Things to do in Ningwu

No. 1 of Fall Viewing Attractions in Shanxi

Luya Mountain Scenic Area

Known for its "asparagus" shape, Luya Mountain is a towering peak among high mountains. There are mountains and waterfalls, as well as odd-looking rocks and lush trees. During the sunrise after rain, the green Luya Mountain turns fire red and a colorful chakra-shaped "Luya Buddha's light" is occasionally seen.

Selected for Best Things to Do in Ningwu

Wannian Ice Cave

The Wannian Ice Cave National Geopark is located in Chunjingqi Town, not far from Ningwu County, Shanxi. The cave was formed in the quaternary glaciation, three million years ago and thus named the Million-year Ice Cave National Geopark. There is a strong cooling mechanism within the cave, leading to ice reserves that are nearly 100 meters deep. There is a volcano beside the ice cave, and together they form a natural wonder.

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Xuankong Village

There are two suspended villages deep in Guancen Mountain, one is Wanghuagou and the other is Wuhuashan. The two villages are about 2.5 kilometers apart and are both built on cliffs hundreds of meters high. Most of these houses are built with stone and wood. A wooden plank road is the main street of the village. People walking on the plank road feel like they are in mid-air. Looking up from the bottom of the cliff, it looks like a castle in the sky. Most of the people in these mountains have small attics. Standing in the attic, you can see the endless greenery through the window and the sea of ​​clouds through the door. Behind the village are towering mountains and in front of it is a deep ditch. Originally, you could only enter the village along the steep mountain road. In recent years, cement roads have been built for tourism development, and cars can drive to the parking lot under the village.

Malun Grassland

Malun Grassland is 2,721 meters above sea level and covers an area of ​​more than 6,000 mu. It was formed during the Quaternary glacial period of the Cenozoic Era 750,000 years ago. It faces Luya Mountain from north to south and is one of the largest subalpine meadows in North China. The pasture here is fertile and it is the base for emperors of all dynasties to raise war horses. Malun Grassland is called the flower grassland hanging in the air by netizens. The grassland integrates meadows, forests, mountains, canyons, strange pines, strange rocks, the Great Wall, the general platform, and the base tower. In late spring and early summer, the grassland is covered with small flowers, which makes it look like a flower blanket spread in the air, and free-range cattle and horses wander leisurely here.

Cliff Plank Road

Ningwu Cliff Plank Road was built between the cliffs of Xiangfeng Mountain, facing the vast forest. Its creation can be traced back to the Zhenyuan period of the Tang Dynasty. The plank road was originally built to connect temples on multiple peaks, and later it was built for tourists to visit. Go up the plank road from Xiaoshimen Village, pass the iron cable suspension bridge, Shimen Natural Moat, and see scenic spots such as hanging coffins, hanging temples, and Dragon King Temple. Standing on the plank road, you can also overlook the tomb of Liu Jinding in Zangwa and the primitive tranquility of the forest village.

Source of Fenhe River

The source of the Fen River is located about 1 kilometer northwest of Dongzhai Town, Ningwu County. According to the "Classic of Mountains and Seas", "The Fen River originates from the Guancen Mountain", so later generations believe that this is the source of the Fen River. It is the mother river of Shanxi people. There is a pond at the source, with the four characters "Fenyuan Lingzhao" engraved on the stone wall. It has been known as the first holy place in Shanxi since ancient times. The ancient temple Leiming Temple in northern Shanxi got its name because the sound of Fenshui gushing out from the dragon's mouth under the stone cliff is like thunder. The temple is built on the mountain and is grand and majestic. The ancient temple fair is held on the eighth day of April every year, which is unprecedented.

Valley of Lovers - Luya Mountain

Lover's Valley, also known as Maluntan, is an elegant and quiet valley. It is said that a pair of loyal lovers finally got married here. A spring that never dries up flows out of the valley, "carving" out dozens of fascinating stone pools and small waterfalls on the granite in the valley for several kilometers. In winter, a glacier with a thickness of two or three meters is formed, which can still be seen until April. The valley is winding, with strange rocks and excellent vegetation. Peach Blossom Garden, Apricot Blossom Cave, Red Birch Lake, and Spruce Cliff are full of green mountains and trees, exotic flowers and moss, and small creatures such as pheasants and squirrels can be seen crossing them. The whole valley forms many "S" shapes, and at the end of each "S" shape is a wonderful scene of "a new village after dark willows and flowers". In spring, the slopes of Apricot Blossom Garden are all white, quiet and elegant; in summer, Spruce Garden is emerald green and thick; in autumn, the trees in Frost Leaf Garden are red, like fire; in winter, the birch bark in Birch Clothes Garden is dancing, covered in silver. This is a paradise for returning to nature.

Shimen Hanging Coffins

The Shimen Hanging Coffins are located in a very secluded valley west of Xiaoshimen Village, 70 kilometers west of Ningwu City. There is a secluded alley in the depths of the canyon. The stone wall at the entrance is like a door, and the trees in the alley are lush. The Shimen Hanging Coffins are the earliest cliff burial group discovered north of the Yangtze River so far, and are of great archaeological research value. Looking around the stone walls in the Shimen, they are not towering dangerous rocks, but are 10 to 20 meters high. They are all steep and smooth, and the top of the wall is covered with green trees and bushes. The wooden coffins hanging on the stone walls are embedded in the caves, and some are exposed outside the stone walls. Some are supported by wooden stakes, and some are tied with iron chains. There are both single coffins hanging and double coffins side by side. The heights from the ground are different, but they can all be seen very clearly. There are as many as 11. In addition, there are sporadic hanging coffins on the mountain walls around Shimen. Most of the hanging coffins are in stone cliffs and caves, etc., where they are sheltered from water, cool and dry. The heights from the ground vary, ranging from nearly 100 meters, tens of meters, and dozens of meters. The hanging burial methods of Shimen hanging coffins can be roughly divided into cave type, suspension type, hanging pile type, and plank road type. The cave type is to place the coffin in a natural stone cave or artificial stone cave high on the cliff; the suspension type is to hang the coffin with an iron chain high on the cliff; the hanging pile type is to drill a hole in the cliff, insert a wooden stake flat, and place the coffin on the stake; the plank road type is to drill a hole in the middle of the cliff and insert a stake, paving a miniature plank road, and placing the coffin on the plank road. If the Matangba hanging coffin group in Gong County, Sichuan Province ranks first in terms of quantity with more than 200 coffins, the Shimen hanging coffins are ranked first in China in terms of variety because they include plank roads, cliff cracks, pile cliffs, suspensions, caves and other types.

Luyashan National Nature Reserve

No. 9 of Fall Viewing Attractions in Shanxi

Yanmenguan

Yanmenguan, located approx. 30 km northwest of Dai County in Xinzhou, is a pass on the inner Great Wall of the Ming Dynasty, andNingwu Pass, together with Pianguan, they are known as the "three outer passes". There is no public transportation from Dai County town to the attraction, so you can only get there by private charter. Inside the attraction, you have to rely entirely on walking.YanmenguanSince ancient times, it has been a crucial pass for the Central Plains dynasties to defend against invasions from northern nomadic tribes. Its earliest history can be traced back to the Warring States period when King Wuling of Zhao fought against the Xiongnu here. Han Dynasty generals Li Guang, Wei Qing, and Huo Qubing once led troops to battle the Xiongnu in this area. During the Northern Song Dynasty,YanmenguanIt became the main battlefield between the Song and Liao dynasties, and the prototype of the well-known story of the Yang family generals took place here. A statue of Yang Liulang stands in the attraction. ExistingYanmenguanIt was built in the seventh year of the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty (1374) (with multiple reconstructions in recent years). Currently, there are three gates (east gate, west gate, and small north gate). A wild goose tower stands atop the east gate, and the lintel of the small north gate (i.e., the barbican gate) is inscribed with "Yanmenguan"Three large characters flanked by brick-carved couplets: 'Foremost strategic pass in three frontiers, most revered fortress among nine passes,' both inscribed by the great calligrapher Fu Shan of the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. You can visit the ruins of Ming and Qing military barracks on the hill north of the fortress. To the right outside the west gate areGuan Yu templeOutside the east gate stands the Jingbian Temple, dedicated to Li Mu, a renowned general of the Zhao state during the Warring States period. If you are a fan of the Great Wall, when you visit Yanmenguan, you can walk along the ancient pass trail here. The ancient pass trail in the attraction is built along the local mountain terrain, winding through the peaks. Climbing this section of the trail may be slightly tiring for those who usually work in offices, but when you ascend a peak along the ancient path and gaze at the vast expanse of withered grass outside the pass, quietly feeling the weight of history, you'll find the physical effort well worth it. There are some farmhouse inns near Yanmenguan that can provide food and stay, but most visitors return to Dai County or go to other counties or cities for accommodation. Walking the ancient pass consumes a lot of energy, so you can bring some dry food and drinking water.