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.

Mount Heng (Northern Peak) | 3-Day, 2-Night In-Depth Tour Guide: "Majestic and Mysterious" Girls, I just got back from Mount Heng (Northern Peak), and the trip felt like a journey through a thousand years of fantasy! I can't wait to share my travel guide with you all! Preparation ● Documents: ID card, student ID (discounts available), veterans should bring their preferential treatment card. ● Clothing: Temperatures are low on the mountain, so a thick jacket and comfortable sneakers are essential. ● Other Items: Sunscreen, sunglasses, umbrella or raincoat, power bank, camera. Transportation Guide ● External Transportation: ○ By Air: You can first fly to Datong Yungang Airport, then take a bus or taxi to Hunyuan County. ○ By High-Speed ​​Rail: Arrive at Datong South Station, then take bus 901 directly to the Mount Heng Visitor Center. ● Scenic Area Transportation: For self-driving vehicles, park at the Hengshan Visitor Center or Liuhe Parking Lot. Free parking is available, followed by a shuttle bus (20 RMB/person, running between the Visitor Center, Hanging Temple, Yuemen Bay, and Hengzong). Tourist buses go directly to the Hanging Temple parking lot; buses to the Hengshan temple complex drop off passengers at the Yuemen Bay entrance, then drive 800 meters south to the Xiapanpu parking lot for free parking. Accommodation Recommendations ● Hunyuan County: Many hotels are available at affordable prices, such as the Hengshan International Hotel, which offers good value and is close to the night market. ● Near the Scenic Area: Convenient for hiking the next day, but prices are higher, requiring advance booking. Itinerary Day 1: Hanging Temple, First Encounter with the "Wonder" of the Northern Mountain ● Morning: Depart from Datong city before 8:00 AM, a 1.5-hour drive to the Hanging Temple. First, visit the free lower temple, then climb the main hall (entrance fee 15 RMB + climbing fee 100 RMB, book one day in advance via the "Hengshan Scenic Area" WeChat official account), and see the Three Saints Hall and the Garan Hall. ● Noon: Eat "Little Wife's Cold Noodles" at the "Hunyuan Cold Noodles Main Store". ● Evening: Return to Hunyuan County, stay at the "Hengshan International Hotel", and stroll through the night market, trying braised pork and yellow millet cake. Day 2: Hengshan Temple Complex, exploring the "gods" of the Northern Peak ● Morning: Take the scenic area bus (20 minutes, 5 yuan) to the visitor center, buy a Hengshan ticket (45 yuan, valid for 48 hours), and hike for about 3 hours to Tianfeng Ridge, passing Guolaoling and Feishiku. ● Noon: Eat Hunyuan knife-cut noodles at the "Basalt Restaurant" halfway up the mountain. ● Afternoon: Climb to the top of Tianfeng Ridge, visit Hengzong Hall, and enjoy the panoramic mountain views. ● Evening: Hike down the mountain or take the cable car (70 yuan) to the halfway point, return to the county town, and eat "Wind-Sand Chicken" at the "Kaige Restaurant". Day 3: Exploring the Flavors of Beiyue ● Morning: If time permits, visit the Yingxian Wooden Pagoda (70 km from Hunyuan, a 1.5-hour drive). ● Noon: Enjoy lamb spine hot pot at "Laocheng Yiguo Yangxiezi" in Yingxian. ● Afternoon: Return home and bring back souvenirs such as Hunyuan Liangfen (cold mung bean noodles), Hengshan Huangqi (astragalus root), and Datong copperware. Food Recommendations ● Xiaoxifu Liangfen (Little Wife's Cold Mung Bean Noodles): Freshly made yellow millet jelly noodles, served with smoked eggs and dried tofu, 5 yuan/bowl. ● Guoyourou (Stir-fried Pork): A traditional Shanxi dish, tender and flavorful, 25 yuan/serving. ● Huangmi Lianggao (Yellow Millet Cake): Sticky and slightly sweet, 8 yuan/serving. ● Hunyuan Daoxiao Mian (Hunyuan Knife-cut Noodles): Chewy knife-cut noodles with rich beef broth, 15 yuan/bowl. ● Fengsha Ji (Wind-blown Chicken): Tender chicken meat coated in sea buckthorn sauce, sweet and sour, appetizing. Travel Tips ● Opening Hours: Hengshan Mountain 7:00 - 17:00; Cable Car 7:00 - 17:30; Hanging Temple 7:00 - 18:00. ● Ticketing Methods: Online: Follow the "Hengshan Scenic Area" WeChat official account or search for the "Beiyue Yunyou" mini-program to purchase tickets. Hanging Temple climbing tickets are available from 7:20 - 21:00, and other attractions from 7:00 - 21:00, with tickets available for booking within 7 days. Offline: Tickets are sold at the Hengshan Visitor Center. Hengshan Mountain tickets are available from 6:30 - 16:30, Hanging Temple tickets from 6:30 - 17:30, and Hanging Temple climbing tickets go on sale at 6:30 and 12:00. ● Discount Policy: Disabled persons and active military personnel can obtain discounted tickets at the window with relevant documents. ● Precautions: Check the weather forecast in advance and bring appropriate clothing; the stairs at the Hanging Temple are narrow, so climb carefully; pets, smoking, and open flames are prohibited in the scenic area. My darlings, pack your bags and let's go experience the "majesty and mystery" of Mount Heng in the North! 😎 #MountHeng #MountHengshanTravelGuide #ShanxiTourism

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