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Best Things to Do
Top 50 Best Things to Do near Shuozhou [2025]
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Yungang Grottoes
4.8
/5
29262 reviews
8.9
From AU$ 25.35
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 726 users22699 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
Teacher Liu Jing's explanations were patient and meticulous, explaining the profound cultural heritage of the Yungang Grottoes in a systematic and professional manner that was both accessible and accessible. It was a truly enjoyable and enriching cultural experience, a perfect end to my trip to Shanxi.
The visit to Yungang Grottoes left me with a lasting impression. The murals in the grottoes were breathtaking and shocking. In September, Datong had blue skies and white clouds, and the weather was pleasant. The natural scenery around the grottoes was beautiful. It was a pleasant experience to take my time to look around and stroll around. This trip was worth it!
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Jinci Museum
4.8
/5
12978 reviews
8.6
From AU$ 17.00
Based on 119 reviews
Taiyuan Ancient County/Jinci Temple | >100 km from downtown
Phone +864006088608
Address: In Jinci Park, Jinyuan District, Taiyuan City, Shanxi Province
Recommended sightseeing time: 2-4 hours
Highlights:
Growing Buddhist Relics Tower overlooking Jinci's panorama
Jinci's Three Treasures showcase ancient architectural charm
Saved by 133 users9892 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
The scenic spots are worth visiting❤️very beautiful. It allowed me to get a lot of knowledge about ancient Shanxi architecture in a short time. The three-hour tour guide's explanation was also very good. It is worth it. Otherwise, you won't see anything if you just rush through it! It is worth a visit. There are many famous scenes in the same style as Journey to the West.
It took about 40 minutes to get to Jin Temple from Taiyuan Railway Station by taxi (during the morning rush hour). I saw the 3,000-year-old Father and Son Cypress, the Nanlao Spring, a refrigerator from 1,000 years ago, and the ancient overpass. I learned a lot.
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Pingyao Ancient City
4.6
/5
20307 reviews
8.5
From AU$ 26.13
Based on 1,381 reviews
Inside Pingyao Ancient City | >100 km from downtown
Phone +8603545690000
Address: No. 58 Zhaobi South Street, Pingyao County, Jinzhong City
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-2 days
Highlights:
Enjoy stunning sunset views from the city wall in the evening
World-class photography exhibition
Saved by 437 users12800 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
During the holiday, my family and I went to Pingyao Ancient City. It was a great experience. We enjoyed the beautiful scenery and tasted delicious food. More importantly, the children felt the long history and civilization of China. They learned a lot about both architecture and environment. It is highly recommended!
During our three-hour in-depth tour of Pingyao Ancient City, guided by our guide and electric vehicles, we explored the city's history on foot. Our first stop was the ancient city wall. Climbing the steps, we saw old forts quietly standing on the mottled walls. Our fingertips brushed against the bricks and stone, as if we could touch the traces of time. From the vantage point, we could see the entire ancient city's blue bricks and gray tiles, a breathtaking sight from the outset.
After descending the city wall, the Pingyao County Yamen became the most detailed exploration of our trip. The "55-open courtyard," as the guide described it, was particularly eye-catching—it was originally designed to meet the standards of a provincial government, far exceeding the specifications of an ordinary county yamen. The distinct layers of the courtyard unfolded before us, showcasing the rigorous office buildings of the three provinces, the casual living quarters, and the elegant gardens. The most vivid moment was the county magistrate's court performance. A few humorous lines as he interrogated the robbers instantly broke the solemnity of the ancient yamen, bringing the historical scenes to life.
The rest of the journey was a leisurely pace. The rich aroma of vinegar lingered in the vinegar brewery; at the First Silver Shop, I glimpsed the prosperity of a former financial center; and within the ruins of the escort agency, I imagined the stories of the escorts' journeys across the country. Finally, I stopped by the City God Temple, where two crape myrtles in full bloom added an unexpected touch of color to my journey.
If I were to rate this trip, a 7.5 would be exactly what I wanted. The satisfaction was clear: adequate staff at each checkpoint provided smooth guidance; the bluestone pavement meandered through the air, creating a rhythmic, retro feel; and taking home a portion of Pingyao beef as a souvenir offered a taste of the ancient city.
Some regrets did exist: the bustling tourist scene diluted the tranquility of the ancient town, giving it a slightly more commercial feel. Shanxi, as a whole, lacks greenery; the few roses in the county government office and the crape myrtles in the City God Temple provided rare bursts of color and comfort during the trip. The most troubling thing was the vinegar from the vinegar workshop, priced at 48 or 58 yuan per bottle. While I've heard the brewing process is exquisite, this "scenic spot price" makes it a bit less cost-effective.
However, no trip is perfect, and this half-day Pingyao tour, with its highlights and regrets, is already satisfying enough. Perhaps this is just how the ancient city is, with its own unique charm and ambiance, welcoming visitors in its most authentic form, without any need for deliberate alteration; it already has its own unique flavor.
No.
4
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Xuankong Temple
4.7
/5
9328 reviews
8.4
From AU$ 3.19
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
Highlights:
Admire Exquisite Wood Carved Murals Along the Plank Road
Cliffside's breathtaking architecture
Saved by 656 users6959 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
Only brought ticket to see temple from afar. Was cheap and could perfectly see the Temple . There was extremely long lines to go up to the temple itself so pleased where I saw it from. Fairly steep walk up
After watching "Joy of Life," I'm craving a visit to the Hanging Temple. Hahaha. Shaped like a dragon, it hangs diagonally halfway up Mount Hengshan. It shelters from rain on the top, wind on the left, and is off the ground at the bottom. It receives less than two hours of sunlight daily, which is why it's been around for a thousand years. The wisdom of the ancients is truly astonishing!
Be sure to pay attention when buying tickets. If you're driving, you can only park at the visitor center and take the scenic shuttle bus to the scenic area. It costs 20 yuan per person, and both adults and children are the same price. Entrance to the scenic area is free on weekdays, and 15 yuan for adults and 8 yuan for children on weekends and holidays. To access the Hanging Temple, you need a temporary ticket, which can only be purchased through the WeChat mini-program. It costs 100 yuan for adults and 50 yuan for children. This temporary ticket grants free admission to the Hunyuan Prefecture Office that day, which we discovered by accident that day.
No.
5
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Whistling Dune Bay
4.3
/5
4628 reviews
8.3
From AU$ 25.35
Based on 81 reviews
Xiangshawan | >100 km from downtown
Phone +864008785550
Address: Dalad, Ordos, Inner Mongolia, China
Recommended sightseeing time: 0.5-1 day
Highlights:
Breathtaking desert views & panorama
Camel rides in the desert
Saved by 294 users2945 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
Singing Sand Bay, a wonder in the desert! Enjoy camel rides, sandboarding, sandboarding, and bonfire parties all in one place. The sand sings, and the starry night sky is breathtaking. It's the perfect place to de-stress and connect with nature. You won't want to leave!
Xiangshawan is the desert I most want to visit when I go to Inner Mongolia. Because I need to bring children, there are food for sale there, which is a bit commercialized. But it’s my first time in the desert, and I still feel good.
No.
6
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Dazhao Temple
4.7
/5
7536 reviews
8.3
From AU$ 7.44
Based on 138 reviews
Dazhao Temple / Saishang old street | >100 km from downtown
Phone +8604716303154
Address: Dazhao Street, Yuquan District, Hohhot City
Recommended sightseeing time: 2-3 hours
Highlights:
10-yard golden dragon & mural
Grand blessing ceremony on Lantern Festival
Saved by 312 users4808 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
The location is excellent. After visiting the Dazhao Temple, you can walk to the nearby Saishang Old Street, and then go to the Xilituzhao Temple across the road. It is a little smaller than the Dazhao Temple. When traveling, the goal is to go in and take a look.
In the morning mist of Hohhot's old city, Dazhao Temple stands like an old man draped in a crimson cassock, quietly guarding the secrets of the fusion of grassland and Buddhism. Stepping through the mountain gates, the mundane world is instantly separated by the vermilion walls. The aroma of incense and butter washes away the dust of travel, like a cup of piping hot milk tea, washing away the dust of travel. The first breath of astonishment is the Silver Buddha Hall: a statue of Sakyamuni, cast from 30,000 taels of pure silver, features downcast brows. The patterns on the lotus pedestal are softly shadowed by the light, as if a gentle breath would cause compassion to overflow from the silver light. Two golden dragons coiled upward, their whiskers almost touching the beams. Their scales gleamed coldly in the gloom, like lightning striking the grassland night sky, frozen in time by the craftsman. The mural gallery is another dimension, where the robes of flying figures painted with mineral pigments still carry a gentle breeze. The clink of horse hooves, chanting, and camel bells from centuries past are locked within the mottled hues; with a touch of your fingertips, you can smell the scent of dried sand and grass mingled with the paint. If you witness a lama debating, their crimson robes flow like a surging tide, the drumming of the bell and wooden fish resonates deeply in your heart, even your breathing slows to the rhythm. Young lamas, clutching scriptures, run through the corridors, their steps as brisk as spring lambs, giving the ancient temple a sudden, beating heart. Exit the temple gates, turn down an alley, and you'll find Saishang Old Street. Your nostrils, freshly scented with the aroma of ghee, are instantly infused with the milky fragrance of freshly baked yogurt cakes and the coarse, salty, and savory texture of air-dried beef, as if you've fallen directly from a Buddhist land to a prairie bonfire. At that moment I realized that the charm of Dazhao Temple has never been its grand scale, but the way it blends faith and fireworks, silver Buddhas and iron lions, Sanskrit sounds and shouts into the same breeze - blowing across the grassland and into the heart.
No.
7
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Huitengxile Huanghua Valley
4.3
/5
2738 reviews
8.2
From AU$ 20.63
Huitengxile Grassland | >100 km from downtown
Phone +8618347775166
Address: Phaeton Siler Grassland, Chayouzhong Banner, Wulanchabu City
Recommended sightseeing time: 2-4 hours
Saved by 133 users1825 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
There is nothing much to play, just natural scenery, take various cars out of the ditch, there are grass skiing, water skiing, 50 yuan per time, the ticket includes the performance, a bit expensive. The scenery is not bad
The blue sky and white clouds grassland, the scenery is beautiful on a sunny day, there is a lot of traffic in the scenic area, the Internet celebrity train took, the elderly and children did not feel tired all the way down, there is grass skiing at their own expense, the scenery on the cable car in the ditch is the most beautiful, but there is nothing fun in the ditch. I came out to watch the Aobao performance, which was not bad.
No.
8
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Huayan Monastery
4.8
/5
9519 reviews
8.1
From AU$ 10.63
Based on 147 reviews
Ancient City Tourist Cultural Area | >100 km from downtown
Phone +8603522042001
Address: No. 459 Xia Sipo Street, Datong City
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-2 hours
Saved by 143 users7729 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
Huayan Temple in Datong was originally built during the Liao Dynasty and is divided into the Upper Temple and the Lower Temple.
The Upper Temple's Main Hall features a massive 4.5-meter-high glazed gargoyle. The northern gargoyle is the original from the Jin Dynasty, while the southern gargoyle was added during the Qing Dynasty. The distinct contrast between the old and new is evident, making it the largest glazed gargoyle in China's extant ancient architecture. To expand the Main Hall's interior, the columns were reduced.
The Lower Temple's Bhagavat Hall is also a highlight. It houses 38 chambers in a double-story, pavilion-like wooden structure. The lower level features a Sumeru pedestal, and above it, a sutra cabinet housing over 18,000 volumes.
A Complete Guide to Visiting Huayan Temple in Datong, a Millennium-Old Liao and Jin Dynasty Temple
Huayan Temple is not only an ancient temple, but also a living historical masterpiece. If you're unsure how to navigate, save this guide!
A millennium-old Liao and Jin Dynasty temple. Route: Mountain Gate → Medicine Buddha Hall → Amitabha Hall → Universal Light Hall → Main Hall → Huayan Pagoda → Bhagavan Hall
Duration: 2-3 hours
First, visit the magnificent Upper Temple, then admire the exquisite art of the Lower Temple
No.
9
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Wutai Mountain
4.6
/5
8094 reviews
8.0
From AU$ 10.63
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
Highlights:
Pilgrimage to five unique peaks
Panoramic view of Mount Wutai
Saved by 122 users5447 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
It's really great value. I don't think I've seen this group buy before, at least I didn't see it when I came here at this time last year. It's really quite affordable, and there are gifts. It's also very convenient to use. You only need to make a phone call in advance to make an appointment.
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.
No.
10
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Yanmenguan
4.7
/5
5445 reviews
8.0
From AU$ 17.95
Based on 5 reviews
41.9 km from downtown
Phone +8603506100519
Address: Daixian, Xinzhou, Shanxi, China
Recommended sightseeing time: 3-4 hours
Highlights:
Yang Family's legendary statue
Walk ancient Great Wall path
4613 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
Ticketing on Ctrip is very convenient. Nestled among the towering mountains of Dai County, Xinzhou, Shanxi, Yanmen Pass stands quietly, a monument to history and a legend of the mountains and rivers. "Of the nine fortresses under heaven, Yanmen Pass is the foremost." This majestic pass bears witness to millennia of war and vicissitudes. Every brick and stone bears the story of time, and every inch of land is soaked with the blood of heroes. Upon first approaching Yanmen Pass, its towering presence is visible from afar, looming like a giant atop the mountain. The fortress winds its way along the mountainside, blending seamlessly into the vast expanse of the Great Wall. In the sunlight, the bricks and stones gleam with an ancient patina, a testament to the turbulent times of the past. Approaching, the heavy gates remain tightly closed, as if guarding the tranquility within and safeguarding a turbulent history. Ancient arrow emplacements still stand neatly atop the walls, witnessing countless battles. Though now silent, the smoke of battle still seems to linger before our eyes. Entering Yanmen Pass, the bluestone pavement is rugged and uneven, and every step feels like treading on the veins of history. This was once a vital thoroughfare connecting the Central Plains to the northern frontier, and countless merchants, soldiers, and envoys passed through it, leaving behind deep and shallow footprints. Walking along the stone pavement, the quaint buildings on either side, with their soaring eaves, brackets, carved beams, and painted rafters, fully demonstrate the exquisite charm of ancient architecture. The shops along the street sell a variety of unique handicrafts and delicacies. The rich atmosphere of life blends with the rich history, leaving you captivated.
Depart from Datong South Station, go to Yingxian Wooden Pagoda first, take the high-speed train to Yanmenguan Station in the afternoon, and there will be a bus for 8/person to Daixian County (about 40 minutes). Tell the driver where you want to go and he will inform you where to get off. The hotel will be booked to go to Yanmenguan the next day (about 40 minutes). There will be a car to pick you up at the hotel door, 30 one-way 50 round trip, very convenient!
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