8-Day Shanxi Itinerary

️ Travel Route (Save & Bookmark!) Day1 📍Taiyuan Jinci Museum → Taiyuan Ancient County Scenic Area → Zsmart Zhishang Hotel (Zhonglou Street Branch) → Night stroll at Food Street & Zhonglou Street → 🌟May First Square night view Jinci is truly worth visiting—consider hiring a guide. Taiyuan Ancient County is just average. Day2 ✨Datong Classic Tour Awe-inspiring! Yungang Grottoes → Shanhua Temple →🏰Walk along Datong Ancient City Wall Departed from the hotel at 7:30 AM, drove 4+ hours to Yungang. Had lunch nearby before entering the site in the afternoon. The sun wasn’t too harsh, and hiring an on-site guide was very helpful. After returning from Yungang, visited Shanhua Temple and took an evening stroll on Datong’s ancient city wall to soak in the night atmosphere. Day3 🏮Datong In-Depth Exploration Hanging Temple → Guandi Temple route → Fahua Temple (the first ancient temple beyond the Great Wall) → China’s oldest surviving Nine-Dragon Wall → Huayan Temple’s bronze underground palace → Sunset at Volcanic Geopark🌄 → Tulin landform (super photogenic!) The schedule looked packed, but it was manageable. Day4 ⛰️Legend of the Northern Sacred Mountain Hanging Temple (enter with the first batch at 8 AM!!) → Wooden Pagoda (world’s tallest wooden pagoda) → Overnight at hot spring homestay in Xinzhou Ancient Town♨️ The homestay was incredibly cozy, making the trip relaxing. Though we queued 2–3 hours to reach the top of Hanging Temple, it was absolutely worth it. Yingxian Wooden Pagoda is a photographer’s dream! Day5 🏡Tour of Shanxi Merchant Mansions Qiao Family Compound (must hire a guide) → Zhenguo Temple’s Five Dynasties painted sculptures → 🎭Must-see immersive show *See You Again in Pingyao* Day6 🏮Pingyao Ancient City Explore old banks and escort bureaus → Shuanglin Temple’s "Oriental Treasure House of Painted Sculptures" → Stay in a traditional kang-bed homestay Day7 🏯Treasures of Jinzhong Pingyao Ancient City → Check into the century-old Shanxi Grand Hotel Afternoon visit to the Provincial Museum Day8 🎨Taiyuan Cultural Finale & Departure Chunyang Palace (Taoist architecture) → Shanxi Museum (book a guide in advance) 🔥Top 5 Must-Visit: 1️⃣Yungang Grottoes: UNESCO World Heritage, imperial project of the Northern Wei Dynasty 📍No. 1, Yungang Town, Yungang District, Datong ⏰9:00-17:00 2️⃣Pingyao Ancient City: One of China’s best-preserved ancient cities 📍Gutao Town, Pingyao County ⏰Open all day 3️⃣Jinci Museum: China’s earliest surviving imperial garden 📍Jinci Town, Jinyuan District, Taiyuan ⏰8:30-18:00 4️⃣Yingxian Wooden Pagoda: One of the world’s three wonder pagodas 📍Liao Dynasty Cultural City, Yingxian County ⏰8:00-18:00 5️⃣Hanging Temple: Top 10 most dangerous buildings globally 📍Foot of Hengshan Mountain, Hunyuan County ⏰8:00-17:00 💡Tips: ✔️Visit Yungang Grottoes early to avoid crowds ✔️Pingyao Ancient City combo ticket valid for 3 days ✔️Hanging Temple has visitor limits—book ahead ✔️Bring sunscreen and a light jacket in July ✔️Share guide costs for merchant mansions 🚗Transport Tips: Rent a car in Taiyuan/Datong for self-driving Walk or use electric carts in Pingyao Ancient City 🏨Recommended Stays: ▫️Taiyuan: Zsmart Zhishang Hotel (prime location) ▫️Datong: Lavande Hotel (near ancient city) ▫️Pingyao: Yuse Zen Homestay (Shanxi merchant culture experience)