GU LOU SLICED NOODLES

The location of this restaurant is very good, just at the southeast corner of the Drum Tower, next to the intersection of Drum Tower East Street, and facing the Drum Tower through the French windows in the restaurant. It is a fast food restaurant. You can order your food at the front desk and pick it up when it is ready. They also have milk tea and coffee. In the morning, I had a set meal, which was just right. The portion was large, and I probably couldn't finish it if I had a small appetite. The taste was also more authentic Shanxi flavor.

Today is the first time I set foot on the land of Shanxi, and the first time I ate authentic local knife-cut noodles. This noodle shop next to the Drum Tower in the old city of Datong has a strong Internet celebrity style. The shop is well organized, the noodles taste very good, and the price is cheaper than Beijing

How can you not have a bowl of knife-cut noodles when you go to Datong, Shanxi? The location and decoration of Gulou Knife-cut Noodles are very good, especially the taste of the knife-cut noodles is very authentic.

Yungang Grottoes: A 2-Day, 1-Night In-Depth Tour Guide on a Budget of 1500 Yuan 🏛️ A Treasure Trove of Stone Carving Art Across a Thousand Years The Yungang Grottoes, located in Datong City, Shanxi Province, are one of China's four major grottoes and are hailed as "the pinnacle of Eastern Buddhist art." More than 1500 years ago, the Northern Wei Dynasty imperial family devoted the entire nation's resources to carving this 1-kilometer-long grotto complex into the cliffs of Wuzhou Mountain. Over 50,000 Buddha statues stand silently within, from the solemn open-air Buddhas to the exquisite flying apsara reliefs; every inch of the stone walls tells a story of faith and aesthetics from a thousand years ago. With a budget of 1500 yuan, this tour takes you to the ancient capital of Datong, lets you savor the flavors of northern Shanxi, and deeply explore this epic carved in stone. 💰 Budget Allocation (1500 RMB per person) Transportation: 400 RMB (High-speed rail + local transportation) Accommodation: 300 RMB (1 night in a characteristic hotel) Dining: 300 RMB (2 days of Shanxi cuisine) Entrance Fee: 200 RMB (including digital exhibition hall) Guided Tour/Experience: 200 RMB (Professional guided tour + cultural and creative products) Contingency Fund: 100 RMB 🚄 Transportation Guide From Beijing (High-speed rail recommended) Outbound: Beijing North → Datong South (2 hours, second-class seat 146 RMB) → Taxi to hotel (30 RMB) Scenic Area Transportation: Bus 603 (1 hour, 2 RMB) Taxi round trip approximately 60 RMB (more recommended, saves time) Driving Option Beijing-Tibet Expressway → Xuanda Expressway (4 hours, toll approximately 150 RMB) Tips: Parking fee at the scenic area is 10 RMB/day 🏨 Accommodation Recommendations Cultural Immersion: Yungang Meigao Hotel in Datong Ancient City (250 RMB/night, walking distance to Huayan Temple) Value for Money: Ji Hotel near the train station (200 RMB/night, convenient transportation) Unique Experience: Cave Dwelling Guesthouse near the Earth Forest (150 RMB/night, advance booking required) Money-Saving Tips: Choose hotels that include breakfast; breakfast in Datong is plentiful and inexpensive. 🎫 Ticket Information Peak Season (April-October): 120 RMB (including Tan Yao's Five Caves) Off-Season (November-March): 100 RMB Must-Add-On Activities: Digital Exhibition Hall (50 RMB, immersive understanding of the excavation history) Electric Cart (15 RMB, saves energy) Free Admission Policy: Half price for seniors over 60 and students with valid ID 📜 In-Depth Tour Itinerary Day 1: Essential Grottoes + Ancient City Night Tour Morning: Tan Yao Five Caves (Caves 16-20): The earliest royal caves carved during the Northern Wei Dynasty; the open-air Buddha in Cave 20 is a must-see. Music Cave (Cave 12): Flying apsaras holding 44 musical instruments, comparable to an ancient symphony orchestra. Wuhua Cave (Caves 9-13): The best-preserved Northern Dynasties painted murals. Afternoon: Yungang Museum: Free admission; learn about grotto conservation techniques. Film Screening: Watch the documentary "Yungang" (30 minutes). Evening: Large Tonggu City Wall: Free sunset viewing via the wall Fengling Pavilion: Enjoy Hundred-Flower Shaomai (80 RMB per person) Day 2: Lesser-known Caves + Surrounding Relics Morning: Western Caves (Caves 21-45): Small to medium-sized caves carved by local people, more lifelike Longwangmiaogou: A little-known, unopened cave area (guided tour required) Afternoon: Jinhuagong National Mining Park: Mining experience (80 RMB, discount available with Yungang Grottoes ticket) Datong Earth Forest: 40-minute drive, photograph the magical landforms (60 RMB entrance fee) 🍜 Must-Try Food List Knife-cut Noodles: Dongfang Knife-cut Noodles (15 RMB per person) Lamb Offal Noodles: He Laoren Lamb Offal Noodles (20 RMB) Hunyuan Cold Noodles: Xiaonanjie Shunyi Cold Noodles (10 RMB) Yellow Millet Cake: Fenglinge (38 RMB) Sea Buckthorn Juice: Local Specialty (5 RMB/bottle) Hidden Delight: Knife-cut noodles with pickled vegetables, a local favorite 📸 Best Photo Spots In front of the Buddha in Cave 20: Shoot the Buddha statue against the blue sky from below (morning light) Central Stupa Pillar in Cave 6: Use the light from the window openings to shoot silhouettes Front Corridor of Cave 9: Use the reliefs as a foreground composition Exit of the Scenic Area: A perfect combination of red walls and stone carvings Note: Flash photography is prohibited inside the caves; photography is prohibited in some areas. 🎨 Cultural Experience Recommendations Professional Guided Tour: 200 RMB/2 hours (Highly recommended, otherwise you won't understand the details) Rubbing Making: 50 RMB (Replica, not a cultural relic) Cultural and Creative Shopping: Buddha Statue Ice Cream (15 RMB) Flying Apsaras Bookmark (20 RMB) Yungang Painting Album (100 RMB) ⚠️ Important Notes Clothing Suggestion: It's windy in the grotto area, bring a windproof jacket. Time Management: Fewer tourists in the morning, more tour groups in the afternoon. Equipment Preparation: Bring a wide-angle lens and enough memory cards. Cultural Taboos: Do not touch the Buddha statues, do not point at them. 🎯 Budget Summary Transportation: Round-trip high-speed rail from Beijing 292 yuan + local taxi 100 yuan = 392 yuan Accommodation: 250 yuan (characteristic hotel in the ancient city) Dining: Knife-cut noodles 15 yuan + cold noodles 10 yuan + shumai 80 yuan + lamb offal 20 yuan = 125 yuan x 2 days = 250 yuan Entrance Fees: 120 yuan + Digital Museum 50 yuan = 170 yuan Experiences: Guided tour 200 yuan + rubbings 50 yuan = 250 yuan Contingency Fund: 100 yuan (for emergencies or upgrading meals) Total Expenses: 1412 yuan (88 yuan remaining for cultural and creative products) 1500 yuan is enough for you to have a dialogue across a thousand years in this "Dunhuang on the stone wall". When sunlight shines through the niches illuminating the Buddha's smile, when your fingers trace the chisel marks of the Northern Wei craftsmen, you will understand why Liang Sicheng said: "The solemnity and grandeur of Yungang is beyond our imagination." Choose a weekday, avoid the crowds, and listen to the stories told by the stones! 🪷#DatongYungangGrottoes #DatongYungangGrottoesTourism #BeautyOfAncientArchitectureInShanxi

Shanxi, one of the birthplaces of Chinese civilization, boasts a rich tapestry of ancient architecture, grotto art, and Shanxi merchant culture. This guide will take you on a journey from north to south, exploring the best of Shanxi on a budget of under 9,000 yuan. It's perfect for travelers who enjoy history, architecture, and cuisine. 📅 Itinerary Overview Day 1: Arrive in Taiyuan → Jin Temple → Shanxi Museum Day 2: Taiyuan → Mount Wutai (Foguang Temple, Bodhisattva Peak) Day 3: Mount Wutai (Dailuo Peak, Xiantong Temple) → Hanging Temple → Datong Day 4: Datong (Yungang Grottoes, Huayan Temple) Day 5: Datong → Pingyao Ancient City Day 6: Pingyao Ancient City → Wang Family Courtyard → Hukou Waterfall Day 7: Hukou Waterfall → Linfen (Guangsheng Temple) → Taiyuan Day 8: Return from Taiyuan 🏨 Accommodation Recommendations Taiyuan (2 nights): Four-star hotel, approximately 400-600 RMB/night Mount Wutai (1 night): Boutique inn within the scenic area, approximately 300-500 RMB/night Datong (1 night): Hotel near the ancient city, approximately 350-550 RMB/night Pingyao (1 night): Characteristic B&B within the ancient city, approximately 400-700 RMB/night Hukou Waterfall (1 night): Hotel near the scenic area, approximately 300-450 RMB/night Total Accommodation Budget: Approximately 3,000 RMB 🚗 Transportation Major Transportation: Round-trip high-speed rail/flight (e.g., Beijing high-speed rail, approximately 600 RMB round-trip) Intra-province Transportation: Chartered car/high-speed rail/tourist bus (approximately 2,500 RMB) Local Transportation: Scenic area electric carts, taxis, etc. (approximately 500 RMB) Total Transportation Budget: Approximately 3,600 RMB 📍 Daily Itinerary Day 1: First Experience of Taiyuan Culture Morning: Arrive in Taiyuan and check in to your hotel. Afternoon: Visit the Jin Temple (80 yuan admission) and admire Song Dynasty painted sculptures. Evening: Visit the Shanxi Museum (free) and learn about the civilization of Shanxi. Day 2: Pilgrimage to Mount Wutai Morning: Travel to Mount Wutai by car (3 hours). Afternoon: Visit Foguang Temple (15 yuan admission) and Bodhisattva Peak (10 yuan admission). Evening: Accommodate at the Mount Wutai Scenic Area. Day 3: The Wonders of the Hanging Temple. Morning: Climb Dailuo Peak (8 yuan admission) and worship the Five-Directions Manjusri. Afternoon: Visit the Hanging Temple (125 yuan admission) and marvel at the wonders of ancient architecture. Evening: Arrive in Datong and check in. Day 4: A Feast of Yungang Grottoes Art. Full Day: In-depth Tour of the Yungang Grottoes (120 yuan admission) and Huayan Temple (65 yuan admission). Evening: Savor Datong Sliced ​​Noodles. Day Day 5: Shanxi Merchants Cultural Tour Morning: Drive to Pingyao (4-hour drive) Afternoon: Tour Pingyao Ancient City (125 RMB pass) and visit the Rishengchang Bank Day 6: Wang Family Courtyard + Hukou Waterfall Morning: Visit Wang Family Courtyard (55 RMB admission), the "Folk Forbidden City" Afternoon: Depart for Hukou Waterfall (5-hour drive) Evening: Watch the sunset over the Yellow River Day 7: Guangsheng Temple Glazed Pagoda Morning: Visit Hukou Waterfall (100 RMB admission) Afternoon: Visit Guangsheng Temple (55 RMB admission) and see the colorful glazed pagoda Evening: Return to Taiyuan Day 8: Return to Taiyuan Morning: Purchase Shanxi specialties (aged vinegar, Pingyao beef) Afternoon: Return based on flight/train schedule 💰 Budget Overview Items Budget (RMB) Transportation 3600 Accommodation (7 nights) 3000 Food and Beverage 1500 Entrance Fees 600 Other 300 Total 9000 🍜 Must-Try Foods Taiyuan: Tou Nao, Guoyou Rou Datong: Knife-Cut Noodles, Sheep Offal Pingyao: Pingyao Beef, Wantiao Southern Shanxi: Hele Noodles, Yellow River Carp 📌 Useful Tips Best Season: April-June, September-October (avoid extreme cold) Admission Discount: 50% off for seniors over 60 and students with ID Photography Tip: Flash photography is prohibited at the Yungang Grottoes Reminder: Mount Wutai experiences significant temperature fluctuations, so bring a jacket. This guide covers the best of Shanxi's UNESCO World Heritage sites and national treasures. Daily driving time is limited to 3-5 hours, ensuring a thorough and stress-free experience. If you need to adjust your itinerary, you may wish to omit some attractions. #Yikou Waterfall #Hengshan Hanging Temple #Wutaishan Buddhist Holy Land #Wutaishan Xiantong Temple