Xinzhou's off-season travel is truly amazing.

I just returned from Xinzhou with my parents last week, and my friends were all asking about this hidden gem! No crowds, no tourist traps, and an exclusive experience for just over 600 RMB per person. Save this comprehensive guide now~ 🚞Transportation Tips ▪️ Take the high-speed train from Taiyuan to Xinzhou (25 minutes), then a 10 RMB taxi ride to the ancient city. ▪️ Luyashan Scenic Area carpooling tip: At 7 am, villagers offer carpooling from the west gate of the ancient city (50 RMB/person, half the price of a private car). ▪️ The Yellow River No. 1 Tourist Highway is stunning for self-driving, but for beginners, the Laoniu Bay → Qiankun Bay section is recommended, with fewer curves and scenic viewing platforms throughout. 🌟Must-Have Experiences 1️⃣ Capture stunning photos in the万年冰洞 (Wannian Ice Cave): Bring a warm-colored flashlight! The amber light refracted by the ice pillars is magical. 2️⃣ Horseback riding in Hanfu at雁门关 (Yanmen Pass): Locals rent horses below the pass (30 RMB/lap). Capture heroic photos in armor. 3️⃣ Cook hot pot in the奇村 (Qicun) hot springs: Buy a bag of raw eggs and drop them into the 80°C spring. Enjoy soft-boiled eggs with buckwheat bowl cakes after 15 minutes. 4️⃣ Stargazing and camping by the云中河 (Yunzhong River): Navigate to "牧马桥 (Mu Ma Qiao)". The Milky Way is visible in summer. Remember mosquito repellent. 5️⃣ Feed lambs in悬空村 (Xuankong Village): Buy a bundle of hay for 5 RMB, and the black-faced lambs under the eaves will chase you. It's incredibly heartwarming. 🍲Local Food Radar ✅ Ancient city oil cake blind box: 3 RMB/piece, randomly filled with brown sugar/jujube paste/red bean paste. Eat them while they're hot, even if they're scalding. ✅ Two ways to eat Dai County's "Ao Fish": First, drink the milky fish soup, then dip the fish in vinegar. Enjoy a filling meal for 40 RMB per person. ✅ Deluxe version of Baode bowl cakes: Topped with fried dough twists and marinated eggs. The chili oil is so fragrant you'll want to take some home. ⚠️Avoid: The "wild mushroom soup" at the scenic area entrance is often fake. For authentic mushroom soup, visit a farmhouse restaurant in Wutaishan. 🧳Packing List ✔️ Add: Foldable kettle (perfect for boiling eggs in hot springs/making instant noodles) ✔️ Add: Waterproof phone case (sudden rain is common in Malun Grassland, Luyashan) ✖️ Remove: DSLR camera (the temperature difference in the ice cave can cause fogging; a phone is more practical) ⭕️ Hidden gem: Hand warmers for your phone! Prevents your phone from shutting down in the cold ice cave (tested and proven). 📅Seasonal Activities 🌸 March-April: Apricot blossoms in Xinzhou Ancient City + kite flying by the Yunzhong River 🍉 June-August: Escape the heat in Luyashan (20°C) + mushroom picking 🍁 September-October: Admire the autumn foliage at Yanmen Pass + Jujube Festival ❄️ December-February: Hot springs with snowy scenery in Qicun + Blue Ice season in the ice cave Learning to make莜面栲栳栳 (youmian kaolaolao) from an 80-year-old grandma in Xuankong Village, listening to the night watchman at Yanmen Pass tell stories of Ming Dynasty border guards, and watching for the aurora at the ice cave observation station with locals at 3 am (though we didn't see it)... The most precious part of this trip wasn't the likes on social media, but the memories of local culture and customs.