[Photo by Wang Kaihao/China Daily]
The video game phenomenon Black Myth: Wukong sparked a tourism boom in North China's Shanxi province in 2024. Here are some popular tourist destinations and signature foods in Shanxi.
Yungang Grottoes
At the southern foot of Wuzhou Mountain, 16 kilometers west of Datong city in Shanxi province, built into the mountainside and stretching 1 kilometer east to west sit the Yungang Grottoes.
With 252 caves and 51,000 statues inside a carved area of 18,000 square meters, the Yungang Grottoes stand as an outstanding achievement in fifth and sixth century Buddhist cave art.
The Five Caves, with their strict unity of layout and design, were created by Tan Yao and remain masterpieces of Chinese Buddhist art's first peak period.
The Yungang Grottoes were added to the World Cultural Heritage List in December 2001.
[Photo by Zhu Xingxin/China Daily]
Sakyamuni Pagoda
The Sakyamuni Pagoda the Fogong Temple in Yingxian county, Shanxi province, was built during the Liao Dynasty (916-1125) and is the oldest and tallest wooden architectural structure in China.
It stands 67.31 meters high and has a base measuring 30.27 meters in diameter, with nine stories, five of them in use.
The octagonal pagoda, which is made entirely of wooden parts joined by innumerable mortises and tenons, was built with a complicated structure of brackets, without using any nails.
The external pillars of each story have beam frames set on the external pillars of the layer below, about half a pillar inward, giving the tower a graceful contour. The pagoda is well proportioned and presents a splendid sight.
During a renovation in 1974, a number of sutras were found, some hand-written and others block printed. They are important materials for the study of religion and printing technology of the Liao Dynasty (1271-1368), as well as the political, economic and cultural developments of the dynasty.
This pagoda has somehow survived the natural and human vicissitudes of history for 950 years.
Historical records show the pagoda has remained sound despite earthquakes and fires, such as a large earthquake lasting for seven days during the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) and a magnitude-9 earthquake during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). In 1926, when warlords were fighting with each other over Shanxi, the pagoda was hit by 200 artillery shells, leaving many holes. It was even set on fire several times, but the fires surprisingly died out by themselves and the pagoda stood firm.
Many other wooden towers in China have been destroyed by fire during thunderstorms and areas around them have been struck by lightning, but Yingxian is lightning-proof as well as quake- and fire-proof. In the 1950s, two objects 100 meters from the tower were hit by lightning, but the tower stood firm.
[Photo by Chang Puping for China Daily]
Guangsheng Temple
The Guangsheng Temple is a temple complex comprising the upper monastery, the lower monastery and the Water God Temple on the slope and at foot of the Huoshan Mountain in Zhaocheng township in Hongtong county of Linfen city, Shanxi province.
Construction of the Guangsheng Temple is said to have begun more than 1,800 years ago during the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220), making it among the earliest Buddhist temples in China.
The temple was reconstructed several times after facing destruction by wars and natural disasters during various historical periods. Most of the structures and relics we can see now were built and created during the Yuan (1271-1368) and Ming (1368-1644) dynasties.
Tourists to Guangsheng should not miss the "three treasures" of the temple: the Feihong (flying rainbow) Pagoda, the Buddhist sutras called Zhaocheng's Collection and its murals.
The Feihong Pagoda is a 13-story, 47.31-meter-tall octagonal pyramid-shaped tower. Written records show this pagoda was built in 1527 during the Ming Dynasty. As the multicolored glazed walls and roofs can sometimes turn the sunlight into colorful, rainbow-like reflections, the structure is called Feihong Pagoda, or Flying Rainbow Pagoda.
Since its construction in 1527, the pagoda has survived two severe earthquakes that measured above 8.0 on the Richter scale.
On Aug 29, 2018, London-based World Record Certification recognized it as "the tallest multicolored glazed pagoda in the world".
The Zhaocheng's Collection of Buddhist sutras in the temple is among the most precious Buddhist sutra copies in China. It was printed during the Yuan Dynasty and it took 24 years for a great number of monks and craftsmen to engrave woodblocks for printing.
There are several precious Yuan Dynasty murals in the temple complex, including the paintings on the four walls of the Water God Temple and the painting on the gable wall in front of the Great Hall of Sakyamuni Buddha in the lower monastery.
[Photo by Feng Siquan/For China Daily]
Xiaoxitian Scenic Area (Little Western Paradise)
Xiaoxitian (Little Western Paradise) is situated atop Fenghuang Mountain in Xixian county in Linfen city in Shanxi province. Originally named Qianfo Temple, or Thousand Buddha Temple, it was built in 1634 during the Chongzhen reign of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).
Xiaoxitian is renowned for its extraordinary suspended sculptures. The main hall, covering just 169.6 square meters, houses over 1,900 colorful, lifelike sculptures - some as tall as 3 meters and others as small as a thumb - meticulously preserved after nearly four centuries.
[Photo provided to China Daily]
Xuankong Temple
Xuankong Temple, or the Hanging Temple, is built into a cliff at Hengshan Mountain, about 60 meters above the ground. It stands as a cultural landmark of Datong city in Shanxi and a unique example of ancient Chinese architecture.
Constructed during the late Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534), about 1,500 years ago, Xuankong Temple is renowned for its daring location. In 2010, Time magazine listed it as one of the 10 most dangerous buildings in the world.
At first glance, it might seem that the temple is supported by some 30 vertical wooden pillars; the true support, however, comes from horizontal beams embedded in the rock.
[Photo by Lyu Guiming/For chinadaily.com.cn]
Hukou Waterfall
The Hukou Waterfall is a golden waterfall with mobile and subsurface streams. It is formed by the Yellow River running through the Yichuan section of the Qinjin Valley between Shanxi and Shaanxi provinces. The turbulent water stream pours down to the valley and makes for spectacular cascades.
The Hukou Waterfall, with enchanting all-season scenery, is known for its eight great views, namely the "Smoke from the Deep Waters", "Boats Sailing on the Dryland", "Rainbow above the Water", "Exploded Mountain Rocks and Poured Water", "Rain against the Sunny Sky", "Thunder in the Dry Season", "Upside-Down Ice Peaks" and "Tunnel of Running Dragon. Its marvelous landscapes are widely praised and considered a great symbol of the courageous and upright Chinese ethnic spirit.
With the grand waterfall as its major scenery, the tourist area features many other attractions including the Longwangchan Cultural Site (an archeological site of the Old Stone Age), Mengmen Mountain, Dayu Temple, Ancient Ferry Town and live-action performances of The Yellow River Cantata. It was listed as a national geopark in 2002 and a 5A scenic area in 2022.
[Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Wutai Mountain
Wutai Mountain sits in northeastern Shanxi province, 230 kilometers from the capital Taiyuan, and is one of the four famous sacred Buddhist mountains of China.
Covering 593 square kilometers, Wutai Mountain is named after its five peaks which resemble five giant columns rising from the earth. Crowded with peaks and cliffs, the cool climate of Wutai Mountain makes it a popular summer tourist resort.
Wutai Mountain is also home to one of China's oldest Buddhist temple sites, which dates back to the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220) and sits at the feet of towering pagodas.
Wutai Mountain's architecture draws from different dynasties, all of which utilized sculpture, stone inscriptions, frescoes and calligraphy. At the height of the Tang Dynasty (618-907), the area held more than 300 temples and monasteries, but most were damaged or demolished over many centuries.
The area is now home to 41 monasteries, including the tallest surviving Tang Dynasty timber building, the East Main Hall of Foguang Temple and its life-size clay sculptures, and the Ming Dynasty Shuxiang Temple with its 500 statues detailing Buddhist stories and history.
Wutai Mountain generally operates as a tourist destination combining natural scenery, ancient architecture, historical heritage, Buddhist culture, folk customs and elements of a summer resort.
Wutai Mountain was included in 1982 by the State Council in the first tier of national level scenic areas. Over the years, its standing and reputation have grown and it is now regarded as a national key scenic area, national geological park, national natural and cultural heritage location, and national 5A tourism scenic spot. Wutai Mountain was added to UNESCO's World Heritage List in 2009.
[Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
FOOD
Knife-cut noodles
Shanxi knife-cut noodles, one of the most beloved examples of street food in China, have a wonderful appearance, aroma and flavor unique to the local area.
They are fast and easy to prepare, making them well-suited for getting the most out of a steaming bowl of beef or mutton broth.
Shaved from a block of wheat dough straight into boiling water, these tempting noodles retain their jagged edges and sop up the maximum amount of broth and spicy chili oil.
[Photo/shanxi.gov.cn]
Wu Family smoked meat
Wu Family smoked meat is a traditional dish, which boasts a history dating back nearly 100 years, in Linfen, Shanxi province. The smoked meat is a perfect combination of ground pork and ground chicken, with a crispy texture and herbal fragrance.
Fried boiled pork (Guo You Rou)
This pork dish, the most famous of traditional Shanxi cuisine, originated during the Southern and Northern dynasties (420-589) among aristocrats in the southern Shanxi city of Linfen, and then spread to the provincial capital of Taiyuan, eventually becoming a typical restaurant dish during the Song Dynasty (960-1279).
[Photo/VCG]
Taiyuan medicinal soup (Tounao)
Tounao is a medicinal soup from Taiyuan made of mutton and seven herbal medicines. The dish, named by Fu Shan, a local medical expert of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), is taken as a tonic. During the lunar calendar period between White Dew and Start of Spring, Taiyuan residents tend to visit local Muslim restaurants to enjoy tounao.
Fried cake (Yougao)
Fried cakes with sweet fillings, like bean or date paste, are quite popular in Jinzhong city. Locals usually enjoy the snack during traditional Chinese festivals, weddings or birthdays.
Editor:Qiu Xiaochen
