I thought Datong was already impressive until I visited Yuci

Compared to popular travel destinations, I prefer unique and lesser-known places with distinctive charm. It is said that "Shanxi is a museum on the ground," and Yuci might be the true king. While Pingyao is packed with tourists, this old city in Jinzhong, less than an hour's drive from Taiyuan, feels like a treasure forgotten by time—1,400 years of history, hundreds of ancient sites hidden in the alleys, with very few visitors, creating a tranquil atmosphere that captivates you. Yuci has a long history, and its ancient buildings are exceptionally well preserved. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, Shanxi merchants set out from here to explore the world, and now time seems frozen among the blue bricks and gray tiles. Once you visit, you will be deeply impressed by its profound cultural heritage. Follow my footsteps for a journey across a thousand years! 🗺 1-day exclusive off-the-beaten-path itinerary: Ancient City Tower Ruins → Yuci Ancient City → Yuci Confucian Temple → Yuci County Government Office → City God Temple → Qingxu Pavilion ⚠️ The entire route within the ancient city can be easily explored on foot ✅ Recommended highlights: 1️⃣ City God Temple Built in the 22nd year of the Zhizheng era of the Yuan dynasty, the Yuci City God Temple is grand in scale. Its original site was inside the North Gate at Shanzhengfang, relocated to the current site in the first year of the Hongwu era of the Ming dynasty, and took its present form in the second year of the Jiajing era. Among the existing buildings, except for the Xianyou Hall which dates back to the Yuan dynasty, the rest were built during the Ming and Qing dynasties. - The Xuanjian Tower inside the temple is an architectural marvel, rated among the world's top 100 most beautiful buildings. It is a divine blend of a Ming dynasty pavilion and a Yuan dynasty main hall. The peacock blue glazed tiles sparkle like flowing gems under the sun, and the glazed screen wall is exquisitely crafted. - The main building, Xianyou Hall, has five bays in width and six purlins in depth, with a single-eave hip roof. To increase the interior height, a clever technique of overlapping double dougong brackets and double beams was used. - All the main halls in the City God Temple are roofed with glazed tiles, topped with glazed ridge beasts. Despite centuries of exposure to wind and sun, the colors remain vivid and radiant. It is the ancient building in Yuci with the most extensive and best-preserved use of glazed tiles. 2️⃣ Yuci Confucian Temple Founded in 999 during the Northern Song dynasty, Shanxi’s most imposing Dacheng Hall is supported by 28 coiled dragon stone pillars, creating a magnificent presence. - The front gate still retains authentic Ming dynasty relics, while the halls rebuilt in the rear courtyard shine with golden splendor. The contrast between old and new is like a living textbook of cultural preservation. 3️⃣ Yuci County Government Office: A newly restored Ming and Qing dynasty government office, full of antique charm. 4️⃣ Wengcheng Ruins Ancient City Tower: The magnificent ancient city tower complements the ruins park beautifully. With few visitors, it is especially peaceful. 5️⃣ Qingxu Pavilion: A 25-meter-tall all-wooden mortise-and-tenon aerial pavilion, its shape is strikingly cyberpunk-like, resembling a celestial palace. Unfortunately, it was closed for maintenance when I visited, so I couldn’t see it in full. 6️⃣ Within Yuci Ancient City, there are many Shanxi merchant courtyards and residences, all rich in local character and worth savoring. 📌 Practical tips: - Transportation: A 20-minute taxi ride from Taiyuan Wusu Airport; from the high-speed rail station, take bus 901 to the "Yuci Old City" stop. - Accommodation and dining: Yuci offers a wide range of hotels to choose from according to your needs. ❗TIPS: Yuci is not far from Taigu. If you have enough time, you can plan to visit both to experience more of Shanxi’s local culture.