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Best Things to Do
Top 50 Best Things to Do in Taiyuan [2025]
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Jinci Museum
4.8
/5
13083 reviews
8.6
From AU$ 17.05
Based on 119 reviews
Taiyuan Ancient County/Jinci Temple | 20.3 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 135 users9987 positive reviews
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The heritage left by our ancestors is amazing and the scenery is great. There are different levels of paid explanations, and no free explanations. If you have enough time, it should be very pleasant to stroll around the courtyard. The natural scenery and ancient buildings complement each other. Jin Temple is the most worth-seeing ancient building in Shanxi!
I visited the Provincial Museum and this place in Taiyuan, and I think the Jin Temple is definitely worth a visit! The architecture and culture are both very impressive. It's also a good idea to just listen to a guided tour online without asking for a guide. Taxis are expensive to get around the city, so I recommend hitchhiking.
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Shanxi Museum
4.8
/5
2868 reviews
7.8
Based on 98 reviews
Shanxi Museum/Taiyuan New Town Wuyue Plaza | 1.6 km from downtown
Phone +8603518789555
Address: No. 13, North Section of Binhe West Road, Wanbailin District, Taiyuan City
Recommended sightseeing time: 2-3 hours
Highlights:
Ancient culture & iconic architecture
Ancient artifacts & unique appearance
1966 positive reviews10K views in last month
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The paintings are worth seeing, but I personally feel that the exhibition layout is flawed. The lighting is too dim. It is difficult to read the introduction of the works in some places. My eyes are tired and it affects the experience. The exhibition should be brighter to look better.
I accidentally came across the Dali and Picasso exhibition in the Provincial Museum. Although there were not many exhibits, it was quite good. The exhibition was arranged with great care. The experience of watching the exhibition was quite good and there were not many people. I recommend it.
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Taiyuan Botanical Garden
4.7
/5
3581 reviews
7.7
From AU$ 10.66
Taiyuan Ancient County/Jinci Temple | 15.6 km from downtown
Phone +8603516995666
Address: Jinyuan District of Taiyuan City
Recommended sightseeing time: 2-3 hours
No. 2 of Family-Friendly Attractions in Taiyuan
Highlights:
Cherry & lotus seasonal events
Baobabs & rare plants nearby
Saved by 134 users3307 positive reviews
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The Taiyuan Botanical Garden boasts a high-end, avant-garde design and is definitely worth a visit! Especially if you go at 4:30 PM to see the 5 PM acrobatic show, then see the three balls and fireflies, and finally take the elevator—it's a perfect arrangement! Perfect for families!
1. After arriving in Taiyuan, rest in the morning or visit the Twin Pagodas Temple. After lunch, go to the Jin Temple. From there, take a bus to the Botanical Gardens, which are very close.
2. There's no need to take the shuttle bus within the park; it's very close. Just outside the lobby is the popular elevator, which is right by the river. The three exhibition halls are just across the river, just across the bridge.
3. All three exhibition halls are great; since you paid 50 yuan for admission, you might as well visit them all.
4. There's a Dicos between the three exhibition halls, so you can grab some food and drinks and sit down after dark. However, they close before dark, driving customers away.
5. In early September, the three exhibition halls light up around 7:00 PM, and the lights change to different colors. There's also a skywalk between the exhibition halls that spirals upward, allowing you to take aerial photos of the night view.
6. In September, the elevators aren't crowded or lined up, so you can ride as many times as you want, but one trip up and one down is enough.
No.
4
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Mengshan Grand Buddha
4.5
/5
860 reviews
6.9
From AU$ 10.23
Based on 61 reviews
13.4 km from downtown
Phone +8603516862502
Address: Luocheng Temple Village, Jinyuan District, Taiyuan City
Recommended sightseeing time: 2-4 hours
No. 2 of Night Attractions in Taiyuan
Highlights:
The Bei Qi Cliff Buddha Statue is 46m tall
Hike along the ancient path to the foot of the Buddha statue
577 positive reviews10K views in last month
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The scenery at the Mengshan Giant Buddha Scenic Area is breathtaking, with the valley path and mist constantly spraying, creating a fairyland-like scene. The Buddha, nestled against the mountainside, exudes a majestic presence. At 5 p.m., the monks beat the evening drum, a piercing sound. The parking lot and gentle slope make the journey leisurely and comfortable, eliminating the stair-climbing grind.
Great place and good value to visit. Be aware plenty of up hill walking
No.
5
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The Coal Museum of China
4.4
/5
2250 reviews
6.9
From AU$ 12.79
Based on 12 reviews
Shanxi Museum/Taiyuan New Town Wuyue Plaza | 2.4 km from downtown
Phone +8603516180108
Address: No. 2 Yingze West Street, Wanbailin District, Taiyuan City
Recommended sightseeing time: 2-3 hours
No. 3 of Family-Friendly Attractions in Taiyuan
Highlights:
4D cinema & underground mine experience
Global coal resources exhibit
1453 positive reviewsRecently viewed by 1,000+ people
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The ticket price is not cheap, but it is quite interesting. There are tours down and up the well, and the explanation fee is purchased separately. The staff is very good. Because I needed to go down the well in advance because I was in a hurry, the staff helped to arrange it, which was very heartwarming.
The exhibition hall on the third floor is relatively simple, with a popular science nature and is quite standard. The underground simulated coal mine is simply amazing. It feels very realistic, dark and narrow, and there are simulated mining equipment. It is a very novel experience. You can even wear a miner's hat with a light!
No.
6
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Taiyuan Northern Qi Dynasty Mural Museum
4.8
/5
327 reviews
6.8
Taiyuan Railway Station | 7.2 km from downtown
Phone +864006088608
Address: 山西省太原市迎泽区南十方街与东峰路交汇处往西150米
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-2 hours
Highlights:
North Qi tomb murals' essence
Unique murals of Xu Xianxiu
311 positive reviewsRecently viewed by 1,000+ people
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The Taiyuan Northern Qi Mural Museum is a very good place, with murals from various dynasties. I took my children to visit it, and they not only saw cultural relics but also learned about history. If you have time, you must go and see it, it is very shocking!
The exhibition will start in 2023. The museum is not big, and there are free tour guides in the morning and afternoon. The museum mainly displays murals in the tomb passage, which is worth a visit.
No.
7
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Taiyuan Shanxi Merchants Museum
4.7
/5
236 reviews
6.7
Liu Xiang/Bell Tower Street | 1.3 km from downtown
Phone +8603515223262
Address: 山西省太原市杏花岭区府东街101号
Recommended sightseeing time: 2-3 hours
Highlights:
Old bank site & history
Shanxi's rich merchant culture
225 positive reviewsRecently viewed by 1,000+ people
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Walking through the red walls and gray tiles of the Shanxi Merchants Museum, I walked along the bluestone pavement of the former Governor's Mansion. I touched the carved columns and looked at the antiques on display. The shrewdness of business and the heaviness of officialdom overlapped here, and the cracks in the bricks shone with the strength of history. #TaiyuanVisitAncient #OneAcademyHiddenThousandYears
The public lecture was very attentive and detailed, and I listened attentively. The former site of the Shanxi Governor's Mansion allowed me to learn about the routes of the Shanxi merchants' camel caravans and see the earliest prototype of the world's bank. Overall, it was quite good.
No.
8
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Taiyuan Fantawild Oriental Heritage
4.6
/5
2779 reviews
6.5
From AU$ 27.50
21.4 km from downtown
Phone +864001660006
Address: 山西省太原市阳曲县华强中路1号
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-1.5 days
No. 3 of Night Attractions in Taiyuan
Highlights:
Nuwa adventure & Dayu rafting
Immersive high-tech Eastern mythology
2519 positive reviewsRecently viewed by 1,000+ people
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There were a lot of people today, but it didn't affect the experience. The queues for each project basically took half an hour. I've been here several times, and my children always want to come again.
There were so many people at Fantawild on May Day that you had to wait in line for about 120 minutes for any popular project, but the fireworks at night were so beautiful, and I also saw Phoenix 🐦🔥. In short, it is still the first choice for holiday travel! There are many people but the atmosphere is particularly good!
No.
9
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Taiyuan Zoo
4.2
/5
3330 reviews
6.3
From AU$ 2.13
Based on 34 reviews
Taiyuan Zoo/Taiyuan Forest Park | 5.5 km from downtown
Phone +8603513074953
Address: No. 2 Dongshan Road, Xinghualing District, Taiyuan City
Recommended sightseeing time: 2-3 hours
No. 5 of Family-Friendly Attractions in Taiyuan
Highlights:
7 major park areas showcase a rich variety of animal species
See rare birds up close in the Aviary
2164 positive reviewsRecently viewed by 1,000+ people
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Tickets are 10 yuan for adults and 5 yuan for children. It's a great weekend getaway for the kids. This was my first time there after the expansion. Parking is convenient in Parking Lot 1. Enter through the north gate and you can take a sightseeing bus or walk. Taiyuan's autumn weather is mild and pleasant, perfect for a trip to the zoo.
Located in Wanbailin District, Taiyuan City, Shanxi Province, Taiyuan Botanical Garden is a large, comprehensive botanical garden integrating botanical research, ornamental education, and leisure activities. The garden boasts a rich botanical resource, including a variety of rare and valuable medicinal and ornamental plants, as well as unique local vegetation.
No.
10
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Donghu Vinegar Garden
4.8
/5
785 reviews
6.3
Based on 9 reviews
Taiyuan Railway Station | 4.2 km from downtown
Phone +8603514424648
Address: 26 Ma Daopo, Taiyuan City
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-2 hours
No. 6 of Family-Friendly Attractions in Taiyuan
Highlights:
Traditional vinegar brewing experience
Vinegar culture experience park
561 positive reviewsRecently viewed by 1,000+ people
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It smells so good 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Shanxi's vinegar culture has a long history. At Donghu, you can learn about the entire vinegar production process. The guide also patiently explains the knowledge points of daily vinegar selection! It is definitely worth a visit!
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