The most impressive sight in Shanxi is the Wooden Pagoda of Ying County.

The Wooden Pagoda of Ying County is the tallest and oldest wooden tower in China, with high historical, cultural, and artistic value. 1. Basic information: - Location: Located in the Fugong Temple in the northwest of Ying County, Shuozhou City, Shanxi Province. - Architectural features: Built in the second year of Liao Qingning (AD 1056), and completed in the sixth year of Jin Mingchang (AD 1195). The octagonal tower is about 60 meters high. Except for the 4-meter-high stone base on the first floor, the rest of the tower is made of wood, without a single nail or rivet, and all are built with mortise and tenon joints. The wooden tower has five floors, with hidden floors between each floor, making it nine floors in total. Each floor is supported by two rings of wooden pillars, with 24 pillars on the outside and 8 on the inside. 2. Highlights: - Exquisite Buddha statues and murals: Each floor of the tower is decorated with Buddha statues and exquisite murals, all of which are original artifacts from the Liao Dynasty. The statue of Sakyamuni Buddha on the first floor is about 11 meters high, with a dignified face and a pleasant expression. The surrounding murals of Vajra, Heavenly Kings, disciples, and patrons are delicately and vividly painted, in a style unique to the Liao Dynasty. - Unique bracket set structure: The tower uses a total of 54 types of bracket sets, known as the "Bracket Set Museum". The bracket sets connect the beams, arches, and pillars into a whole, forming an octagonal hollow structure layer on each floor, which not only serves a decorative purpose, but also effectively resists the force of earthquakes. - Plaques by famous people from past dynasties: Looking up from under the wooden tower, you can see the plaques hanging under the eaves of each floor. Among them, the "Ji Ji Shen Gong" written by Zhu Di, the Emperor Chengzu of the Ming Dynasty, and the "Tian Xia Qi Guan" written by Zhu Houzhao, the Emperor Wuzong of the Ming Dynasty, are the most eye-catching. - Wind chimes on the tower: Wind chimes are installed under the eaves of each floor of the wooden tower. When the wind blows, the wind chimes ring, producing a pleasant sound. 3. Ticket information: - Full price ticket: CNY 50 per person. 4. Opening hours: 08:00-18:00 (Monday to Sunday from January 1 to December 31). 5. Travel tips: - Time arrangement: It is recommended to arrange 1-3 hours for the tour. Currently, for the protection of cultural relics, visitors can only visit the first floor of the tower, but the surrounding environment and the appearance of the wooden tower are also worth savoring and appreciating. - Photo taking: You can try different photo angles and techniques, such as wide-angle mode, symmetrical composition, etc., to record the spectacular scenery of the wooden tower. Please note that the Wooden Pagoda of Ying County has experienced nearly a thousand years of wind and rain, and the tower body is currently tilted. The relevant protection and restoration work is ongoing. When visiting, please take care of the cultural relics and comply with the regulations and management of the scenic area.