Weekend Getaway to Taishan

Taishan in Taiyuan is a tourist destination that combines natural scenery with historical and cultural heritage. Here is a travel guide: Basic Information - Address: North bank of Shabei, Fengyugou, Jinyuan District, Taiyuan City. - Opening Hours: Peak season (April to October) 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM, ticket checking stops at 5:00 PM; Off-season (November to March) 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM, ticket checking stops at 4:00 PM. On holidays and weekends, ticket sales start half an hour earlier. - Tickets: Peak season 50 RMB per person, off-season 30 RMB per person; student tickets 25 RMB in peak season, 15 RMB in off-season. Children under 1.4 meters and seniors over 60 years old can enter for free. Transportation Guide - Bus: Take bus 308 from Taiyuan Railway Station and get off at Jinyuan Luanshitian Station, then walk west into Fengyugou for about 2,500 meters to reach the site; you can also take bus 329 or Y5 directly to the entrance of the scenic area. - Self-driving: Navigate to the Taishan Scenic Area parking lot. From Taiyuan, take Xinjinci Road south to Dongguan Crossroad, turn right, go west to Old Jinci Road, turn left, go south for 100 meters until you see the "Taishan Longquan Temple 2 km" sign, then go west into Fengyugou for about 2,500 meters to arrive. Main Attractions - Longquan Temple: Founded in the first year of the Tang Jingyun era, originally Taoist, rebuilt as a Buddhist temple in the early Ming Dynasty, divided into upper and lower courtyards. The temple houses Tang dynasty steles, tomb pagodas, and relics including a golden coffin that once held Buddha relics. - Guanyin Hall: Rebuilt in the Ming Dynasty, it is the essence of Longquan Temple. The architecture is ingeniously designed, and inside the hall are 79 Buddhist statues and hanging sculptures, showcasing the elegant and refined style of Ming dynasty statuary. - Wangdu Pavilion: Located on Wangdu Peak at an elevation of 1,100 meters on the east slope of Taishan, it is the highest viewpoint among the "Ten Scenic Spots of Taishan." From here, you can overlook Taiyuan city and see iconic landmarks such as Jinyang Lake and Taiyuan Botanical Garden.