Jincheng Situ Town is a special choice for Shanxi cultural tourism with folk experience and live performance as its core, and it is worth a visit. The following are the core highlights and practical guide:
Core highlights at a glance
1. Double drama performance: double shock of vision and culture
◦ "Thousand-year Iron Soul·Shanxi Love": a must-see intangible cultural heritage iron flower live drama, 1600℃ molten iron hits out a shocking scene of "fire trees and silver flowers", and at night with lighting effects, it is like a galaxy falling on earth, showing the thousand-year accumulation of Shanxi coal and iron culture.
◦ "See Old Shanxi Again": a marching immersive performance, crossing historical scenes such as the Battle of Changping and the West Pass, feeling the ups and downs of Jin in the real scene of the ancient street, with strong interactivity.
2. Folk customs: a journey through living culture
◦ Liuchixiang and Ming and Qing Cultural Street restore the style of ancient Jin City. You can experience free Hanfu rental (3 hours), stroll through the ancient alleys to appreciate Zezhou ironware, old coarse cloth and other intangible cultural heritage handicrafts, and occasionally encounter street performances such as Shangdang Bayinhui and throwing embroidered balls, where fireworks and ancient charm blend.
3. Food Jianghu: Eat all the flavors of Shanxi for 100 yuan
◦ The snack street gathers more than 800 kinds of Shanxi food, and the average price of Jincheng Sichuan soup, Gaoping roasted tofu, Pingyao beef, etc. is 5-15 yuan, which is very cost-effective. It is recommended to make handmade spicy strips and candied haws, which are sour, sweet and spicy, and authentic.
4. Parent-child friendly: fun experience for all ages
◦ Qixi Park has a tire tribe and a farming experience park, where you can take your children to adopt vegetable fields and get close to small animals; the intangible cultural heritage workshop (vinegar workshop, wine workshop) supports parent-child handicrafts, which is fun and educational.
Practical travel suggestions
• Itinerary planning: One day is the best, visit the ancient streets, wear Hanfu, and play intangible cultural heritage in the morning; watch "Seeing Old Shanxi Again" in the afternoon, and enjoy snacks in the evening; watch "Thousand Years of Iron Soul" at night, and visit the night market after the end.
• Transportation: It takes about 3.5 hours to drive from Kaifeng (plenty of free parking spaces); take the high-speed rail to Jincheng East, and transfer to bus No. 6/319 for direct access (ticket price 1 yuan).
• Tickets: Adult tickets are 120 yuan, students/seniors are half price, and children under 1.2 meters are free; it is recommended to buy tickets online in advance during holidays to avoid queuing.
• Tips: You need to prepare a coat for watching performances at night, and it is better to avoid the peak of holidays; some small shops have mixed services, so it is recommended to choose time-honored stalls.
Summary
Situ Town features "folk experience during the day and iron flower feast at night". It can not only feel the heavy ancient culture of Shanxi, but also enjoy the relaxation of parent-child travel. It is suitable for cultural enthusiasts, family tourists and photography players. Although it has a strong commercial atmosphere, the intangible cultural heritage performances and the atmosphere of the city still have their own unique charm, making it a great choice for a short trip.