Things to do in Shanxi

I've always wanted to visit the Yungang Grottoes, one of China's most famous grotto complexes. The guide explained that the grottoes' construction began during the Northern Wei Dynasty. Emperor Daowu of Northern Wei, Tuoba Gui, moved the capital to Datong. After Emperor Wencheng, Tuoba Jun, ascended the throne, he ordered the monk Tan Yao to oversee the restoration of Buddhism. Most of the caves were completed before Emperor Xiaowen, Yuan Hong, moved the capital to Luoyang, but the statue-making continued until the Zheng Guang era. The Yungang Grottoes were carved over approximately 150 years, spanning the Northern Wei, Eastern Wei, Western Wei, Northern Qi, Sui, and Tang dynasties. Currently, there are 45 main caves and over 59,000 stone sculptures. As the first grotto complex in China authorized by the imperial court, the Yungang Grottoes, compared to other grotto temples, have a distinctly foreign style, incorporating elements of Indian and Central Asian art, as well as Greek and Roman architectural styles and decorative patterns. The fifth cave, which we queued for half an hour to get into, was rebuilt in the eighth year of the Shunzhi reign of the Qing Dynasty. The main seated Buddha inside is 17.40 meters tall, making it the largest Buddha in Yungang. It is covered in mud and painted from head to toe, with gold leaf on the face and chest. The music cave in the twelfth cave was even more crowded, with people squeezing in and out. The various musicians holding different instruments were very unique, from east to west: drum, waist drum, qin (a type of zither), transverse flute, pipa (a type of lute), and panpipes. Many of the instruments were unfamiliar to me. In addition, the central figure, with hands raised high, twisting his waist and hips, legs crossed, and hands in a conducting gesture, was probably the lead dancer. It was spectacular, unlike anything I'd ever seen before. After walking this far, I was a bit tired, and with two elderly people in tow, we needed a rest. I recommend taking the shuttle bus directly from the entrance to the caves.

If you go to Taiyuan, you must visit Jinci Temple. Although it is located in the suburbs and is a bit far, it is easy to get there by taxi and the price is not expensive. First, you enter the free Jinci Park and can spend some time exploring it. Inside the park is the Jinci Museum. The museum is not a traditional museum, but the architecture and culture inside are very beautiful. I recommend hiring a guide.

The Yingxian Wooden Pagoda is the pinnacle of ancient architecture in Shanxi. Unlike the "Liao and Jin art" of Huayan Temple, it is a "wooden miracle" that will shock you purely with its mechanics and structure.

This restaurant is quite close to the Hukou Waterfall Visitor Center. The food is delicious, and the towels, bath towels, and toilet seats are all disposable. It's a building with an elevator, and the owner is very generous; he gave us some of his own apples when we left. Breakfast is 10 yuan per person, consisting of millet porridge, steamed buns, a local egg, and two servings of pickled vegetables—enough to fill you up.

The hotel and service are both good. You can take a walk on the city wall, stroll around the Ma Family Courtyard, and visit the security escort agency and money exchange. You need to calm down and experience things slowly, and it would be best to listen to some traditional opera.

This has been by far my best temple experience. Booking tickets online was very competitive needing hours of planning and flexibility. The temple was far from the city and we took the tourist bus and had some difficulty finding the bus stop. The line to climb the temple was long and it was busy inside the temple. Despite it all, the experience in the temple was worth every effort. It is very unique temple, very beautiful, ancient, and not specific to one religion. We still felt the spiritual environment despite the crowds.

Huayan Temple is one of the oldest and best-preserved Liao and Jin dynasty temple complexes in China, and it is also among the first batch of national key cultural relics protection units and a national 4A-level scenic spot. The square wooden pagoda, constructed with mortise and tenon joints in an antique style, is about 43 meters high; the underground palace beneath the pagoda is made of pure copper, and visitors can tour the Thousand Buddha Underground Palace and see the relics of eminent monks.

Great! The Shanxi and Shaanxi combined ticket is fantastic. Two days valid, excellent value for money. Both places are quite fun. In Shaanxi, you can book a free show of the "Yellow River Cantata," which is very good and worth the ticket price. The shuttle bus is very convenient, with frequent departures and short waiting times. A great travel experience, highly recommended.

The main hall, spanning only 170 square meters, is densely packed with nearly 200 suspended sculptures, works from the late Ming Dynasty 400 years ago. These sculptures are crafted from wood and clay, with gold leaf applied to the walls. From the walls and beams to the roof, they depict celestial palaces, flying apsaras, musicians, and mythical birds, intricate yet orderly, with lifelike expressions, earning it the title of the pinnacle of Chinese suspended sculpture.

This is the most spectacular iron flower display I've ever seen! The program was diverse and engaging, the host was witty, the audience interaction was lively, the iron flower workers were incredibly skilled, and the iron flowers were dazzling and colorful – the effect was absolutely stunning! Thumbs up! 👍👍👍