https://https://uk.trip.com/toplist/tripbest/recommend/shouyang/best-things-to-do/10072991900000
Best Things to Do
Top 50 Best Things to Do near Shouyang [2025]
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Yungang Grottoes
4.8
/5
28657 reviews
8.9
From £12.55
Based on 994 reviews
>100 km from downtown
Phone +8603527992666
Address: No. 1, Yungang Town, Yungang District, Datong City, Shanxi Province
Recommended sightseeing time: 3-4 hours
Highlights:
Stroll through the grottoes and explore Forty Caves
59,000+ stone sculptures inside caves
Saved by 700 users22164 positive reviews
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I was not interested in the history of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms at first, but when I came to Datong, I found that the Tuoba family of the Northern Wei Dynasty was quite particular. They had in-depth research on Buddhist culture and built grottoes. It took 200,000 people 60 years to build the Yungang Grottoes. They have the spirit of Yugong moving mountains!
The Hanging Temple is quite impressive, but there's a long line to get there. I took my mom on a relaxing trip, just taking some photos down below. It's free for those over 60, which is awesome!
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Jinci Museum
4.8
/5
12652 reviews
8.6
From £8.37
Based on 119 reviews
Taiyuan Ancient County/Jinci Temple | 67.8 km from downtown
Phone +864006088608
Address: In Jinci Park, Jinyuan District, Taiyuan City, Shanxi Province
Recommended sightseeing time: 2-4 hours
Highlights:
Growing Buddhist Relics Tower overlooking Jinci's panorama
Jinci's Three Treasures showcase ancient architectural charm
Saved by 125 users9581 positive reviews
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Jinci, the royal courtyard, is particularly charming and beautiful. The park is large, with towering ancient buildings and many filming locations of Journey to the West. The thousand-year-old trees are so large that several people can't hug them, which is particularly royal. The scenery in the park is pleasant, and you can also take a boat tour on the lake by yourself, with watermelons for the children. You won't feel bored if you stay there for a whole day.
Because there was an article about Jin Temple in my high school textbook many years ago, I have always been longing to visit it. I finally got here and it is well worth a visit. The only drawback is that I was not very satisfied with the tour guide's explanation. It did not have the sense of humor and understanding of many historical knowledge that the tour guides at Yungang Grottoes and Huayan Temple in Datong had. It is a pity and I look forward to coming again if I have the chance.
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Pingyao Ancient City
4.5
/5
19984 reviews
8.5
From £12.87
Based on 1,380 reviews
Inside Pingyao Ancient City | >100 km from downtown
Phone +8603545690000
Address: No. 58 Zhaobi South Street, Pingyao County, Jinzhong City
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-2 days
Highlights:
Enjoy stunning sunset views from the city wall in the evening
World-class photography exhibition
Saved by 412 users12554 positive reviews
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The architecture is unique, and some of the old buildings are relatively well-preserved.
The travel photography shop on South Street is simply intoxicating.
All the scenic spots require tickets, regardless of whether you have enough time or want to see them. You have to buy a package ticket, which feels a bit unfriendly.
Before going to Pingyao Ancient City, I went to Shuanglin Temple and was very shocked. I saw the Avalokitesvara and the largest Weituo Bodhisattva. Shanxi is indeed a Buddhist holy land. You can take a great movie in any temple. It was a particularly wonderful travel experience.
No.
4
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Yingxian Wooden Pagoda
4.8
/5
13923 reviews
8.4
From £4.99
Based on 182 reviews
>100 km from downtown
Phone +8603495088889
Address: Northwest corner of Yingxian city, Shuozhou city
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-2 hours
Highlights:
11-foot Buddha statue inside
Panoramic views of nature & history
Saved by 117 users12768 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
The wooden pagoda is well worth seeing. Standing at its foot, it felt even more majestic and impressive than in the pictures. The wall contains a concise and accurate introduction to the pagoda. The bathroom was large and clean, which was great. 👍 The only downside was that the parking lot was quite far away. You had to take the shuttle bus and pay for parking, which felt like a triple charge, which was quite unpleasant.
I hadn't planned to visit the Yingxian Wooden Pagoda, but because I wanted to visit the Hanging Temple, I stopped by on the way and it was worth a visit. I was amazed at the wisdom of the ancients. The entire pagoda is made of mortise and tenon joints. The pagoda is huge. Although only one floor is open, the sculptures inside are very delicate and worth seeing.
No.
5
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Xuankong Temple
4.7
/5
9066 reviews
8.4
From £1.56
Based on 793 reviews
>100 km from downtown
Phone +8603528333081
Address: At the foot of Hengshan Mountain in the southeastern suburb of Wuyuan County, Datong City
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-2 hours
Highlights:
Admire Exquisite Wood Carved Murals Along the Plank Road
Cliffside's breathtaking architecture
Saved by 615 users6718 positive reviews
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We arrived from Ying County a little after 3 p.m., and all tickets were sold out. The staff told us there was a VIP option, which was a bit more expensive, but it saved us a lot of hassle. We had a GL8 car to pick us up point-to-point, and we could use a special channel. The tour guide was enthusiastic and professional, and he accompanied us all the way to the temple gate, and basically covered everything... The service was excellent throughout the whole process, and before leaving, we could get two souvenirs from the tour guide office: a fan and a refrigerator magnet... Overall, for someone like me who values time, this is really suitable... No need to wait for the bus, no need to queue to enter the scenic area, no need to queue to board the tour, and no need for a tour guide's explanation... In short, if you put budget aside, this is definitely the first choice...
The Hanging Temple is quite impressive, but there's a long line to get there. I took my mom on a relaxing trip, just taking some photos down below. It's free for those over 60, which is awesome!
No.
6
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Little Western Paradise
4.8
/5
3238 reviews
8.2
From £3.67
>100 km from downtown
Phone +8603576733033
Address: Xiaoxitian, Xicheng Qu, Beijing Shi, China
Recommended sightseeing time: 2 hours
Highlights:
Check out Black Myth: Wukong
Ancient Zen temple from Ming
2973 positive reviews10K views in last month
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Xiaoxitian, Jixian County, Shanxi. In the first domestic-made single-player action role-playing game "Black Myth: Wukong", released on August 20, 2024, there are 36 main sceneries distributed nationwide, of which the most famous is here. After the game was released, Shanxi Jixian, a small 18-line county town with a name that most people don't know, tourists flocked to ....., taking pictures slowly for 2 hours (don't turn on the flash), full of gods and Buddhas, shining brightly. Here is the national key cultural protection, only natural light lighting, every morning 07：30-10：00 there are lighting conditions, the sooner the better, after ten o'clock in the morning, the hall can not see clearly.
The hanging sculptures in the main hall are worth seeing. You do need to climb some stairs to get to the main hall, which is not very high, but still quite challenging for the elderly. The other halls have new Bodhisattvas, which can be ignored if you are just visiting for sightseeing.
No.
7
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Huayan Monastery
4.8
/5
9188 reviews
8.1
From £5.23
Based on 147 reviews
Ancient City Tourist Cultural Area | >100 km from downtown
Phone +8603522042001
Address: No. 459 Xia Sipo Street, Datong City
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-2 hours
Saved by 135 users7413 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
This famous ancient temple in Shanxi is very distinctive and has a unique architectural style. The murals in the Buddhist halls are well-preserved and colorful! The underground palace made of pure copper is worth seeing!
If you treat Huayan Temple as just another tourist attraction, you'll miss out on 99% of its hidden gems! This Liao Dynasty imperial temple, brimming with details, is a haven for architecture, aesthetics, and history enthusiasts.
No.
8
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Wutai Mountain
4.6
/5
8040 reviews
8.0
From £5.23
Based on 440 reviews
Wuye Temple | >100 km from downtown
Phone +8618634384269
Address: 205 Provincial Rd, Wutai Xian, Xinzhou Shi, Shanxi Sheng, China, 035515
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-3 days
Highlights:
Pilgrimage to five unique peaks
Panoramic view of Mount Wutai
Saved by 117 users5418 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
On the last day in Mount Wutai, our tour guide Xiao Zhao took us to visit the temples in the central scenic area and told us many interesting stories, which brought our trip to Shanxi to a perfect end.
If you have faith, go to Mount Wutai. If you like taking photos, go to Mount Wutai. If you hike, you must climb to the Big Snail Peak. Climb the 1,008 steps to see all the other mountains. The mountain is in the clouds, the temple is in the mountain, and you are in the temple.
No.
9
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Yanmenguan
4.7
/5
5307 reviews
8.0
From £8.80
Based on 5 reviews
>100 km from downtown
Phone +8603506100519
Address: Daixian, Xinzhou, Shanxi, China
Recommended sightseeing time: 3-4 hours
Highlights:
Yang Family's legendary statue
Walk ancient Great Wall path
4491 positive reviews10K views in last month
Verified user reviews
From a historical perspective, Yanmen Pass has served as a crucial hub for exchanges between the Central Plains and the nomadic ethnic groups of the north since the Spring and Autumn Period. It has witnessed countless wars and historical events, such as the story of the Yang Family Generals and the Journey to the Frontier by Concubine Zhaojun, making it a symbol of the Chinese national spirit. Its well-preserved city walls, fire towers, arrow towers, and other military installations, along with its rich historical relics, allow visitors to deeply experience the grandeur and splendor of ancient frontier defense culture.
Of the nine fortresses in the world, Yanmen Pass is the most important. China's first fortress!!! Entering from the North Gate parking lot, I paid 10 yuan for a round-trip ticket. Once I entered Mingyue Tower, I officially entered the fortress. It takes a lot of energy to climb all the way up the Great Wall! ⬆️ Feel the vicissitudes of ethnic integration and history!
No.
10
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The Qiao Family Courtyard
4.6
/5
12198 reviews
8.0
From £12.03
Based on 258 reviews
Qiao Family Courtyard | 84.5 km from downtown
Phone +8603543831421
Address: Qiaojiabao Village, Dongguan Town, Ji County, Jinzhong City
Recommended sightseeing time: 2-3 hours
Highlights:
Exquisite wood & stone carvings
200-year-old Jin merchant architecture
8471 positive reviews10K views in last month
Verified user reviews
Well worth a visit, with its rich history and rich heritage! Originally built in 1756, the Qiao Family Compound is shaped like a double "Happiness" character and consists of six large courtyards, each containing 20 smaller courtyards, 313 houses, and a total construction area of 4,175 square meters. Facing the street on three sides, it is surrounded by a fully enclosed blue brick wall over 10 meters high. Its main gate is a city gate-style cave, and it embodies the traditional northern residential architectural style. Must-see treasures at the Qiao Family Compound include the Rhinoceros Moon-gazing Mirror, the Nine Dragon Lantern, the Ten Thousand People Ball, and the Nine Dragon Screen.
Regardless of the comments online, I think it is still worth a visit if you have never been to the compound. We invited a tour guide to talk as we walked. We learned a lot about the past and present of Qiao Family Compound and marveled at the spirit of Shanxi merchants!
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