This severely underrated ancient city in Shanxi is breathtaking at night—and best of all, it's free!
Can you believe it? Xinzhou, Shanxi—a city whose name even locals often mispronounce (correct pronunciation: xīn zhōu)—is home to an ancient city that feels even more "alive" than Pingyao! 😱
Honestly, before I went, I thought it would be another "newly built fake ancient city"—red lanterns, cheap trinkets, and the same old grilled squid... But I was proven wrong! There are no tickets, no fences, and no closing times. Real people live here, and even at 9:00 PM, you can still see grandpas playing chess under the city gate tower! ♟️
Even better—while Pingyao Ancient City is so crowded you can barely move, in Xinzhou Ancient City, you might even have an entire street to yourself! 🤫
🌟 Here are 3 reasons why you must visit (you'll want to book your ticket after reading)
1️⃣ A rare "living ancient city" in China! No admission fee! 🆓
Unlike some ancient cities that are fenced off for high-priced tickets, Xinzhou Ancient City is free! You can walk on the city walls and stroll through the streets freely. It's home to over 30,000 residents. In the morning, you can see aunties prepping vegetables at their doors, and in the evening, you can smell the home-cooked meals wafting from every house. This is the true "hustle and bustle of daily life"!
2️⃣ The "hidden king" of Shanxi cuisine—it's so delicious you'll want to cry! 🍜
Don't just stick to knife-cut noodles! Xinzhou is a "treasure trove" of Shanxi food:
Buckwheat Heluo noodles: Chewier than regular noodles, served with lamb soup—it's amazing!
Dingxiang steamed meat: Soft, savory, and packed with flavor
Daixian braised fish: Slow-cooked for 4 hours with Yellow River carp, the bones are so tender they melt
Baode fried cake: Crispy on the outside, sticky on the inside, sweet but not cloying
For about CNY 30 per person, you'll eat until you have to hold onto the wall to walk out!
3️⃣ The night view rivals the Great Tang All Day Mall, but with 100 times fewer people! 🌃
At 7:00 PM, the lights come on. The city walls, archways, and ancient buildings are outlined in golden light, reflecting in the moat—it's as beautiful as a painting. The best part? No one is fighting you for the perfect photo spot! 📸 Every shot is a masterpiece. When you post it on social media, people will ask, "Is this Xi'an?"
📍 The ultimate guide! Follow this to avoid tourist traps
🚗 How to get there?
Self-drive: Navigate to "Xinzhou Ancient City." It's about 1.5 hours from Taiyuan and about 4 hours from Beijing
High-speed rail: Take it to "Xinzhou West Station." It's a 10-minute taxi ride from the station, or you can take bus 203 directly
Flight: Fly to Taiyuan Wusu Airport, then transfer to the high-speed rail to Xinzhou (40 minutes)
🎫 Ticket information
Ancient city itself: Free! Free! Free! (Important things said three times)
City walls: Free to climb (closes at 10:00 PM)
Xiurong Academy: Free to visit
Taishan Temple: Free
Guandi Temple: Free
Total cost: 0 yuan! You only spend money on food and drinks
🗺️ My 2-day itinerary (tested and not exhausting)
Day 1: Eat, explore, and soak in the local vibe
14:00 Arrive at Xinzhou Ancient City, enter from the South Gate (the most impressive one)
14. 30 Stroll along the North-South Main Street (the main street, lined with time-honored shops)
15. 00 Check out Xiurong Academy (the only perfectly preserved Qing Dynasty academy in Shanxi—great for photos)
16. 00 Head to Taishan Temple Lane (snack street, time to eat!)
18. 00 Climb the ancient city wall to watch the sunset (golden sunlight on the ancient city—it's breathtaking)
19. 30 Night tour of the ancient city, watch the light show (folk performances on weekends)
21:00 Go to the bar street to listen to folk music (recommend "Yujian" bar, the singer is amazing)
Day 2: Deep dive and unlock hidden gems
8. 00 Wake up early and head to Caishen Temple Lane for breakfast (recommend: Lao Liang Buckwheat Heluo)
9. 00 Explore the morning market (where locals shop—you can get 3 jin of apples for CNY 10)
10. 00 Visit Yishan Temple (commemorating Yuan Haowen, the one who wrote "What is love in this world")
11. 30 Lunch (recommend: Ancient City Old Hot Pot, copper pot shabu-shabu, about CNY 50 per person)
13. 00 Go to the antique street to hunt for treasures (be careful not to get scammed, but it's fun to browse)
14. 30 Go to a teahouse (recommend "Yichengyiwei," you can watch shadow puppetry)
16:00 Buy some local specialties to take home (recommend: Xinzhou glutinous corn, Daixian yellow wine)
💡 Hard-learned lessons! Don't fall for these traps
❌ Don't buy "specialties" at the ancient city entrance! They are twice as expensive as inside. Walk 200 meters in, and the price is cut in half
❌ Don't miss the "Buckwheat Heluo"! I didn't eat it on the first day, but I went back specifically for it on the second day—it was so delicious
❌ Don't leave during the day! The soul of Xinzhou Ancient City is at night; the night view is truly incredible
✅ Must wear comfortable shoes! The ancient city is all stone roads; your feet will be dead after a day of walking
✅ Bring an empty stomach! There's too much good food; I gained 3 jin in two days
✅ Stay in a homestay for one night! Recommend "Gucheng Renjia"; the owner will draw you a food map
🎁 Hidden gems! Things only locals know
1️⃣ Watch the sunrise on the city wall 🌅
At 5:30 AM, the gates aren't open yet, but you can go up from the side stairs. The whole ancient city is shrouded in morning mist, with only a few grandpas doing morning exercises—it's so quiet, it feels like time travel.
2️⃣ Listen to Jin opera with the grandpas 🎭
At Taishan Temple Square, every afternoon at 3:00 PM, a group of grandpas spontaneously sing Jin opera. Even if you don't understand it, the tone and the charm will give you goosebumps. This is the real "intangible cultural heritage"!
3️⃣ The ancient city at midnight is another world 🌙
After 11:00 PM, the tourists have left, the shops are closed, and only the red lanterns and stone roads remain. Walking in the ancient city at this time, you can hear your own footsteps echoing in the alleys, and it feels like the whole city belongs to you.
💬 A few heartfelt words
Xinzhou Ancient City isn't some "internet-famous check-in spot." It has no marketing, no hype. It's like a low-key top student, quietly beautiful for 1,800 years.
Here, I saw:
Grandpas playing chess under the city wall, relaxed and carefree ♟️
Kids chasing and playing in the alleys, worry-free 🏃
Diners lining up at snack stalls, full of anticipation 🍜
And I also saw myself:
The surprise of the first bite of buckwheat Heluo 😋
The comfort of feeling the evening breeze on the city wall 🌬️
The reluctance to leave when looking back one last time 😢
If you're tired of those "cookie-cutter" ancient towns, and if you're looking for a place to eat well, explore well, and truly experience life—come to Xinzhou Ancient City. It won't let you down.
📌 Save this guide and read it again before you go!
💬 Tell me in the comments: Which Xinzhou delicacy do you want to try the most?
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