Travel Diary｜7-Day Self-Drive Tour in Shanxi (Part 1)

🚗: The distances between attractions are quite far, so renting a car is the best choice. Rent a car in Taiyuan for 2 days, take the train to Datong, then rent a car for another 2 days. The remaining attractions are within the city, and taxis are quite convenient. DAY 1: Taiyuan Station - Wang Family Courtyard - Shuanglin Temple - Pingyao Ancient City ✅Wang Family Courtyard 🎫Ticket: 55 RMB (50 RMB for combo ticket) 🅿️Parking: Many parking lots nearby, generally 15 RMB per time. During National Day, roads are closed and internal parking lots are reportedly inaccessible. 🕒Time: 4 hours 👀Introduction: Shilv Fort (Gaojiaya): Dunhou Residence, Ningrui Residence, Guixin Academy, the Three Treasures and Three Carvings are all here, a must-see! Hongmen Fort: Climb the fort walls to overlook a large complex. The best photo spot is on the east wall. This area mainly houses the Wang Family Museum and other exhibitions, which can be selectively visited. Fewer people here. 🌟Highlights: Three Treasures (Imperial Edict, The Great Qing’s Map of Eternal Unity, Dragon-Phoenix Bed), Three Carvings (brick carving, wood carving, stone carving) Food: There is an old street at the entrance with many restaurants and snacks (Wang Family Restaurant’s taste is average) ✅Shuanglin Temple 🎫Ticket: 35 RMB 🅿️Parking: 10 RMB per time 🕒Time: 1.5 hours 👀Introduction: Over 2,000 colored sculptures from the Song to Qing dynasties, known as the "Treasure House of Oriental Colored Sculpture Art," surrounded by a distinctive small city wall. 🌟Highlights: Four Heavenly Kings in the Hall of Heavenly Kings; Free Guanyin and the most beautiful Weituo in the Hall of Thousand Buddhas; Thousand-Hand Guanyin in the Bodhisattva Hall Tip: Each hall is very dark and has iron railings; flash photography is not allowed. Taking photos with a phone is more convenient. DAY 2: Pingyao Ancient City - Zhenguo Temple - Qiao Family Courtyard - Taiyuan ✅Zhenguo Temple 🎫Ticket: 25 RMB 🅿️Parking: Free 🕒Time: 1 hour 👀Introduction: One of only seven Five Dynasties buildings in China, preserving Five Dynasties colored sculptures, with royal attributes. 🌟Highlights: Dougong brackets in the Hall of Ten Thousand Buddhas, Five Dynasties colored sculptures; Ming dynasty murals narrating a long scroll in the Hall of Three Buddhas on the second floor. ✅Qiao Family Courtyard 🎫Ticket: 115 RMB 🅿️Parking: Free (if dining opposite) 🕒Time: 3 hours 👀Introduction: Four halls and one courtyard In the central hall: Courtyard One (entrance “Fude Shrine”), Courtyard Two, Courtyard Three, Courtyard Four (Three Treasures, Nine-Dragon Screen), Courtyard Five (the most beautiful, Minglou Courtyard was the filming location of "Raise the Red Lantern") Dexing Hall, Ningshou Hall, Baoyuan Hall, and the garden were rebuilt later, mainly exhibitions, fewer people, good for photos. 🌟Highlights: Three Treasures (Rhinoceros Moon Mirror 3⃣️, Ten Thousand People Ball 3⃣️, Nine-Dragon Lantern 4⃣️), Nine-Dragon Screen 4⃣️, Three Carvings, the main gate is also a highlight (large “Fu” character screen wall, “Hundred Longevity Picture” on the back, couplets in seal script by Zuo Zongtang, plaque “Blessings from Langhuan” gifted by Empress Dowager Cixi, couplets on copper plates by Li Hongzhang) Food: Many restaurants along the road opposite, free parking if dining there. Next: Jin Temple, Shanxi Museum, Yanmen Pass… To Be Continued🌟