Top 50 Night Attractions in Shanxi

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M47***29

While many ancient cities and towns in China are quite commercialized and have similar shops, Pingyao Ancient City stands out with its large scale, elegant Chinese architecture, and vibrant local life. It's a much more worthwhile destination than most other ancient cities.

宜野座村司马懿

Under Mayor Geng's leadership, Datong, the coal capital, enjoyed clear blue skies and white clouds, rendering all the prepared protective gear unnecessary. The ancient city and various scenic spots were vibrant, with tourist buses connecting different attractions and guided tours available for payment via QR code. This trip to Datong lasted 4 days and 3 nights. The first night was spent within the scenic area at Tangfang Courtyard, a charming guesthouse converted from an old courtyard house. Airport pick-up was included, making it very convenient for exploring Southeast Yi. Breakfast included mutton offal noodles and knife-cut noodles; the mutton offal noodles used potato noodles, very authentic. The following two nights were spent at Huazhu Luxury No. 7 Mansion, inside Wuding Gate, offering views of Kuixing Pavilion and access to the North City Wall, which features a double barbican. Transportation was convenient. Datong boasts numerous temples. When purchasing Huayan Temple tickets online, I happened to catch a China Mobile discount, getting a 10 yuan ticket! 👍 Huayan Temple Square is a popular photo spot. The temple grounds are spacious, with plenty of people posing, including with bows and arrows. There are many props available. One particularly famous feature inside the temple is the Chiwen (a mythical creature), which is also excellent for photos against the backdrop of blue skies, red walls, and glazed tiles. Shanhua Temple is smaller. The attractions within the ancient city are concentrated, and there's a tourist shuttle bus. I recommend taking it first, spending about 20 minutes getting a feel for all the sights: the Nine Dragon Wall, the Prince Dai's Mansion, Fahua Temple, Kuixing Pavilion, and a short walk around the Drum Tower. The Prince Dai's Mansion, in particular, is stunning; the glazed tiles shimmer in the sunlight, with vibrant colors – a true test of photography skills! For a shared day trip, it's best to book a taxi directly with the driver when you pick them up from the airport; it's cheaper than through Ctrip. The Yingxian Wooden Pagoda, Hanging Temple, and Yungang Grottoes form a triangular route. Generally, start with the Wooden Pagoda because there are no shops nearby, and in this cold, windy weather, there's nowhere to sit and drink coffee or tea around it. Feeling awkward having to use the heating in a souvenir shop while waiting for your travel companions is quite embarrassing. The Hanging Temple was great! The visitor center had food and drinks, and you could also enjoy the scenery. After eating and drinking, we took a shuttle bus to the temple. Of course, it was still very cold, and the wind was extremely strong. I didn't dare to take photos near the edge of the Xia Ke Pavilion, nor did I dare to take photos for long. I admired a few tourists with southern accents who weren't even wearing down jackets and were still complaining about the cold. The QR code explanation at the Yungang Grottoes was a bit verbose, and there were many tour groups on site, so I recommend listening to a guided tour instead. Each attraction had its own cultural significance, but the Hanging Temple was the most beautiful. Visiting the three attractions took a long time and was tiring on the legs. On such a cold day, it got colder and colder as we walked. Luckily, we had a chartered car, which was very warm. We drove along the national highway, seeing distant mountains, vast cornfields, loess plateaus, and poplar trees. Datong noodles are very famous, and the portions are huge; we always end up with leftovers. Longjuxiang's shumai came in a basket of nine, plus a plate of daylily buds and a serving of braised pork. The price was reasonable, and they even gave us a bottle of vinegar. Aside from the shumai, the other two dishes were barely noticeable after eating them. Kaige is still the best; they offer half portions, and this time a fellow car enthusiast recommended them. They also have the fried chicken, fish and fried dough twists in a pancake, and yogurt. Kaige's Fenjiu and Xinghuacun liquors are reasonably priced. I bought a bottle for someone, which drew some attention from the staff; I guess not many women in Datong drink alcohol. Everyone knows about Jewish concentration camps, and only recently have they learned about the mass graves of the Nanjing Massacre. I never imagined Datong had one too. The Japanese army illegally mined coal in Datong, throwing injured and sick miners into the pits. No wonder an 80s-born car enthusiast said he wouldn't go to Japan. What we've seen is only a small part of the story.

布隆迪康龙

Xinzhou Ancient City is truly wonderful, with various ancient buildings arranged in a harmonious and picturesque manner. Be sure to climb the city wall at the entrance, and take photos at the Xiurong Academy at the highest point for a panoramic view. The various snacks are all quite good; following the reviews is a safe bet. However, avoid the Golden Beef Soup at the entrance; personally, I felt the portion of meat was small, and at 30 yuan a serving, there wasn't much to eat. They advertise a free scallion pancake with the soup (but it's only four small pieces, not even enough for a child).

205***07

It covers a large area and has a well-developed layout, nestled against the mountains and overlooking the water, reflecting the ancient city-building system. The watchtowers are very tall, giving it a strong sense of guarding the border and protecting against enemies. Walking on the city walls is a unique experience. However, it gets very sunny in the summer, and the streets feel quite hot. It's particularly suitable for taking photos in period costumes.

不帅不酷又矮没钱的大叔

Everyone knows about the Leshan Giant Buddha, but what about the Mengshan Giant Buddha? Actually, in terms of age, the Mengshan Giant Buddha is 162 years older! In terms of height, the Mengshan Giant Buddha is only second, slightly shorter than the Leshan Giant Buddha! Getting to the Mengshan Giant Buddha isn't very convenient. Public transportation is available, but during the off-season, services are infrequent. Taking a taxi is recommended; taxi prices in Taiyuan are quite reasonable! The climb itself is of moderate length and difficulty. If you want an easier climb, you can take a shuttle bus. Along the way, you'll pass Kaihua Temple, the Iron Buddha Hall, and other smaller attractions. Looking up at the Buddha at its base is breathtaking; it's definitely worth a visit!

绅禾

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.

亮点liangpoint

This is truly a conscientious scenic spot! Not only are the electric shuttle buses free to ride (just wave them down!), but they also offer over ten kinds of free food and drinks. Besides snacks, they provide one free breakfast and one free lunch – all you can eat! The breakfast selection is plentiful. Before the iron flower performance, there's free hot ginger tea, and after the performance, there's free Sichuan soup. Although it's free, the quality is excellent.

难 得糊 涂

Qikou Ancient Town is located 48 kilometers south of Linxian County, Luliang City, Shanxi Province. It is located in the middle of the Yellow River Jinshan Gorge. It is named after the Datong Qi of the Yellow River. It is an important commercial town on the Yellow River waterway and enjoys the reputation of "the first town of the nine-bend Yellow River". The prosperity of Qikou Ancient Town began in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Due to the dangers of the Datong Qi of the Yellow River, it became a transit station for the waterway on the northern mainstream of the Yellow River. In its heyday, there were as many as 150 ships coming and going at Qikou Wharf every day, and more than 300 service shops of various types. The ancient town is one of the birthplaces of Shanxi merchants. It preserves a large number of buildings from the Ming and Qing Dynasties, including commercial buildings such as warehouses, ticket houses, pawnshops, as well as temples, houses, docks, etc. These ancient buildings show the artistic charm of Ming and Qing architecture. The ancient town is located on the Luliang Mountain and borders the Yellow River. The Yellow River and the Qiushui River meet here, forming a magnificent picture of "tiger roaring in the Yellow River and dragon chanting in Qikou". The Black Dragon Temple is one of the landmark buildings of the ancient town. The temple is built on the mountain and integrates nature and humanities. In addition, Lijiashan Village is known as the "Potala Palace on the Loess Plateau". Its three-dimensional and integrated vernacular architecture makes people feel like they are in a painting. The national intangible cultural heritage - Linxian Dasuona will bring you an auditory feast. The large-scale live-action drama "Dream Qikou" combines history with reality, allowing you to feel the inheritance and development of the spirit of Shanxi merchants. Tickets: Free. Opening hours: All day.

富得🥑油

Yuci Old Town boasts a high proportion of buildings, yet receives very little traffic. It's so deserted during the day that even dogs can lie down and sleep in the middle of the street. It only becomes lively at night, when more businesses open. Weekdays are generally deserted by tourists. The architecture is beautiful, both grand and sophisticated. The night view of the old town is quite stunning, and the flow of people is also higher.

D42***70

Liuxiang, located in Taiyuan's downtown commercial district, is a shopping district, a pedestrian street reminiscent of Taiyuan's Wangfujing and Causeway Bay. It's also one of the city's oldest and most prosperous commercial streets, boasting over 300 years of commercial history. It boasts one of China's four largest night markets and the largest in North China, attracting over 200,000 visitors daily. Foreigners visiting Taiyuan on business or for pleasure often make a point of strolling through Liuxiang to experience the legacy of Shanxi merchants.