. He made friends with fellow villagers and gradually built his fortune by selling tofu. The Qiao Family Compound boasts numerous exquisite brick and wood carvings, including a carp leaping over a dragon's gate and abundant grapes. The Qiao family's back garden is also quite impressive.
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