Things to do in Jiexiu

Mianshan Scenic Area has beautiful scenery and is worth visiting. → Daluo Palace → Tianqiao (Sky Bridge) → Yunfeng Temple → Shuitaogou (Water Wave Gully); Qixian Valley, Longjiling (Dragon Ridge). Tianqiao Cliff Walkway: A suspended walkway on a cliff face, overlooking the canyon, perfect for taking photos.

The Jin merchant courtyards in Shanxi are a must-see, yet they haven't been overly commercialized. The Gaojiaya and Hongmenbao architectural complexes are both independent and interconnected. High walls and deep courtyards, along with plaques and couplets, reveal the wisdom of the ancients. A leisurely stroll of about 3 hours is ideal for tourists who appreciate ancient architecture, history, and culture, allowing them to experience the glorious past of the Jin merchants.

Compared to the Wang Family Compound, it is indeed much inferior. It is an ancient castle without any special features, and the NPCs only start work at 2 pm, and there are not many NPCs. No wonder it is not very famous.

Free admission. Most of the buildings date back to the Ming Dynasty, with some from the Yuan Dynasty. This is a massive Taoist architectural complex with resplendent glazed tile roofs. The integrated architectural style of the Sanqing Hall, stage, and offering hall is extremely rare. The conjoined temples of Lü Zu, Guan Yu, and the Earth God are unique in China. These features alone are enough to make a detailed visit worthwhile. It's a fantastic place for taking photos; five-star recommendation! Scenery: The buildings and glazed tile roofs are incredibly beautiful. Fun: A perfect spot for taking photos. Value for money: Extremely high.

Although this place is still some distance away from the main urban area, there are buses to get there, or you can choose other ways to get there like I did. The entire archway is still very shocking. When you walk in, you will feel your own insignificance and the greatness of the wisdom of the ancients. The person looking at the archway is an aunt, who is sometimes a little like a rocket compared to the people outside.

I specifically called the Culture and Tourism Bureau beforehand and was told it was open as usual, but when I arrived, I found I couldn't go in. There was a notice posted at the entrance stating that due to some peeling paint caused by summer rains, the building had been closed for repairs since November 4th. So I could only look at it from the outside!

The clay Buddha statues at Shuanglin Temple are the most breathtaking part of my experience so far. In many other places, I only see countless small, headless statues. Even the traces left by the densely packed small statues on the stone walls don't reveal the whole picture, and the feeling is more regret than awe. But at Shuanglin Temple, I was constantly moved by the superb skills, imagination, and aesthetic sense of the ancient artisans. The first statue I saw was the Guan Yu Temple. Looking up and around, seeing the complex story-telling images on the walls like a comic strip, I suddenly burst into tears. It was pure emotion; I realized that simple emotion without any negative feelings can bring tears. Later, in front of a Buddha statue, the guide said that people in ancient times would kneel in worship. He suggested I try squatting down to look at the statue. When I squatted down and looked up, the compassionate gaze truly made you believe that the Buddha was listening to the troubles of the people of that time. Beside the main statue were hundreds of small Bodhisattva statues, each one unique, their robes fluttering in the wind, set against a backdrop of mountains and rocks. Every face was so beautiful; my photos couldn't capture its essence.

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.

The Hall of All Wonders in the main hall of Daluo Palace is the eighth and ninth floor of the thirteen-story palace. The exhibition hall displays exquisite colored sculptures from the Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties in Mianshan, which is known as the "Dunhuang of Shanxi". Although the lights in the hall are dim, the colored sculptures are charming and you must take time to see them. The Sutra Pavilion on the top floor is the largest collection of books in China's scenic spots, but it is unfortunately not open to the public for the time being. It is said that the wood carvings, stone carvings and English, Japanese and Russian translations of the "Tao Te Ching" in the hall are a grand view of the culture of the "Tao Te Ching". The total area of ​​Daluo Palace is more than 30,000 square meters, the largest among all temples in the country. However, the date of its construction is unknown. The official record is that in the 11th year of Kaiyuan Period in Tang Dynasty (723 AD), Emperor Xuanzong of Tang Dynasty was grateful for the grace of the gods of Mianshan Mountain in protecting the Li Tang Dynasty, and he ordered the repair of the palaces in Daluo Palace. It was repaired many times in later dynasties until it was burned down by the Japanese army in 1940. The more than 60 halls seen now were rebuilt on the original site in 1998. This is why the Daluo Palace still retains its magnificent appearance with green walls and golden tiles today.

绵山云峰寺点评：悬崖佛国藏千古，挂铃奇俗震乾坤云峰寺（抱腹寺）嵌于绵山抱腹岩腹中，1700年历史与奇绝建筑浑然天成。空王佛包骨真身像慈悲肃穆，铁索岭抗战密道诉说峥嵘岁月，千级"之"字栈道险峻如登天。唐风石佛殿以全石榫卯工艺惊艳，檐角铜铃随风鸣响，与崖壁悬铃共奏梵音。农历三月庙会挂铃还愿，飞人凌空系铃的绝技震撼人心，堪称自然奇观与人文信仰的完美交融。