Things to do in Hequ

It is worth visiting the Qin, Jin, Meng and Jimingwen Three Provinces Scenic Area, which is a famous ancient place in Hequ County, Xinzhou City, Shanxi Province. It has traditional Chinese culture, as well as Hequ County Wantuo, the Yellow River Niangniang Beach, Xikou Ancient Ferry, Errentai, the River God Temple, and Mifo Cave.

In Fugu County, the northernmost part of Shaanxi Province, and Jungar Banner of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, across the river from Hequ County in Shanxi Province, there is a famous scenic spot - "The crowing of cocks can be heard in three provinces". In fact, this is the first bend of the Yellow River as it enters Shaanxi.

Laoniu Bay is a place where the Yellow River and the Great Wall embrace each other on the Loess Plateau. The emerald green river meanders gently through the canyon, drawing a near-perfect Taiji Bay; the Ming Great Wall winds down the mountain ridge, quietly meeting the Yellow River at the cliff top. Stone castles, cave dwellings, and knife-cut cliffs intertwine with the gentle shimmering water, creating a scene that is both desolate and beautiful, majestic yet tranquil, like a landscape painting unfolding for thousands of years.

Due to the complex terrain and constant wars throughout the ages, Shanxi's population is not very large. In the 41st year of Emperor Qianlong's reign in the Qing Dynasty (1776 AD), the population of Shanxi Province was about 12 million, and by 1953, the population of Shanxi Province was 16 million. Over the past 160 years, the growth rate of Shanxi's population has not been large. This is related to the wars since the late Qing Dynasty, which caused a large number of Shanxi people to migrate out, such as the famous Zou Xikou.

The first cave I visited was Yungang Grottoes. Compared to the Dunhuang murals, the Yungang Grottoes and statues are more breathtaking. Such a magnificent work was completed in less than a hundred years, which shows the strength of its "mobilization".

Ancient cypress trees from the Western Zhou Dynasty, inscriptions on steles from the Tang Dynasty, the Holy Mother Hall, Fish Pond Flying Bridge, and Golden Man Platform from the Northern Song Dynasty, the Offering Hall from the Jin Dynasty, the Water Mirror Platform and the Duiyue Archway from the Ming Dynasty... all these elements are contained within one ancestral hall, encompassing a thousand years of history.

I was awestruck when I saw the pagoda; it was even more beautiful than I had imagined. You can go inside the first floor to see the Buddha statues, but you can't climb up. The ticket price of 50 yuan is great value, and I highly recommend it!

Pingyao Ancient City is definitely worth a visit! A well-preserved Ming and Qing dynasty city, its cobblestone streets exude a rich atmosphere. The city walls, banks, and county government offices are all steeped in history. The night view with red lanterns is absolutely stunning, brimming with local life. ✨

A trip to Datong is incomplete without visiting the Hanging Temple, a cliffside pavilion built during the Northern Wei Dynasty, nestled between the cliffs of Cuiping Peak, over 1,500 years old. At first glance, one is awestruck by the ingenuity of the ancient builders. The slender wooden pillars visible to the naked eye are not the main load-bearing elements; the true support for the entire structure comes from the flying beams deeply embedded in the rock face – a testament to their remarkable craftsmanship. When visiting northern Shanxi, be sure to witness this marvel of architecture firsthand.