Things to do in Shanxi

Highly recommended, it's worth a visit. I thought it would just be a simple visit to the grottoes, but from the moment I entered, it was a completely different world. I also had a very good guide who told us many Buddhist stories and the reasons why they were preserved. The characteristics of each building were very vivid. In my opinion, it is comparable to the Dunhuang Grottoes and is very beautiful.

A microcosm of Shanxi's history, the Song Dynasty wooden structures and painted sculptures are its biggest highlights. The ancient cypress trees reaching for the sky and the murmuring Nanlao Spring are well worth a leisurely visit; a guided tour is highly recommended for a more enriching experience.

Having been there and seen it, the obsession has been let go. I always wanted to see it again. I was afraid it would disappear one day. Looking up, I marveled at the wisdom of the ancients. Those who appreciate architecture will certainly not be disappointed.

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! 👍👍👍