What are the must-do things in Qingxu?

Don't miss these attractions in Qingxu: Jinci Temple Museum, Taiyuan Ancient County, and Taiyuan Botanical Garden. If you like Culture & history, try One-day tour to Pingyao Ancient City and Qiao Family Compound from Taiyuan (Jin merchant elegance · ancient city and compound tour). If you enjoy Day tours, try Private Charter One-Day Tour to Mianshan Mountain, Jiexiu, Shanxi.

What are the recommended tours and excursions in Qingxu?

When choosing a tour, start with how much time you have and the kind of experience you're looking for. Trending options right now include Private Charter One-Day Tour to Mianshan Mountain, Jiexiu, Shanxi, Taiyuan Ancient County + Mengshan Grand Buddha + Jinci Museum private charter 1-day tour with Chinese and English services, and Shuanglin Temple, Wang Family Compound & Pingyao Ancient City Pingyao Private Day Tour. Check the real-time availability and itinerary before you book.

What's the typical cost of day tours and activities in Qingxu?

As of November 9, 2026, the reference price for day tours and activities in Qingxu is around AED 433.41 – AED 625.03. Rates vary by duration, group size, transport, tickets, meals, and any special admission requirements. Before you book, please confirm the billing currency and whether the price is quoted per person or per group.

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Top 10 Things to Do in Qingxu 2026

2026 Asia 100 - Family-friendly Attractions

Jinci Temple Museum

8.7

4.8/5

21k reviews

Jinci Temple Museum is located at the foot of Xuanweng Mountain by the banks of the Jin River. It is an ancestral temple built to commemorate Tang Shuyu, the founding feudal lord of the State of Jin, and is also one of the earlier surviving royal sacrificial gardens in China. There is a saying that "you have not truly visited Taiyuan until you have visited Jinci." The ancient buildings in the museum are arranged in sequence along the central axis, among which the Xian Hall, the Flying Bridge over the Fish Pond, and the Hall of the Holy Mother are known as the "three treasures," while the Zhou Cypress, the Never-Aging Spring, and the Song dynasty attendant statues are known as the "three wonders"—these are the core highlights of any visit. The "Three Treasures" are located on the central axis and can be visited together. Xian Hall is the place where sacrificial offerings are placed. The hall is surrounded by railings instead of walls, making it well-ventilated and bright, and its beam structure is simple and lightweight. The Flying Bridge Across Fish Pond is on the west side of Xian Hall. It is a cross-shaped ancient bridge built over a square pond, resembling a modern overpass in form, and this type of bridge structure is extremely rare among surviving ancient buildings. The west end of the bridge connects to Shengmu Hall, the oldest surviving building in the museum. Wooden carved dragons coil around the porch columns in front of the hall, making them relatively early surviving examples of wooden coiled dragons. The hall interior was built using the reduced-column method, creating a rather spacious interior. It houses dozens of Song Dynasty colored sculptures, with the main statue of Shengmu seated in the shrine and the remaining attendants arranged on both sides with varied expressions. One attendant statue is half joyful and half sorrowful, vividly lifelike and moving. With Shengmu Hall as the center, you can also seek out the "Three Wonders." The Zhou Cypress is located on the north side of Shengmu Hall. It is said to have been planted in the Western Zhou Dynasty, and its trunk leans south like a reclining dragon, full of ancient majesty. The Never-Aging Spring is located on the south side of Shengmu Hall and is the main source of the Jin River. The museum also houses the Stele of the Inscription and Preface to Jinci, composed and handwritten by Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, whose running-script calligraphy is vigorous and forceful. In the southern part is the Shifang Fengsheng Zen Temple, said to have originally been the villa of the Tang Dynasty general Yuchi Gong. In the Futu Courtyard, the Sarira ShengSheng Pagoda can be climbed for a distant view. The Jinci temple fair has been passed down to the present day and has been included in the national-level intangible cultural heritage list. The Water Mirror Stage, an ancient theater stage in the museum, is an important venue for activities during the temple fair.

Taiyuan · 13.4 km from Qingxu



No. 4 of Night Attractions in Shanxi

Taiyuan Ancient County

7.5

4.0/5

2.3k reviews

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.

Taiyuan · 17.4 km from Qingxu



No. 2 of Family-friendly Attractions in Shanxi

Taiyuan Botanical Garden

7.6

4.7/5

6k reviews

Overview of Taiyuan Botanical Garden The attraction is a landscaping project designated by the municipal party committee, was selected into the third batch of PPP demonstration projects by the Ministry of Finance, and won the Shanxi Province PPP Project Award for Improving the Living Environment. It is located at the foot of Taishan Attraction in Jinyuan District, starting from Fengyugou Mouth in the west, extending to Old Jinci Road in the east, from Fengyu Shahe in the north to Taigu Highway in the south, with a total area of approx. 2,730 mu and a total project investment of CNY 3.558 billion. The overall plan of the garden is divided into five functional areas: the entrance management area, the plant scientific classification area, the plant scientific application area, the plant evolution display area, and the scientific experiment area. The construction content includes five major building areas—the main entrance building, the exhibition conservatory, the potted plant museum, the waterfront restaurant, and the research center—as well as twenty-five specialized gardens. To date, more than 5,800 species of plants have been collected. The architectural design of the botanical garden project was completed by the internationally renowned design firms DMAA Architecture Design Co., Ltd. of Austria and Valentin Urban Planning and Landscape Design Office of Germany, and the landscape design was completed by the Beilin Landscape Planning and Design Institute of Beijing Forestry University. The attraction aims to protect species diversity, plant resources, and historical resources in Shanxi Province throughOwn responsibility, collectTaihang Mountains, Lüliang MountainsA comprehensive botanical garden in our province featuring temperate-zone plant resources dominated by distinctive plants, with introduced and domesticated new, superior, and specialty varieties suitable for the local area. It fully leverages its science education and educational functions, achieving an organic integration of beautiful garden landscapes, scientific substance, and distinctive local cultural resources. It is a comprehensive botanical garden integrating scientific research, science education, tourism, ecological leisure, and cultural tourism, adding to the city a great destination where residents can both systematically learn botanical science knowledge and enjoy leisure, entertainment, and vacation travel,At the same time, it connects with Jinci Temple, Tianlong Mountain Scenic Area, Taishan Longquan Temple Attraction, Mengshan Giant Buddha Attraction, Jinyang Lake Park, and Jinyang Ancient City Ruins Park to form a unique tourism brand for Taiyuan. In addition, its completion provides the necessary conditions for our city to consolidate its title as a "National Garden City" and to create an ecological garden city. At the same time, it has very important practical and strategic significance for improving the categories of parks in our city, promoting the rapid formation and development of the provincial capital's tourism area, improving the urban ecological environment, building a famous historical and cultural city, enhancing the city's quality, and constructing a city of green mountains and clear waters and a harmonious and livable city. Main entrance The main entrance building covers an area of 20,135 m² and incorporates the architectural style of Shanxi courtyard compounds. It is a comprehensive building integrating offices, the plant science popularization hall, the specimen hall, the lecture hall, the restaurant, and visitor reception. Visitors can stand on the cantilever of the main entrance to overlook the entire botanical garden, and in the distance, they can also gaze at the Taishan attraction, taking in the beautiful scenery at a glance. At the main entrance, there are also the Taiyuan Botanical Garden Plant Science Popularization Hall and the Insect Specimen Hall. The Taiyuan Botanical Garden Plant Science Popularization Hall covers an area of 4,300 square meters. All 118 educational science videos in the hall were independently directed and filmed by our garden. The exhibition is themed "Vivid Colors, Fragrant Life, Endless Vitality" and is divided into seven major thematic exhibition areas: Plant Evolution (exploring the origin of plants), Plant Mysteries (understanding plant structure), Plant Wisdom (discovering the wonders of plants), Plant Value (counting the contributions of plants), Plant Ecology (appreciating the influence of plants), Plant Culture (plants and traditional Chinese culture), and Shanxi's Botanical Beauty (distribution and conservation of plants in Shanxi). In the wonderful atmosphere of innovative integration between art and nature, light and shadow dance with flowers and leaves as visitors stroll through. The insect specimen museum displays more than 2,000 boxes (over 4,000) of rare insect and other arthropod specimens, and through the explanation of basic knowledge, it aims to help people understand nature, experience nature, and love nature, and enhance awareness of protecting insects, protecting plants, and protecting the environment. Insects are closely related to human life and are one of the most successfully evolved, diverse, and wonderfully fascinating groups of organisms on Earth. From colorful butterflies, flower-visiting honey-making bees, and loudly singing cicadas, to agile dragonflies and mantises wielding their "broadswords"; from marching ants in groups, to annoying mosquitoes, flies, cockroaches, and so on.The variety of insect species is unmatched by other animals. Insects are not only numerous in species, but the number of individuals within a single species is also astonishingly large. More than 1.1 million species of insects are known worldwide, and there may be several million more waiting to be discovered. Harmony between humanity and nature has become a consensus of human society in the present era. Only by living in harmony with the animals and plants of the natural world can humanity achieve sustainable development—this is the purpose and significance of our planning of the insect specimen science exhibition. Exhibition greenhouse The botanical garden conservatory complex consists of three individual conservatories—the Tropical Rainforest Hall, Taiyuan Botanical Garden - Succulent Plant Hall, and Rare Flowers Hall—as well as the conservatory energy center. All three exhibition conservatories are built with wooden dome structures with a span of 88 m. Their construction concept inherits the classical wooden structure construction theory of Shanxi on the basis of modern conservatory construction, representing a combination of the classical and the modern, and isBotanical gardenA simple tribute to this beloved land beneath our feet. The tropical rainforest conservatory covers an area of 5,521 m² and consists of the Tropical Rainforest Wonders Area, Tropical Rainforest Community Simulation Area, Flying Waterfall Viewing Area, Fun Botanical Garden, Palm Garden, and Tropical Aquatic Plant Garden; Taiyuan Botanical Garden - Succulent Plant Hall covers an area of 2,245 m² and collects and displays succulents from Africa, the Americas, and Australia; the Rare Plants and Four Seasons Flowers Exhibition Conservatory covers an area of 1,470 m² and mainly collects and displays tropical flowers, ferns, shade-loving plants, and more. For a long time, the exhibition greenhouses of botanical gardens have become charming places in the minds of visitors. The beautifully shaped large exhibition greenhouses, such as those at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in the United KingdomPalm houseAlong with the Princess of Wales Conservatory, the grid-shell large-span hemispherical greenhouses at the Missouri Botanical Garden in the United States, the New York Botanical Garden conservatory, and the Longwood Gardens conservatory in Philadelphia, these structures are not only the diamonds in the crown of their botanical gardens but have also become landmarks of the architecture, culture, and civilization of their cities. To a certain extent, exhibition greenhouses can represent the level of cultural, scientific, and technological development of a city. Exhibition greenhouses originated during the European Renaissance. At that time, greenhouses served as cultivation and propagation bases for plant introduction, providing experimental materials and venues for scientific research, as well as places for cultivating flowers and plants for household use. With the improvement of economic and technological levels and humanity's understanding of nature, exhibition greenhouses have undergone significant transformations. Today's exhibition greenhouses are not only places for plant collection and display, scientific conservation and research, but also green spaces that integrate ecology and environment, science popularization and education, culture and art, and tourism and appreciation. Therefore, the exhibition greenhouse is a multi-level, multi-disciplinary, and multi-faceted field, whose construction and operation involve architecture, horticulture, ecology, aesthetics, and management, forming an indoor garden that is artificially controlled and displays plants growing in different regions and climatic conditions along with their living environments. Tropical rainforest hall The tropical rainforest hall covers an area of 5,521 m², relying on the existing mountain terrain on the north side and connecting to a water body on the south side. Through cliffs, precipices, gorges, caves, and flying waterfalls, it presents diverse landscape spaces. The mountain reaches a height of 12 m, with towering peaks and steep cliffs, while also featuring deep gorges, cascading waterfalls, and babbling streams. The overall layout combines openness and enclosure, creating a natural and varied topography. Bridges, plank roads, platforms, and stepping stones connect these nodal spaces. The exhibition hall is furnished with various typical tropical rainforest plants. The upper layer is dominated by tall trees whose crowns rise high above the other layers, standing out like a crane among chickens. The middle layer consists of small and medium-sized trees, interspersed with epiphytic and climbing plants that form hanging gardens. The lower layer contains ground cover and fern plants of varying density, while the large trees have gnarled and intertwined roots of diverse forms, making visitors feel as if they are walking through the beautiful and mysterious plant world of a tropical rainforest—sometimes striking and magnificent, sometimes elegant and peculiar, sometimes plain and tranquil, and always deeply evocative. The exhibition hall consists of six areas. Tropical rainforest wonder area The cliff and precipice terrain at the entrance leaves visitors entering the exhibition hall in awe, and stone carvings and rock paintings reflecting the regional culture of the rainforest can be seen everywhere on the cliff face. Following the direction of the cliff, the rumbling sound of water can be faintly heard in the distance, and the skywalk spanning the air comes into view, drawing visitors' footsteps irresistibly to explore. Visitors can also climb the steps to enter the 5 m high aerial viewing platform, where the beautiful scenery unfolds in full view. The plant arrangement in this area mainly focuses on presenting the typical landscape features of tropical rainforests, such as the eight major phenomena of tropical rainforests and the "five trees and six flowers" of Buddhist culture. Tropical rainforest community simulation area Clever use is made of the uneven terrain to display the typical views of Asian tropical rainforest, American tropical rainforest, and African tropical rainforest plant communities. Within the jungle, lush greenery abounds, with tall and dense tree crowns, and hanging gardens created by epiphytic plants can be seen everywhere, colorful and full of spring beauty. The root systems of various plants are also bizarre and distinctive, giving visitors an immersive tropical rainforest experience and feeling. Waterfall viewing area At the entrance, the waterfall is heard before it is seen, and after a winding path it suddenly comes into view before visitors. With the waterfall as the core view of the attraction, it has a drop of 9 m, cascading down in tiers and formed by stacked stone, with a pool of clear water below; the scene combines movement and stillness, blending plants with mountains and water. The viewing point for the waterfall is the viewing platform, from which visitors can gaze into the distance and let their imagination wander. On the ground level, a paved area is left in front of the waterfall as a space for visitors to stroll, enjoy the view, rest, and take photos. Tropical rainforest fruit tree area This area is located on the northwest side of the exhibition hall, where the mountain rises to a height of 12 m and streams flow gently. Various interesting rainforest fruits are planted according to the terrain, such as bananas, papayas, guavas, and jackfruit. Each fruit has different suitable growing conditions, but they generally share a preference for heat and intolerance of cold, so they grow in warm, humid places. In the tropical rainforest fruit tree area, this dazzling and unique phenomenon is displayed, opening up a rainforest world for visitors. Tropical rainforest style area This area is located at the western entrance, where the terrain is relatively flat. It features a concentrated planting of various tall and stately palm plants, graceful and upright in form. Beneath the palms, seasonal flowers are arranged in bright, vivid colors and are replaced periodically according to the season, creating a charming exotic landscape. Tropical aquatic botanical garden With the towering mountain as a backdrop, the water system of the entire mountain is designed to return to this water body. Travelers weave through the undulating tropical jungle, their eyes overwhelmed by the ever-changing scenery, until they arrive at the open water surface, calm and soothing, and stroll across the wooden bridge, connecting with the water and letting their spirits soar. Taiyuan Botanical Garden - Desert Plant House The Taiyuan Botanical Garden's Desert Plant House is a landscape greenhouse integrating species conservation, scientific research, and educational exhibition. The exhibition hall collects desert plants from Australia, Africa, Asia, and the Americas, showcasing the customs and cultures of different desert regions. Combining the existing terrain with a large-scale layout approach, the greenhouse is divided into regional exhibition zones based on the places of origin of cacti and succulents. American desert flora region The area covers approx. 600 m², making it the main exhibition area in this pavilion. The area features saguaros, golden barrel cacti with their all-over golden color, Ferocactus with eagle-claw-like spines, ponytail palms with bottle-shaped trunks, shaving brush trees with trunks resembling tortoise shells, and elegant yuccas as the backbone of the community, with other plants from the Agavaceae and Cactaceae families arranged in a balanced density, allowing visitors to truly experience the American desert scenery with a strong Native American flair. African desert flora region This area covers approx. 200 m² and focuses on showcasing representative desert plants native to the African desert and savanna desert zones. It features a community backbone of the silver-spined, commanding African milk barrel, the desert rose with its sturdy branches and fiery blooms, the awe-inspiring, intricately sculpted Aloe erinacea, and the solitary, leafless pencil cactus, complemented by a desert view of wind-eroded rocks and isolated walls of shifting sand,Among themDotting with other succulents such as aloes and sansevierias, it makes visitors feel as if they were in the vast and lonely African desert where eagles soar. Australian desert flora region This area covers 50 m² and features a community backbone of towering, majestic Queensland bottle trees shaped like giant bottles, elegant and handsome black ebony trees known as Australia's "Black Prince," and robust, formidable Australian Moore cycads, complemented by red soil and curved red rocks, along with other small and medium-sized desert plants arranged with a balanced density, showcasing a unique and charming Australian style. Premium desert plant display case Mainly, it shows that during the growth of desert plants, some species undergo abnormal variations in their form or epidermal color, primarily including variegation, cristation, and monstrose forms. Because the probability of occurrence is very low, they are generally difficult to see, so the mutated individuals appear particularly precious. On one side of the steps in the desert greenhouse, several groups of glass display cases are arranged, mainly used to display cristate golden barrel cactus, variegated golden barrel cactus, cristate African milk tree, and relatively rare premium desert plants such as the genus Lithops of the family Aizoaceae. The dry creek meanders and twists, narrowing from wide to narrow, passing through various exhibition areas to connect the entire desert plant hall before disappearing within the venue, symbolizing the longing for water in the desert and the long-standing historical culture. The echoing peak column in the middle of the venue uses driftwood to create a giant structure shaped like a bottle tree, serving as an extension of the entire venue's space, and the raised central section can display some folk culture specimens from various regions. Four seasons flower hall The greenhouse covers an area of 1,470 m² and incorporates the concept of a sunken garden, with pathways connecting three view levels—high, middle, and low—with a drop of 3 m, spiraling downward. The north entrance serves as the main viewing route, descending step by step through the second-floor viewing platform to reach the ground floor of the entire exhibition hall. The south side features an accessible pathway for people with special needs to reach the ground floor. For plants, tropical flowers, ferns, and shade-loving plants are used to create rich view layers. The varying-height retaining walls are a major feature of this exhibition hall, using materials such as stainless steel panels, stone, and plants to display rich facade effects. Greenhouse plant exhibition area This area covers 470 m² and features a concentrated display of rare plants, shade-loving plants, and ferns, with occasional accents of uniquely shaped, elegant landscape trees or rare plants. Carnivorous plant exhibition area Carnivorous plants use their own methods to make insects stay on their leaves and stems, then fall into their traps and be consumed. The exhibition area displays carnivorous plants through transparent glass display panels, which can both ensure the safety of visitors and allow visitors to observe the growth forms of carnivorous plants up close. Floral-themed attraction display area This area covers 235 m² and is built with walls and streams, using orchids as the main floral material to create a themed attraction. Here, visitors can admire different varieties of orchids and enjoy a feast of orchids. Throughout the year, different themed floral displays are presented here—flowers and scenery together, with flowers within the scenery and flowers blending into the scenery—making it a great spot for visitors to take photos. Premium flower exhibition area Display rare orchid varieties from around the world in a concentrated arrangement using racks, partitions, driftwood, and display cabinets. Examples include: Cattleya from the Americas, the "Queen of Orchids" Phalaenopsis from Southeast Asia, the "Rising Star of Orchids" Cymbidium from Korea, the "Greek Princess" Miltonia, and the "Elegant Dancer" Oncidium. Hanging plant exhibition area This area covers 50 m² and features various tropical orchids and other hanging foliage and flowering plants arranged in a concentrated display through various carriers. Three large-scale three-dimensional floral installations are arranged at varying heights, creating a delightful visual experience. Bonsai Hall One flower, one leaf, one bodhi; one pot, one landscape, one world. Bonsai originated in China, with a long history and a distant source. In the long river of human social history, during the primitive period, humans lived in groups in nature and depended on nature. With the development of human civilization, people living in cities, although residing in cities, still long for and deeply love every plant, every mountain, and every river of nature. This circular, streamlined building employs a technique that combines the solid and the ethereal, bridging the past and the present to showcase the long history, unique craftsmanship, innovative achievements, and cultural connotations of bonsai. Amid the tide of inheritance and innovation, it will remain true to its original aspiration and open a new chapter for Jin-style bonsai! The Bonsai Hall has two floors. Currently, the first floor displays scholar's rocks and landscape bonsai, while the second floor displays stump bonsai, succulents, and other plants. Screens, railings, tables, and other furniture are used to divide the space and display the bonsai and scholar's rocks, presenting the great art of Chinese bonsai through immersive scenes. Bonsai emphasizes the trinity of the scenery, the pot, and the stand. The three essential elements of bonsai complement one another and merge into a single whole, integrating multiple artistic elements to present the overall beauty and artistic beauty of the work. The artistic creations of bonsai craftsmen through the ages enable a small bonsai to reveal a vast world. The pot reveals the beauty of nature, and only through artistic conception can one appreciate the ingenuity of the craftsmanship. As the saying goes, bonsai and scholar's rocks are inseparable; many bonsai enthusiasts are also lovers of scholar's rocks. This is because stones are used when making root-over-rock bonsai and water-and-land bonsai, and if scholar's rocks can be used to complement them, the effect is even more striking. In addition, bonsai and scholar's rocks are both refined hobbies, and the two share much in common. Waterfront restaurant The waterfront restaurant has a building area of 2,822 m² and is built by the water. Its roof uses a traditional Chinese post-and-lintel timber structure, and the floor-to-ceiling glass offers a panoramic view of the botanical garden. Dining here is a feast for both the eyes and the palate. Research center The total area is approx. 54 mu. The research center has 7 individual buildings in total, namely the library and specimen museum, staff apartments, laboratory and office building, expert apartments, and garden waste treatment station. To facilitate plant resource introduction and domestication, ex situ conservation, and scientific research for researchers, the research center also features 300 mu of experimental fields. 25 specialized gardens In addition, there are 25 specialized gardens, including: the Plant Application Garden,Xuanqiu Garden, bamboo garden, APG taxonomy garden, rose garden, rare and endangered plant garden,Perennial flower garden, Lilac and Viburnum Garden, Taiyuan Botanical Garden - Chrysanthemum Garden, Taiyuan Botanical Garden - Rock Garden, Medicinal and Tea Garden,Pagoda, Taiyuan Botanical Garden - Arboretum, Ginkgo and Conifer Garden, Taiyuan Botanical Garden - Bonsai Garden, Taiyuan Botanical Garden - Sophora Garden, Climbing Plant Garden, Water Garden, Brownfield Restoration Demonstration Garden, Taiyuan Botanical Garden - Peach Blossom Garden, Cherry and Plum Garden, Taiyuan Botanical Garden - Crabapple Garden, Taiyuan Botanical Garden - Peony and Herbaceous Peony Garden, Willow and Linden Garden, Taiyuan Botanical Garden - Magnolia Garden. Throughout the year, the scenery is ever-changing. In spring, flowers bloom in abundance; in summer, lush greenery prevails; in fall, the entire garden turns golden; and in deep winter, pines and cypresses stand tall.

Taiyuan · 18.2 km from Qingxu

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No. 15 of Best Things to Do in Taiyuan

Jinci Tianlong Mountain Scenic Area

6

4.8/5

76 reviews

Jinci TempleJinci Temple is located on the banks of the Jin River at the foot of Xuanweng Mountain, 25 km southwest of Taiyuan. It was built by later generations to commemorate Tang Shuyu, the founding feudal lord of the Jin State, and served as the ancestral temple of the Jin State. It is often said that "a visit to Taiyuan is incomplete without seeingJinci Templethe saying "a wasted trip to Taiyuan". inJinci TempleAfter getting off, the first place you'll reach isJinci ParkThis is a free park with a pleasant environment, perfect for a casual stroll. It takes about 10 minutes to walk through the park to reach your destination.Jinci TempleMain scenic area. Within the attraction,Jinci TempleThe "Three Treasures" (Xian Hall, Flying Bridge Across Fish Pond, and Shengmu Hall) and "Three Wonders" (Zhou-bai, Nanlao Spring Pavilion, and painted clay sculptures) are must-sees for every visitor toJinci TempleView that everyone must see. The Tianlong Mountain Grottoes are located 40 km southwest of Taiyuan.TianlongshanWaist.TianlongshanOriginally named Fang Mountain, it came to be called Tianlong Mountain after the Tianlong Temple was built at its base during the Northern Qi Dynasty.TianlongshanThis was once the summer palace of Gao Huan, father of Emperor Gao Yang of the Northern Qi Dynasty. Jinci Tianlong Mountain Scenic Area boasts picturesque landscapes with rolling hills covered in lush pine and cypress trees. The Dragon King Stone Cave on the mountain top features rippling spring water, while crystal-clear streams flow through the valleys below. The Tianlong Mountain Grottoes, carved into the cliffs of the eastern and western peaks, include 24 caves dating back to the Eastern Wei, Northern Qi, Sui, and Tang dynasties - with 8 caves on the eastern peak, 13 on the western peak, and 3 on the northern side. These grottoes preserve over 1,500 Buddhist statues and 1,144 relief carvings, ceiling decorations, and murals. The Tianlong Mountain Grottoes are renowned for their mature, full-bodied, and refined craftsmanship, as well as their delicate emotional expression. They stand out for their strong national and regional characteristics, close connection to the lives of working people, and are celebrated for being "small yet exquisite."

Taiyuan · 13.3 km from Qingxu

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Selected for Best Things to Do in Taiyuan

Jinci Scenic

5.7

4.8/5

437 reviews

Jinci Scenic is a comprehensive tourist attraction that blends history, culture, and natural beauty, located in Jinyuan District, Taiyuan City, Shanxi Province, at the source of the Jin River, originally namedJinci Templeis an outstanding representative of ancient Chinese garden architecture. Jinci Scenic is not only the earliest existing imperial sacrificial garden in China, but also tangible evidence of Jin culture's lineage tracing back to the Western Zhou Dynasty's establishment of the Tang State and Jin State, continuing through the cultural heritage of the Tang Dynasty's golden age. As a comprehensive embodiment of Shanxi's historical legacy, Jinci Scenic attracts numerous visitors with its exquisite architecture, rich cultural heritage, and beautiful natural surroundings. Jinci ScenicThe site boasts abundant cultural relics, featuring over 100 structures from the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties including halls, pavilions, towers, bridges, and terraces. Among these, the Xian Hall, Flying Bridge Across Fish Pond, and Shengmu Hall are revered as Jinci's "Three National Treasure Buildings," while Nanlao Spring, the colored sculptures of maidservants, and Zhou-bai cypress are celebrated as the "Three Wonders of Jinci." The Shengmu Hall is...Jinci ScenicOne of the core structures, renowned for its unique architecture and exquisite carvings. The hall enshrines a statue of Zhou Bai, surrounded by intricate murals and carvings that showcase the masterful craftsmanship of ancient art. The Flying Bridge over Fish Pond isJinci ScenicAnother iconic structure, the bridge is ingeniously designed to appear as if floating on water, showcasing the wisdom of ancient architects. Jinci Scenic is renowned not only for its architecture but also for its abundant natural views. The attraction boasts 96 ancient and famous trees, including 30 that are over a thousand years old. Towering ancient trees and murmuring springs create a tranquil natural environment. Visitors can stroll along shaded paths, admire the ever-changing seasonal beauty, and experience nature's harmony. Additionally, Jinci Scenic offers a variety of cultural experiences, such as traditional etiquette demonstrations and ancient music performances, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the profound history and cultural charm during their visit. Whether you're a history enthusiast, cultural explorer, or a traveler seeking tranquility, Jinci Scenic provides a peaceful retreat for every visitor.

Taiyuan · 13.4 km from Qingxu

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No. 17 of Best Things to Do in Taiyuan

Tianlongshan Caves

5.9

4.6/5

303 reviews

The Tianlong Mountain Grottoes are located on the mountainside of Tianlong Mountain, 40 kilometers southwest of Taiyuan City. Tianlong Mountain was formerly known as Fangshan Mountain. After the Tianlong Temple was built at the foot of the mountain in the Northern Qi Dynasty, the mountain was called Tianlong Mountain. It used to be the summer palace of Gao Huan, the father of the Northern Qi Emperor Gao Yang. Tianlong Mountain has beautiful scenery, surrounded by undulating mountains, lush pines and cypresses, rippling springs in Longwang Stone Cave on the top of the mountain, and clear streams in front of the mountain. The Tianlongshan Grottoes are distributed on the cliff waist of the east and west peaks of Tianlong Mountain. There are 24 caves excavated in the Eastern Wei, Northern Qi, Sui and Tang Dynasties, eight caves in the east peak, thirteen caves in the west peak, and three caves in the north of the mountain. There are more than 1,500 statues in the coexisting grottoes, and 1,144 relief sculptures, caisson wells and portraits. The Tianlongshan Grottoes are characterized by their mature, full, succinct and meticulous expression of emotions, which are close to the life of laborers.

Taiyuan · 14.6 km from Qingxu

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No. 16 of Best Things to Do in Shanxi

The Qiao's Family Compound

7.8

4.7/5

15.1k reviews

The Qiao's Family Compound is located in the center of Qiaojiapu village, Qi county, also known as "The Qiao Family CourtyardIt was the residence of Qiao Zhiyong, a renowned commercial and financial capitalist in the Qing Dynasty, and has served as a filming location for over 30 movies and TV series, including "The Qiao Family Courtyard" and "Raise the Red Lantern." If you've seen these films, you'll surely recognize the scenes here: rows of red lanterns hanging high, towering brick walls, exquisite carvings, beautiful bracket sets and upturned eaves, and deep alleys. This is the famous The Qiao Family Courtyard. This is a residential complex from the Ming and Qing dynasties, its architecture resembling a castle, imposing and grand, typical of the living style of a large northern family during the Ming and Qing periods. Viewed from above, the entire courtyard layout resembles the Chinese character "囍" (double happiness), symbolizing good fortune. The complex is meticulously laid out yet also varied; even the more than 140 chimneys on the rooftops are unique. It is said to have been built by the imperial family.The Forbidden CityThere's a saying that "for residential architecture, visit the Qiao family courtyard". Upon entering the Qiao family courtyard, a straight stone-paved path approx. 80 m long divides the six courtyards into two rows, north and south. According to traditional naming, the three courtyards on the north side of the Qiao family courtyard are called the old courtyard, northwest courtyard, and study courtyard from east to west. The three courtyards on the south side are called the southeast courtyard, southwest courtyard, and new courtyard, reflecting the construction sequence of each courtyard. The brick carvings, painted decorations, and inscribed plaques in each courtyard are exquisitely crafted. The standout is the "hundred longevity characters" screen wall at the main entrance, featuring 100 uniquely styled seal-script "longevity" characters, where art and culture blend seamlessly. The brick carvings at the land god shrine are also noteworthy. Under the eaves of every room in the Qiao family courtyard, you'll find genuine gold-painted decorations, notably created using the raised paste technique with meticulous layering and final gold application. Among the many inscribed plaques at the Qiao family courtyard, the one personally calligraphed by Fu Shan in the fourth courtyard is particularly remarkable.Danfeng pavilion“Plaque”, when visiting here, be sure to learn about the story behind this plaque. Additionally, there are three treasures in the Qiao Family Courtyard: the ten-thousand-people ball, the rhinoceros gazing at the moon mirror, and the nine-dragon lantern. The rhinoceros gazing at the moon mirror was the treasure that brought wealth to the Qiao family, while the nine-dragon lantern was a gift from Empress Dowager Cixi, located in the courtyard at the southern center. Today, the Qiao family courtyard also serves as a folk museum, with its six courtyards respectively displaying agricultural life through the seasons, life rituals, inner gardens, commercial customs, luxurious furnishings, and the history of the Qiao family. Visitors can explore while learning about the Qiao family's philosophy of life, household management, and business.

Qi County · 23.6 km from Qingxu

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No. 3 of Global Traveller-Picked Attractions in Taiyuan

Mengshan Grand Buddha

7

4.6/5

1.2k reviews

The Mengshan Giant Buddha is also known as the Giant Buddha of the Western Mountains. It was built in the Northern Qi Dynasty during the reign of the Tianbao Emperor, making for over a thousand years of history. The Mengshan Giant Buddha was originally carved into the cliff face to the rear of Mengshan's Kaihua Temple. During the later years of the Yuan Dynasty, the Mengshan Giant Buddha was damaged. It was rediscovered in 1980 but, at the time, the head of the Buddha was missing. A new head has since been carved for the giant Buddha. The Mengshan Buddha is incredibly majestic. From the bottom of his legs to his neck is about 30 meters. Based on the proportions of the human body, it is assumed that the original statue (including the missing head) would have been 46 meters tall.

Taiyuan · 20.9 km from Qingxu

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No. 13 of Best Things to Do in Taiyuan

Jinyang Ancient City Relic Site

6.1

4.4/5

42 reviews

Jinyang Ancient City Relic Siteis the former site of Jinyang City from the Spring and Autumn period to the Five Dynasties period, located in the Jinyuan area southwest of Taiyuan. The ancient city was first built in the late Spring and Autumn period (497 BC). Legend has it that it was constructed under the direction of Dong Anyu, a retainer of Zhao Jianzi, the chief minister of the State of Jin. Over the following 1,500 years, it spanned the Qin, Han, Wei, Jin, Northern and Southern Dynasties, Sui, Tang, and Five Dynasties periods. It served successively as the initial capital of the State of Zhao, the secondary capital of Northern Qi, and the northern capital of the Tang Dynasty, serving as a major military and political hub in the north for a long time. Events that influenced the course of history, such as the Battle of Jinyang in the late Spring and Autumn period, the subsequent "Partition of Jin," and Li Yuan's uprising in Jinyang at the end of the Sui Dynasty, all took place here. The Later Tang, Later Jin, Later Han, and Northern Han dynasties also successively established their capitals here. Taiyuan's reputation as the "Dragon City" stems from this history. In the fourth year of the Taiping Xingguo era of the Northern Song Dynasty (979), Emperor Taizong of Song, Zhao Guangyi, ordered the city to be burned and diverted the Fen and Jin rivers to flood the ruins, causing the ancient city to be buried underground from then on. Jinyang Ancient City Relic Siteconsists of city ruins, religious sacrificial sites, and ancient tomb areas, covering an area of approx. 20 square kilometers. Most of the city remains buried under farmland and villages today, with rammed earth ruins such as the remnants of the west city wall and the southwest corner visible above ground. Today's archaeological site park focuses on the display of archaeological sites: Building Foundation No. 2 presents a temple site from the Tang and Five Dynasties periods, while Site No. 4 displays a metal workshop and the inner city water storage system from the mid-Tang Dynasty. A Jinyang Ancient City Archaeological Museum is embedded in the adjacent Ming Dynasty Taiyuan Ancient County City wall, and unearthed artifacts, such as a broken stele inscribed with the words "Jinyang Palace of the Sui Dynasty," are on display inside.

Taiyuan · 18.5 km from Qingxu

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Selected for Best Things to Do in Shanxi

The Saint Mother's Hall

5.1

4.9/5

300 reviews

The Saint Mother's Hall is the main hall of the Jinci Temple Museum. Together with the Flying Bridge Over Fish Pond and the Xian Hall, it is known as one of the three treasures ofJinci. It was built to honor Yi Jiang, the queen of King Wu of Zhou, who was also the daughter of Jiang Ziya and the mother of King Cheng of Zhou. The hall was first built during the Tiansheng era of the Northern Song Dynasty, nearly 1,000 years ago. Although it has been renovated by later generations, it largely retains the original appearance of a Song Dynasty hall. Walking west along the central axis of the Jinci Temple Museum and crossing the Flying Bridge Over Fish Pond, you are greeted by this hall with its double-eaved hip-and-gable roof. It has a nearly square floor plan, is seven bays wide and six bays deep, and stands nearly 20 m high with deep, overhanging eaves. Standing in front of the hall and looking up, its presence is expansive and steady. Beyond the exterior architecture, the interior is also worth seeing. Each of the eight columns in the front corridor features a Northern Song Dynasty wood-carved dragon. The dragon bodies were carved separately from the columns and then joined using mortise-and-tenon joints; such Song Dynasty dragon columns are rare. The hall is surrounded by a corridor, and the front corridor is two bays deep, meaning the weight of the roof is largely distributed between the corridor columns and the eaves columns, leaving very few columns inside the hall. The colored sculptures inside are the core highlight: among the more than 40 statues, the Saint Mother Yi Jiang sits in the shrine wearing a phoenix crown and python robe, while the attendants are lined up on both sides, each holding different offerings with distinct identities and expressions. They are treasures of Song Dynasty colored sculpture, and the Song Dynasty attendant statues are thus known, along with the Zhou Cypress andNanlao Spring, as the three wonders ofJinci. Beside the hall stands the Zhou Cypress, said to have been planted in the Western Zhou Dynasty, with a trunk that leans like a reclining dragon.

Taiyuan · 13.5 km from Qingxu

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