2025 Fenxi Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in July)

About 10 kilometers north of Fenxi County in Shanxi Province lies a village called Lianzhuang. Within this village stands a renowned ancient structure known as Guanyin Pavilion. 💡 This place has quite a history! Originally, it wasn’t called Guanyin Pavilion but “Xingyuan Temple,” built during the Tang Dynasty (Note: The existing structures mainly date back to the Ming and Qing Dynasties or were reconstructed during those periods). The temple is built on a mountain slope, featuring three courtyards: front, middle, and rear. Front Courtyard: Admire the Guanyin statue and elegant pavilion As you enter the front courtyard, the main building, “Baoge,” stands directly before you. Inside Baoge is a seated statue of Guanyin Bodhisattva on a lotus pedestal. The pavilion itself is worth appreciating for its sturdy structure, simple yet elegant design, and intricate details. Middle Courtyard: Statues and a miraculous spring Passing through the front courtyard leads to the middle courtyard, which houses three brick-built cave rooms: - Two of the rooms contain statues of Taishang Laojun and Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva. - The highlight is the third cave room, where a spring flows from the limestone crevices behind it. Locals call this spring “Dragon Spring Water,” believing it has healing properties (Note: This belief is based on local folklore and has not been scientifically verified). Many visitors come specifically to collect this water. Rear Courtyard: A mysterious cave and legends Continuing upward brings you to the rear courtyard. Above, you’ll see four large brick-carved characters reading “Lingquan Baoge” and a plaque under the eaves inscribed with “Shen Dong” (Sacred Cave). The “Sacred Cave” is a naturally formed limestone cavern with a tall and wide entrance (about three meters high) and an interior that stretches into darkness. The most intriguing feature is the constant sound of wind echoing from within the cave. A local legend claims this cave is an underground passage leading to Wutai Mountain, spanning 800 li (approximately 400 kilometers)! The entrance is adorned with an ancient couplet referencing this tale: > “Guanyin Sacred Cave spans 800 li, facing the northern peak of Wutai Mountain.” > (The meaning roughly translates to: The Guanyin Pavilion’s mystical cave stretches 800 li, with its exit aligned with the northern peak of Wutai Mountain.) *Note: This couplet and legend are part of local cultural heritage, with no geological evidence supporting the existence of such a long natural passage.

Where is it❓️ The 'hidden gem' of Shanxi Linfen! Navigate to 'Shijia Village, Fenxi County', step on the gas, and you'll be transported back to a wealthy village from 200 years ago! What's so special about this place❓️ ▶️ The 'mountain top mansion area' of Qing Dynasty tycoons: The Shijia family became wealthy through farming and studying during the Qianlong period, and later got rich through business, building 31 large courtyards on the hillside! Now, there are still many cave courtyards left, warm in winter and cool in summer, and also protected from bandits, showcasing the pinnacle of ancient wisdom. ▶️ Detail lovers rejoice: The brick-carved doorways are more expressive than your emoji collection—magpies bringing good news, grapes symbolizing abundance, the Eight Immortals crossing the sea... even the drainage slabs are carved with coin patterns! ▶️ Immersive script-killing venue: Explore secret passages hiding gold and silver, climb watchtowers for spotting bandits, and imagine a young lady throwing an embroidered ball from the window of the embroidery building (though this might not have actually happened, hhh). Must-visit spots ✅ Shijia Ancestral Courtyard: The most luxurious one with 'Ruiqi Ning' written on the door! Courtyards within courtyards, doors connecting doors, with elders living higher and juniors lower, embedding 'seniority' directly into the architecture. ✅ Embroidery Building: The VIP suite for young ladies! The wooden windows on the second floor are exquisitely carved, and it's said that unmarried girls could only secretly look outside from here. ✅ Stone-paved old alleys: The bluestone slabs are polished smooth, be careful on rainy days! But the photo atmosphere is perfect, wear Hanfu and transform into a Jin merchant's daughter. Lazy guide 💰 Tickets: Around 50 yuan (the price of a cup of milk tea for a time-travel experience) ⏰ Time: 2 hours is enough, recommended in the morning or after 3 PM for softer light and no sunburn 🚗 Transportation: Self-driving: 1.5 hours from Linfen, the latter part of the county road is a bit narrow, drive carefully Public transport: Take a bus from Linfen West Station to Fenxi County (1 hour), then a 10-minute taxi ride Who is it suitable for❓️ ✔️ Those who like less crowded, original ancient villages ✔️ Curious about old buildings/Jin merchant culture ✔️ Want to take beautiful, less crowded photos for social media Shijiagou Scenic Area

|The No. 1 village in the Qing Dynasty. Lesser-known attractions in Shanxi | The No. 1 village in the Qing Dynasty Shanxi is home to many courtyards, but the Shijia Courtyard, a Qing Dynasty cave dwelling hidden in the mountains, is a unique attraction. Location: Shijiagou Village, Fenxi County, Linfen City Shanxi is great for road trips. The Shijia Courtyard was built in the 32nd year of the Qianlong reign (1767) by the four Shi brothers after they became officials. Over 200 years, it was expanded by several generations into a family cave dwelling courtyard complex. The 24 courtyards are connected to each other, and every household is connected. The saying "Close the eight big doors, lock the ten small doors, and people can't leave the village" can only be understood by walking through the courtyards and experiencing the glory of the Shi family. Standing on a high place, you can see the Shijia Courtyard built on the mountain. The courtyards rise and fall, and the loess and sunset create a solemn and desolate atmosphere.

**Preparation:** - Learn about the history and cultural background of Shijia Courtyard. You can search online or read related books. - Check the local weather forecast and choose appropriate clothing and gear accordingly. - Prepare a camera to capture beautiful moments. **Transportation:** - Shijia Courtyard is located at [specific address]. You can drive there and use a map navigation app to find the route easily. - If you choose public transportation, you can first reach [nearby city or station] and then transfer to a local bus or taxi to Shijia Courtyard. **Visiting Time:** It is recommended to spend half a day to a full day visiting Shijia Courtyard to fully appreciate the architecture and cultural connotations of the courtyard. **Tour Route:** - After entering Shijia Courtyard, you can first visit the main residential area of the Shi family, where many exquisite ancient buildings, such as quadrangle courtyards and cave dwellings, are preserved. You can admire the traditional architectural style and craftsmanship. - Next, head to the garden and courtyard of the Shi family, where there are beautiful flowers and landscapes, making it a great place for taking photos. - Then, visit the ancestral hall and temple of the Shi family to learn about the family culture and religious beliefs of the Shi family. - Finally, you can stroll through the alleys and streets of Shijia Courtyard to experience the ancient atmosphere and local life. **Food Recommendations:** Near Shijia Courtyard, you can taste local specialties, such as [list some local specialties]. These dishes are not only delicious but also have local characteristics, making them worth trying. **Shopping Suggestions:** If you want to buy some souvenirs, you can purchase cultural products related to Shijia Courtyard, such as books, postcards, and handicrafts, at nearby shops. **Notes:** - Respect local culture and customs, and do not damage ancient buildings and cultural relics. - Protect the environment and do not litter. - Pay attention to safety during the visit, and do not climb ancient buildings or stay in dangerous areas. This is the travel guide for Shijia Courtyard. I hope it helps you. Have a pleasant trip!

📍Address: Shijiagou Village, Sengnian Town, 5 km southeast of Fenxi County 🚗Transportation: Shanxi is great for self-driving, with many scattered ancient buildings 👍️Must-see: Shijia Courtyard has 31 courtyards, mainly quadrangle courtyards, two-entry quadrangle courtyards, two-story quadrangle courtyards, and three-story quadrangle courtyards. The courtyards have main rooms, living rooms, side rooms, halls, studies, embroidery buildings, moon-viewing rooms, gatehouses, and rooms for workers and stables. The buildings have primary and secondary structures, hidden and exposed, open and closed. The layout reflects the patriarchal hierarchy and Confucian ethics, with a focus on farming and reading. . The most valuable features of Shijia Courtyard are the brick carvings, wood carvings, and stone carvings, which combine traditional northern elements with southern Shanxi elements, showcasing high artistic and regional representation. 🎟️Tickets: CNY 25 per person

Built in 1769 during the reign of Emperor Qianlong in the Qing Dynasty, the Shi Family Courtyard was a filming location for the movie "Back to 1942". The courtyard fully embodies the architectural characteristics of the hilly and gully areas, such as building according to the terrain and building a house on the kiln. The entire architectural complex is built along the mountain, with high and low levels, perfectly integrated with the natural environment, which not only solves the restrictions of the terrain on the expansion of the courtyard, but also shows a unique architectural style. The Shi Family Courtyard is an outstanding representative of ancient Chinese residential buildings, with extremely high historical, artistic and scientific value, and is an important window for understanding ancient Chinese northern residential buildings and Jin merchant culture.

✔️Located at No. 3 courtyard, Taiyangshan Village, Yong'an Town, Fenxi County, Linfen City, Shanxi Province, along the country road all the way up, the sound of bamboo waves all the way, occasionally crisp bird songs echo in the mountains, how comfortable! ✔️The hotel is composed of dining, guest rooms and meetings. The various functions of the building are connected by landscape corridors, forming an inward courtyard after enclosure. ✔️Dining and meetings can accommodate about 50 people! The carefully arranged courtyard, the quiet and comfortable pavilions, the public space presents a rhythm of winding paths and ancient charm, as well as a sense of spatial hierarchy in the depth direction! ✔️The pond is located between Guzhu Mountains, the continuous peaks are dressed in green, the color is thick as dye, people breathe fresh air, and feel relaxed and happy. ✔️When you come to the hotel, you must go for a walk by the pond, and trace up along the direction leading to the deep mountain pond. The further inside, the denser the vegetation, the more gurgling the water, and you can also see the cliff carvings left from the Tang and Song Dynasties. ✔️The hotel has carefully created guest rooms and suites with unique tea culture characteristics. Each suite will have a set of characteristic tea sets, so that you can deeply experience the fun brought by tea culture during your stay. ✔️The interior decoration design of the hotel lobby is exquisite, the decoration is exquisite and meticulous, and it displays all kinds of characteristic tea sets, showing the atmosphere of tea culture to the fullest.