Things to do in Fangshan
Explore top experiences
Top 10 attractions in Fangshan
Zhangjiata Village
Fangshan · 16.2 km from downtown
Yingxian Wooden Pagoda
The full name of Yingxian Wooden Tower is Sakyamuni Pagoda of Fogong Temple. It is in the Fogong Temple in the northwest of Yingxian County. The octagonal wooden pagoda has five stories. Except for the high-end stone foundation of the first floor, the rest of the pagoda is made of wood using the traditional craftsmanship of Sunmao. Each layer of the wooden tower is equipped with wind chimes for a pleasant sound when the wind blows.China · Ying County
Shanxi Museum
"Five thousand years of history can be seen in Shanxi." Located on Binhe West Road in Taiyuan, the Shanxi Museum showcases the essence of Shanxi's cultural relics. The museum consists of a main building and four corner annexes, with the main building resembling both a dipper and a ding vessel, serving as the primary venue for travelers to view the collection. The main building has four floors. The first-floor lobby features a general service desk, while the second and third floors host thematic exhibitions on history and culture. The fourth floor showcases art-themed exhibitions, which together form the permanent displays of the Shanxi Museum. After entering the first-floor lobby, proceed to the second floor via the stairs to begin the historical journey themed "Soul of Jin." The cultural and historical thematic exhibition showcases the highlights of Shanxi's five-thousand-year civilization through numerous precious artifacts, ranging from ancient human relics to the rise and fall of Shanxi merchants during the Ming and Qing dynasties over five centuries. During your visit, several exquisite artifacts are not to be missed. The bird zun, a bronze ritual vessel from the Western Zhou period, was used in the ancestral temple sacrifices of the Jin marquis. The bird zun features an exquisitely crafted design with a phoenix as its main form. On the phoenix's back rests a small bird, serving as the handle for the vessel's lid. At the tail of the phoenix, an elephant is depicted, with its long trunk perfectly balancing the phoenix's two legs to form a stable tripod base. This artifact is a representative piece among the bronze collections in the museum. In addition, you can also admire: the Houma covenant texts, which are oath documents from the Spring and Autumn period used by the ministers of the Jin state; the lacquered wooden panel paintings, a painted screen from the Northern Wei dynasty depicting colorful stories from the "Biographies of Exemplary Women"; the white marble sarcophagus, a relic from the Sui dynasty, belonging to a tomb occupant who was a member of the Central Asian Yu people, with intricate carvings both inside and outside the sarcophagus, featuring figures with deep-set eyes, high noses, and black hair, characteristic of the Mediterranean Caucasian race. In the cultural thematic exhibition, you can also learn about the origins and development of Buddhism and traditional opera in Shanxi. The fourth floor of the main hall features an art thematic exhibition area. Among them, the "Timber and earth splendor" - ancient architectural art thematic exhibition showcases Shanxi's status as a province rich in cultural relics and ancient structures. "For above-ground relics, look to Shanxi" - Shanxi is renowned as the "treasure trove of ancient Chinese architecture," boasting over half of China's above-ground ancient structures with comprehensive categories, especially in the quantity of religious buildings. If you're a fan of ancient architecture, this is a must-visit. The Shanxi Museum also hosts temporary exhibitions periodically. At the first-floor lobby service desk, services such as hiring on-site guides (Chinese and English) and renting audio guides are available. The main building also houses a restaurant and a tea house for visitors.China · Taiyuan
Qikou Ancient Town
Qikou Ancient Town, located 50 kilometers south of Linxian County, Shanxi Province, is a famous historical and cultural town in China. Xiwan Village in the town is a famous historical and cultural village in China. Moraine (sound qi) mouth is located in the middle of the Shanxi-Shaanxi Gorge of the Yellow River, 48 kilometers south of the county seat, and adjacent to the ancient town of Mengmen in the south. The Yellow River comes from the north, the Qiushui River comes from the east, the Crouching Tiger Mountain is across the north of the town, the Black Dragon Temple stands on the east of the river, the mountains are surrounded by the water, the yin and yang meet, the momentum of the mountains, and the majesty of the river, condensed into "The Yellow River roars with tigers, The magnificent picture of Longyin Moraine Mouth.Lin County · 48.6 km from Fangshan
Xinzhou Ancient City
Xinzhou was called Xiurong in ancient times. It is located between Taiyuan and Mount Wutai. It is the seat of Xinzhou Administrative Office and Prefectural Committee. In the Spring and Autumn Period, Xinzhou belonged to Jin State. In the Warring States Period, it belonged to Zhao State. In the Qin and Han Dynasties, it belonged to Taiyuan County, Yanmen County, and Taiping County. In the Sui Dynasty, it was Xinxingdu and Yanmen. During the Tang, Five Dynasties and Song dynasties, it was called Dingxiang Prefecture of Xinzhou. During the Jin, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, it was called Xinzhou, Daizhou and Baodezhou. During the Anti-Japanese War and the War of Liberation, most of the area belonged to Jinchaji, and the area to the west belonged to Jinsui. In 1949, Xinzhou Prefecture was established. The cultural relics and historical sites in Xinzhou City include: Xinzhou North Gate Tower. Located in Xinzhou City, on the Gongchen Gate of the old north city wall. The North Gate Tower was built in the 24th year of Wanli in the Ming Dynasty. The tower is located on the 12-meter-high city wall, which makes it more majestic and magnificent. The city wall stands tall and is painted red on the outside. There is a Voucher doorway below, with a very high top and a bottom width of more than 3 meters.China · Xinzhou
Qikou National Scenic Area
Qikou National Scenic Area gets its name from Datong Qi. "Qi" refers to dangerous shoals of sand and stone in shallow water. As the Yellow River flows through here, the river channel narrows, making it difficult for boats and rafts to pass, forcing them to dock, unload cargo, and switch to land transport. With its water-land transfer wharf, Qikou rose to prominence during the Qianlong reign of the Qing dynasty and became a major commercial hub in the north for the next two hundred years. Qikou Ancient Town is the main part of the scenic area. The five-li long street runs along the mountain and river, and the stone-paved street surface, along with Ming and Qing dynasty commercial establishments and old shops, preserves the traditional streetscape. Heilong Temple is built against Wohu Mountain. From there, you can overlook the Yellow River, the mouth of the Qiushui River, and the full view of the ancient town. The temple's opera stage also has a unique acoustic effect. Xiwan Village preserves extensive Ming and Qing dynasty residential courtyards, while Lijiashan Village is characterized by cave dwellings built into the mountainside in stacked tiers. Traditional dwellings are also preserved in the Zhaizishan area. Along the Yellow River canyon, you can also admire natural water-eroded reliefs. The views of rock walls formed by the long-term action of river water, wind, and rain stretch out, showcasing the unique natural landscape of the Yellow River canyon.Lin County · 39.8 km from Fangshan
Taiyuan Ancient County
The ancient county seat of Taiyuan is located in Jinyuan District, covering an area of about 0.8 square kilometers. There are many relics of historical buildings in the city, the pattern of cross streets is clear, and the texture of streets and alleys is perfect. It follows the ancient architectural pattern of Jinyang ancient city "Phoenix Flying in the City", just like a phoenix with its head north and tail south. It has the reputation of "Phoenix City" since ancient times. It is the continuation of the 2500-year-old Jinyang ancient city. There are 79 existing cultural relics buildings in the city, and 49 historical buildings listed for protection by the Taiyuan Municipal Government. Among them, the Confucian Temple is listed as a national key cultural relics protection unit.China · Taiyuan
Zhengding Ancient City
Zhengding Ancient City is located 15 km north of Shijiazhuang, the capital of Hebei Province. Built according to traditional Chinese planning concepts and architectural styles, it embodies China's historical and cultural characteristics from the 5th to 19th centuries, showcasing the wisdom and perseverance of ancient laborers. Historically known as one of the "Three Northern Strongholds" alongside Baoding and Beijing, its southern gate still bears a stone inscription reading "Stronghold of Three Passes." Zhengding is also the hometown of Zhao Zilong, a renowned general from the Three Kingdoms period. The long and rich history has endowed Zhengding Ancient City with magnificent and uniquely styled cultural relics and historic sites, renowned for its "Three Invisible Mountains, Nine Non-Flowing Bridges, Nine Towers, Four Pagodas, and Eight Great Temples, along with Twenty-Four Exquisite Memorial Archways." "Three Invisible Mountains" refers to the fact that Zhengding was historically the administrative center of the Zhongshan State, Hengshan Commandery, and Changshan Commandery, yet the area itself has no mountains. "Nine Non-Flowing Bridges" describes a single-arched three-path stone bridge in front of the Longxing Temple, as well as the pan bridges (ancient pan bridges typically featured three parallel bridges) in front of the Prefectural Confucian Temple and the Zhengding County Confucian Temple—none of which have flowing water. "Nine Towers, Four Pagodas, and Eight Great Temples" refers to the original four gate towers, four corner towers, and the Yanghe Tower within the city; the four pagodas are the Tianning Temple Pagoda, Huata Pagoda of Guanghui Temple, Xumi Pagoda, and Chengling Pagoda of Linji Temple; the eight great temples include Longxing Temple, Guanghui Temple, Linji Temple, Kaiyuan Temple in Zhengding Ancient City, Tianning Temple, Hongji Temple, Sheli Temple, and Chongyin Temple—the latter three of which have been destroyed. Zhengding once boasted 24 magnificent memorial archways, including the Xu Family Archway, Liang Family Archway, Ancient Changshan County, Supreme Virtue Reaching Heaven, Virtue Matching Heaven and Earth, and Wooden Bell for All Affairs. However, due to historical changes, weathering, and especially the destruction during the decade-long Cultural Revolution, many precious cultural relics were damaged. Yet with 9 nationally protected relics, 6 provincially protected relics, and over 10 county-level protected relics, Zhengding still retains the grandeur of a renowned historical and cultural city. The ancient city of Zhengding was designated as a provincial-level historical and cultural city in 1990 and recognized as a national historical and cultural city in 1994. Zhengding's tourism features a unique blend of "modern and ancient," "elegant and folk" characteristics. Among its historical sites, the Longxing Temple, originally built in 586 AD during the Sui Dynasty and expanded under the decree of Emperor Zhao Kuangyin, the founding emperor of the Song Dynasty, stands majestic and well-preserved. It enjoys high acclaim both domestically and internationally, praised by renowned architect Liang Sicheng as "the foremost temple beyond the capital." The temple's "Reclining Guanyin" mural sculpture was hailed by Lu Xun as "the Goddess of Eastern Beauty."Revolving Sutra LibraryDubbed by physicists as a prime example of Newton's laws in action, along with China's scripture cabinets. The Sui Dynasty Longzang Temple Stele is one of the country's renowned ancient stone inscriptions, showcasing the evolution from Han clerical script to Tang regular script, praised by Kang Youwei as "the finest Sui stele." Standing 22 meters tall, the grand Buddha statue is among China's earliest and tallest surviving bronze standing Buddhas. The cross-shaped Mani Hall exemplifies classic Song Dynasty architectural techniques. Zhengding's vicinity also boasts four famous pagodas, including Huagong Pagoda at Guanghui Temple—a brilliant fusion of diamond throne and floral pagoda styles. Tianning Temple's...Lingxiao PagodaIt is the foremost wooden pavilion tower in China. The symmetrical arrangement of the Tang Dynasty bell tower and ancient pagoda at Kaiyuan Temple in Zhengding Ancient City exemplifies the transition in Chinese Buddhist temple architecture from pagoda-centered to hall-centered layouts. The Chengling Pagoda at Linji Temple serves as the reliquary pagoda for Master Yixuan, founder of the Linji school of Buddhism, and has become a symbol of Sino-Japanese friendship. Located within Zhengding, the Zhengding Rongguo Mansion was meticulously designed and constructed according to descriptions in Cao Xueqin's literary masterpiece "Dream of the Red Chamber" while strictly adhering to China's "Great Qing Code", making it the country's first architectural complex replicating Ming-Qing architectural styles. Most scenes from the TV series adaptation of "Dream of the Red Chamber" were filmed here. The Qing Dynasty-style Ningrong Street by Rongguo Mansion's west gate stretches over 200 meters, where pivotal scenes like "Imperial Consort Yuan's Homecoming" and "Qin Keqing's Funeral" were shot. With over 1,600 years of history, Zhengding Ancient City's walls were originally earthen fortifications during the Eastern Jin Dynasty, rebuilt in stone during the Northern Zhou Dynasty, expanded into earthen walls during the Tang Dynasty, and finally reconstructed as 24-li (approximately 12 km) brick walls during the Ming Dynasty. The surviving 8,106-meter Ming-era walls feature four magnificent gates: Yingxu (later renamed Huancui) to the east, Changle to the south, Zhenyuan to the west, and Yong'an to the north. While time has eroded the western and northern gates, the eastern gate was entirely buried under 1960s military fortifications. In 2001, the southern gate tower and 50-meter flanking walls were restored through public donations of original bricks and a CNY 3.99 million investment.China · Zhengding
Baota Mountain
Baota Mountain is located in the center of Yan'an city, by the side of the Yan River, and is named after the pagoda on the mountain. The pagoda was first built in the Tang Dynasty, and the existing structure is a pavilion-style brick pagoda rebuilt in the Ming Dynasty. The pagoda, together with the mountain, the Yan River, and the bridge, forms the city skyline of Yan'an and is also a symbol of the revolutionary holy land in people's hearts. The poet He Jingzhi wrote in "Returning to Yan'an" the famous line, "How many times in my dreams have I returned to Yan'an, embracing Baota Mountain with both hands," adding emotional weight to this mountain. The mountain is densely scattered with historical sites, including Song dynasty cliff carvings, Fan Gong Well, beacon towers, Star-gazing Tower, Jialing Academy, ancient city walls, and the former site of the Japanese Workers' and Peasants' School. Among them, the inscriptions "Jialing Mountain" in clerical script and "My chest harbors tens of thousands of armored soldiers" by Fan Zhongyan of the Northern Song dynasty have long been renowned. An iron bell cast in the Ming dynasty still hangs beside the pagoda, which was used for timekeeping and alarms during the CPC Central Committee's Yan'an period. Ascending the mountain path to Star-gazing Tower and beacon tower areas offers panoramic views of Yan'an city and the Yan River. After nightfall, the mountain and pagoda illuminate, and gazing back at the lit pagoda from near Yan River Bridge remains a favorite photo spot for many travelers.China · Yan'an
Donghu Vinegar Garden
Explore Donghu Vinegar Garden and discover the history of vinegar brewing in Shanxi. As a national AAAA-level tourist attraction, a national industrial tourism demonstration base, and a provincial research and practice education demonstration base for primary and secondary schools, Donghu Vinegar Garden covers a total construction area of approximately 16,667 square meters. Rooted in Shanxi's long-standing Yellow River farming culture, it preserves and innovates the history of the "Meiheju" vinegar workshop founded during the Hongwu period of the Ming Dynasty, the national intangible cultural heritage "Meiheju" aged vinegar brewing technique, and Shanxi's vinegar history and culture. Based on the ancient brewing process of "steaming, fermenting, smoking, filtering, and aging," it truly embodies "inheriting traditional craftsmanship and realizing a health-oriented philosophy." Since its opening in 2000, Donghu Vinegar Garden has launched distinctive "intangible cultural heritage" vinegar culture study tours, offered Shanxi aged vinegar DIY courses, added "intangible cultural heritage" vinegar-making experience programs, and developed traditional Shanxi vinegar-themed banquets. It has welcomed over 5 million visitors from home and abroad, with annual visits by minors exceeding 30,000, making it a highlight for promoting traditional Chinese agricultural culture and vinegar culture in China's condiment industry. The garden features twelve specialized exhibition halls including "Donghu Meiheju Development History Museum," "Vinegar Therapy Garden," "Vinegar Museum," "Vinegar Cellar," and "Craft Brewing Workshop," each displaying agricultural tools and vinegar-making equipment from different historical periods. Donghu Vinegar Garden showcases the unique charm of "National Intangible Cultural Heritage - Traditional Vinegar Brewing Techniques" to visitors from around the world through displays of ancient and modern utensils, vinegar product exhibitions, and hands-on experiences of intangible cultural heritage vinegar-making techniques. It opens a time tunnel for people to understand Shanxi's vinegar culture, deeply experience the intangible heritage vinegar-making process, and recognize the health benefits of Shanxi aged vinegar. Visitors can not only explore the profound history of Shanxi vinegar culture, breathe in the rich aroma of Donghu vinegar, enjoy a "Donghu vinegar sauna," and taste authentic Donghu aged vinegar, but also deeply engage with the national intangible cultural heritage of traditional vinegar brewing techniques. Visitors can also sample various vinegar-infused specialties like vinegar-soaked beans and vinegar snacks, as well as traditional Shanxi vinegar banquets, gaining a deeper understanding of Shanxi aged vinegar. Over its 20+ years of operation, Donghu Vinegar Garden has earned honors such as the "Certificate of Origin Registration," "National Silver Quality Award," and inclusion in China's "Intangible Cultural Heritage" protection list. It is highly revered by domestic and international biology experts as the "Living Fossil of Chinese Grain Vinegar Brewing" and the "Finest Vinegar in China." Praised by Europeans and Americans as the "Secret of China" and by Japanese merchants as the "Chinese Mystique," it has evolved into an immersive vinegar experience center integrating production, tourism, dining, and research, becoming a cultural landmark of Shanxi with distinct ethnic charm.China · Taiyuan
Experiences you can't miss in Fangshan
Featured Travel photography in Fangshan
View all Travel photography![Luliang Travel Photography[Driver and director + makeup and clothing + itinerary customization + aerial micro-film + free negatives + no limit on the number of people]](https://ak-d.tripcdn.com/images/0356s12000iv7v39gCF30_C_568_320.jpg?_fr=wc)
FromBRL 84.24
![Trip Moments in Fangshan[Nansongyan/Qingjiang Fangshan Wedding Photography, Micro Films, Promotional Videos, Documentaries, Street Photography, and Aerial Shots]](https://ak-d.tripcdn.com/images/0352a12000q4bir1f6C70_C_568_320.jpg?_fr=wc)
FromBRL 842.39
![Wubu County trip moments[Follow-up shooting services including photography, videography, photos, short videos, mobile and camera appointments, aerial photography, action direction with all raw images provided / translation]](https://ak-d.tripcdn.com/images/0352q12000sjxzblp187C_C_568_320.jpg?_fr=wc)
![Gujiao Trip Moments[Commercial Photography & Videography/Wedding Portraits/Wedding Day Coverage/Street & Candid Photography/Aerial Shots/Multilingual Translation Services]](https://ak-d.tripcdn.com/images/0350k12000r7yi873D181_C_568_320.jpg?_fr=wc)
FromBRL 1,684.78
![Mizhi trip moments[Photography and videography services including family-friendly, individual and couple photos, short videos, promotional videos, portraits, wedding photos with all raw images provided]](https://ak-d.tripcdn.com/images/0350d12000s60grmd0493_C_568_320.jpg?_fr=wc)
FromBRL 1,078.26
![Fenyang Trip Moments[Taifu Temple/Wenfeng Tower/Photography Services: Aerial, Wedding, Portrait, and Multilingual Translation Photographer]](https://ak-d.tripcdn.com/images/0350812000qbk3n0w6633_C_568_320.jpg?_fr=wc)
Instant confirmation
Book now for today
FromBRL 842.39
![Luliang Travel Photography[Wedding photo micro-movie aerial photography/wedding follow-up photography/makeup and clothing/charter tour guide customization]](https://ak-d.tripcdn.com/images/0355t12000iixd6n91754_C_568_320.jpg?_fr=wc)
FromBRL 84.24
![Xiaoyi Trip Moments[Xiaoyi Ancient City/Nanshaomen/Wedding Photography & Candid Shoots]](https://ak-d.tripcdn.com/images/0354b12000rab7k4l09B0_C_568_320.jpg?_fr=wc)
Instant confirmation
Book now for today
FromBRL 1,684.78
Free things to do in Fangshan
Zhangjiata Village
Fangshan · 16.2 km from downtownYingxian Wooden Pagoda
China · Ying CountyImmediate access, Book now for today, Cancel anytimeShanxi Museum
China · TaiyuanQikou Ancient Town
Lin County · 48.6 km from FangshanXinzhou Ancient City
China · XinzhouQikou National Scenic Area
Lin County · 39.8 km from FangshanTaiyuan Ancient County
China · TaiyuanZhengding Ancient City
China · ZhengdingBaota Mountain
China · Yan'anImmediate access, Book now for today, Cancel anytimeDonghu Vinegar Garden
China · Taiyuan
What travellers say about Fangshan
迎园小区November 7, 2024
5.0
It is a very old town. It is convenient to drive here. There are many ancient buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties in the town.
Zhangjiata Village
320***40October 17, 2026
5.0
I came here specifically to visit the Yingxian Wooden Pagoda, and the experience of seeing it in person far surpasses any picture. Built during the Liao Dynasty, it has stood for nearly a thousand years. The entire pagoda is constructed using mortise and tenon joints, without a single iron nail. The intricate and complex bracket sets are a veritable museum of bracket sets. Having withstood earthquakes and storms, it still stands, a testament to the superb craftsmanship of ancient artisans. The scenic area is tranquil; taking your time to stroll around the pagoda and appreciate its millennia-old history is a must-do for any visitor to ancient Shanxi architecture!
Yingxian Wooden Pagoda
Anonymous userOctober 7, 2026
5.0
The tour guide was attentive and incredibly friendly, covering everything he needed to, and explaining things in considerable detail. With so many people during the National Day holiday, his experience helped us squeeze in every possible moment, and surprisingly, the trip wasn't crowded at all. The Yungang Buddha and the VR tour of Wutai Mountain were definitely worthwhile, and the Yanmen Pass Great Wall and Wang Family Courtyard were also very enjoyable. The driver was fantastic, incredibly experienced, and knew many shortcuts to Xiaoxitian, taking us directly to the scenic area entrance and saving us a lot of walking. The small group size meant it wasn't crowded, and the hotel arrangements were quite reasonable. The Yingxian Wooden Pagoda, the Yanmen Sunset, and the Wang Family Brick Carvings were all breathtakingly beautiful. The local tour guide was completely transparent and honest. I highly recommend this Shanxi tour; if you want to see ancient architecture but are afraid of doing research, book this tour without hesitation.
Shanxi Museum
320***35August 31, 2026
5.0
Definitely worth seeing! With over thirty actors, every movement and every line was incredibly professional and dedicated – not at all perfunctory! A fantastic live performance! The stage is movable, and the scenery and stage design were meticulously crafted! Thumbs up! 👍 Everything was very well-conceived, and the content was incredibly rich! I learned so much more about the history of Qikou!
Qikou Ancient Town
Anonymous userSeptember 17, 2026
5.0
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! 👍👍👍
Xinzhou Ancient City
滇国剑客October 1, 2021
5.0
Qikou is a place with early human activities. People here have created a long history and excellent culture. Therefore, Qikou Scenic Area occupies an important place in the hearts of tourists.
Qikou National Scenic Area
楚云霁月August 21, 2026
4.0
The old town was rather deserted. The art exhibition was quite nice, though a bit over the top. But the park at the exit was absolutely gorgeous. Winding paths led to secluded spots, and unexpected beauty unfolded.
Taiyuan Ancient County
Anonymous userOctober 5, 2026
5.0
This is a Buddhist holy site well worth visiting. The Thousand-Handed and Thousand-Eyed Buddha and the mural of the Reclining Guanyin are historical and artistic treasures that have been preserved intact for future generations to appreciate and understand history! An even greater gain was visiting the memorial hall of Mr. Liang Sicheng, where I learned about the contributions he and Lin Huiyin made to the preservation of historical sites in my country and their transmission in education, so that we, the later generations, can appreciate these historical sites!
Zhengding Ancient City
夜阑月色溶溶October 7, 2026
5.0
Because we had children with us, we opted to take the sightseeing bus up and down, which was very relaxing. We got a close look at the pagoda, took photos, and learned about its history, especially the plaques at the north and south gates: "Soaring high above the heavens, overlooking the mortal world"—for over 1000 years, the pagoda has achieved this.
Baota Mountain
酷姐驾到September 28, 2026
4.0
The vinegar-making experience presented so far is too simplistic and crude. I hope it can be further optimized to include more scientific knowledge and engaging elements. Could you explain how the fumigation method was discovered, the detailed principles behind each process, the corresponding chemical reactions, and the role of microorganisms? And how does this compare to industrial vinegar-making processes?
Donghu Vinegar Garden
