2025 Jiexiu Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in January)

🌄 Mianshan Mountain is a hidden paradise in Jinzhong. The lush mountains and misty clouds are like a flowing landscape painting, waiting for every traveler to savor. 🖼️ 🚶‍♂️ Walk along the stone path of Mianshan Mountain, and every step is full of surprises. The ancient trees tower over the mountain, the clear springs trickle down, and the air is filled with the fresh scent of soil and leaves, making you feel relaxed and happy. 🌳💧 🌄 When you reach the top of the mountain, you will be greeted by a sea of clouds, like a dream. The distant mountains are faintly visible in the sea of clouds, like a fairyland. At this moment, you seem to have merged into this magical world. 🌁 📸 Take out your phone or camera and capture this stunning beauty. Whether it's the strange pines and rocks in the mountains or the magnificent sea of clouds, your photos will stand out in your social media feed. 📷 🧘‍♀️ Here, you can temporarily forget the troubles of the world and let your mind relax completely. Take a deep breath of fresh air, feel the embrace of nature, and let your body and mind be purified and sublimated in the embrace of Mianshan Mountain. 🌟

📍Mianshan is located in Jiexiu, Shanxi Province. It is a branch of the Taiyue Mountain (Huoshan) range that extends northward. The highest peak is 2,566.6 meters above sea level, with a relative height of over 1,000 meters. Mianshan, also known as Jieshan, is named for its long and continuous shape. It is a provincial-level scenic area and the birthplace of the Qingming Festival (Cold Food Festival) in China. 🌸Seasonal Highlights March to April: Spring in Mianshan, return to nature and fitness. May to September: Explore the wonders of nature, escape the summer heat, and enjoy a vacation. October to November: The golden autumn leaves and colorful Mianshan are a feast for the eyes. December to February: Warm winter in Mianshan, where the temperature difference in the same scenic area is huge. Enjoy the ice peaks and jade pillars in Shuitaogou, and the flowers in Longjiling. Celebrate the Spring Festival in Mianshan and enjoy the charm of the new Jin merchants' culture. 🎫Tickets Admission: CNY 110 per person Sightseeing bus: CNY 50 per person Jiegongling Cable Car: CNY 35 per person Longjiling Cable Car: CNY 35 per person 🚖Transportation 1⃣Self-driving: Search for Jiexiu Mianshan Scenic Area on the navigation app, drive to Lingshikou Expressway, and follow the roadside signs for 10 minutes to reach Mianshan Scenic Area. There is a paid parking lot, which costs CNY 30 per day (on holidays). 2⃣Train: Jiexiu Station, about 19 km from Mianshan Scenic Area. You can take Bus 302, which departs on the hour, and costs CNY 5 to reach Mianshan Scenic Area. 3⃣Airport: Taiyuan Wusu Airport, about 152 km from Mianshan Scenic Area. You can take the airport bus to Taiyuan downtown, then take a train/high-speed train to Jiexiu, and finally take a bus or a shuttle bus to Mianshan Scenic Area. ✅Main Attractions🌄Main Attractions Longtou Temple: The bell of the ancient temple echoes through history. Daluo Palace: A treasure of Taoist culture. Yunfeng Temple: The wonder of Baofu Rock and the tranquility of the ancient temple. Shuitaogou: Waterfalls and springs, a symphony of nature. 📍Mianshan Hiking Routes 🚶‍♂One-day Hiking Route Longtou Temple → Daluo Palace → Tianqiao → Zhujia'ao → Yunfeng Temple → Zhengguo Temple → Xixian Valley → Shuitaogou Start from Longtou Temple, feel the solemnity and tranquility of the ancient temple, then go to Daluo Palace to experience the mystery of Taoist culture, pass through Tianqiao and Zhujia'ao, and reach Yunfeng Temple to feel the weight of the ancient temple, the tranquility of Zhengguo Temple, the beauty of Xixian Valley, and finally end the day at Shuitaogou to experience the agility of water and the grandeur of the mountain. 🚶‍♀Two-day Hiking Route Day 1: Longtou Temple → Daluo Palace → Tianqiao → Zhujia'ao → Yunfeng Temple On the first day, start from Longtou Temple, shuttle through the splendor of Daluo Palace, the steepness of Tianqiao, the tranquility of Zhujia'ao, and finally end at Yunfeng Temple to feel the sediment of history. Day 2: Zhengguo Temple → Xixian Valley → Shuitaogou → Guteng Valley → Return On the second day, start from Zhengguo Temple, pass through the freshness of Xixian Valley, the magnificence of Shuitaogou, the mystery of Guteng Valley, and finally return. The two-day trip will let you experience the nature and culture of Mianshan in depth. 📝Tips Wear comfortable hiking shoes to make your steps lighter. Bring enough water and snacks to replenish your energy. Bring sun protection and rain gear to cope with the changing weather. Choose the right route according to your physical strength and time.

Hey, guys! You can't miss this guide! The ultimate guide to a 4-day tour of Pingyao Ancient City and Mianshan is here! Don't take the long way around. All the surprises of the trip are here! -------- 🎉🎒Itinerary: Day 1: Wang Family Courtyard, Shanxi Say goodbye to the hustle and bustle of the city and be captivated by the simple elegance of the Wang Family Courtyard. The historical stories within await your exploration. Day 2: Mianshan—Shuitao Valley, Mianshan Scenic Area The Mianshan Scenic Area is suitable for all ages and will make you feel like you're traveling through history. You'll be immersed in the mountain peaks and green pines and bamboos, enjoying the journey. Day 3: Hukou Waterfall, Shanxi On this day, you'll be amazed by the magnificent scenery of Hukou Waterfall, as if you're in a grand and beautiful natural painting. Day 4: Pingyao Ancient City—Tianjin Enjoy the ancient charm and unique appeal of Pingyao Ancient City, then the modern and bustling Tianjin will be the perfect end to this trip. The fleeting alternation of ancient and modern times leaves a deep impression. -------- 🧣Travel Essentials: Check off your Pingyao Ancient City and Mianshan packing list ☃️First, dear friends, it's a bit cold in Pingyao Ancient City and Mianshan in December, so remember to bring warm clothes, down jackets, warmers, and scarves. Also, don't forget non-slip snow boots! 👝Next, let's talk about accessories. Don't forget hats and gloves, as wind and cold protection are important. You can bring an umbrella, although you may not need it, but it's always good to be prepared. 📝Of course, documents are also essential. ID cards, cash, and credit cards are all safety guarantees when you're out and about. You can also prepare a copy of your itinerary, accommodation booking information, and scenic area guide map in advance. 📷Let's talk about entertainment equipment. DSLR cameras, mobile phones, and power banks are all great helpers for taking photos and navigating. To prevent data loss, you can also prepare a spare memory card. 💊Finally, don't forget health-related items. First, you need a medicine box. Remember to bring antipyretics, painkillers, motion sickness medicine, and other common medicines. Also, dear friends, thermos cups and masks are essential for going out in winter. -------- 🏮The beauty of Pingyao Ancient City and Mianshan can only be truly felt by visiting in person! We look forward to your exploration and discovery!🏮

When you visit Jiexiu, Shanxi, don't miss Wuyue Temple. Although most of the ancient buildings in Jiexiu City are from the Ming and Qing dynasties, which are not particularly old compared to other ancient buildings in Shanxi, Jiexiu is famous for its glazed tiles! The ancient buildings here are known for their complex and exquisite structures and glazed tile decorations, which are shiny and very attractive. Among the several national protected buildings in Jiexiu, the glazed tiles of the Houtu Temple are the most dazzling. In my opinion, the glazed tiles of Wuyue Temple are the most outstanding after the Houtu Temple. Unfortunately, Wuyue Temple is not open to the public yet, so you can't go inside. You can only use a drone to see its full view from above. Wuyue Temple is located in Caoshi Lane, Jiexiu City, Jinzhong City, Shanxi Province. It was built in the 7th year of the Ming Jingtai period (1456) and is a group of ancient Taoist buildings. Wuyue Temple faces south and has a two-courtyard layout. Walking along the central axis, you can see the street-facing screen wall, the mountain gate (which also serves as a theater stage), the offering hall, the main hall, and the rear hall. There are eight-character screen walls on both sides of the mountain gate, and side halls on both sides of the offering hall. The special feature is that the roof structures of the mountain gate, theater stage, and bell and drum towers are connected together, like a trinity. The ridge decorations on the top of the entire Wuyue Temple are all decorated with peacock blue glazed tiles. The color of the glazed tiles is very vibrant, and the shapes are beautiful. They must be especially beautiful when illuminated by sunlight. There are many delicious foods nearby. For example, Pingyao beef is tender and flavorful, and it is delicious when sliced thinly and sandwiched in a bun. Taigu cake is sweet but not greasy, crispy and soft, and makes a great snack. If you want to visit Jiexiu and Wuyue Temple, you should know that it is not open to the public. If you want to see what it looks like, you can only use a drone. Other attractions, such as Houtu Temple, are worth visiting to admire the exquisite glazed tiles up close. Strolling through the Ming and Qing ancient buildings in Jiexiu City and experiencing the historical charm is also a good idea. When visiting, respect local customs and traditions, and take care of the ancient buildings. Don't graffiti.

#chinatrip 🥰China's most beautiful glaze paifang, I'm completely amazed by this charming peacock blue! China has countless paifang (Chinese-style archways), most of which are made of stone. There are only 13 glaze archways exist in China, with 12 located in Beijing and Chengde, and just one in Jiexiu, Shanxi Province. The Taihe Rock glaze archway in Jiexiu is the only archway entirely made of glaze, featuring a primary color of jade-like peacock accented with golden yellow and green glaze, making it even more vibrant. The patterns on the glaze are vivid and rich in content, featuring dragon motifs, auspicious beasts, flowers, birds, fish, insects, figures, landscapes, and couplets, all embodying the good wishes for luck, longevity, and peace in. Various artistic techniques such as imitation line carving, high relief, and transparent carving have been employed in the glaze pieces, along with a wealth of painting techniques, making each piece unique. The glaze archway is truly a masterpiece without doubt among many archways in China. #

If you have an annual pass, this attraction is worth a visit. If you are fascinated by underground tunnels, this attraction is worth a visit. 🚉Transportation tips: Bus 301 departs from Jiexiu Station every half hour, RMB 3 per ride, 1 ride per hour. 🗓Route: Nanbao Gate - Guandi Temple - Ancient Military Training Ground - Astrology Culture Exhibition Hall - Kuixing Tower - Kehan Temple - Underground Tunnel - Longhefu - Yongchun Tower - Yulong Temple - Kongwang Temple - Erlang Temple 📝Tips: 1. Gate: The scenic area has a south gate and a north gate. The main entrance is on the south side, and the bus stop is also on this side. Pay attention to the navigation if you drive. 2. Tunnel: One-way, no return. Check out the scenery near Guandi Temple before entering the tunnel. Be sure to climb the city wall and overlook the attractions in front of you. The terrain is high in the south and low in the north. The tunnel takes about 30 minutes. 3. Ancient buildings: Don't miss the unique "Fu" character. The glazed stele in Kongwang Temple is very exquisite, but unfortunately it is covered by glass. Erlang Temple is now a glazed exhibition hall, where you can see many exquisite glazed items. 4. Terrain: The road from Jiexiu to the scenic area is uphill. The south gate is the highest point. Although the north side is lower, the houses are basically flat. Pay attention to the waterway on the main street. It was originally used for drainage from south to north, but now there is always water to prevent the air from drying out. The scenic area is very thoughtful. 5. Performance: The scenic area has regular performances, but the quality is average, so you don't need to wait for them. 6. Along the way: You will pass by Lingkong Tower on the way, which is a warm-up for Zhangbi Ancient Castle. It is a paid attraction, similar to the free Shigong Tower in the urban area, so you don't need to buy a ticket to enter.

Mianshan, also known as Jieshan, is located 20 km southeast of Jiexiu City, Shanxi Province. It is the birthplace of the Qingming Festival (Cold Food Festival). Mianshan is famous for its breathtaking natural scenery and rich historical culture. It is where Jie Zitui of the Jin State in the Spring and Autumn Period lived in seclusion. Itinerary Morning Route: Longtou Temple - As a starting point, feel the mystery and solemnity of Mianshan. Daluo Palace - Visit the Taoist architectural complex and experience the grandeur of the "Little Potala Palace." Tianqiao - Walk along the plank road on the cliff and experience the feeling of "walking on air." Yunfeng Temple - Admire the hanging plank road and ancient architectural complex. Lunch Recommendations: Mianshan Kaiyuan Imperial Banquet - Taste the famous Mianshan banquet named by Emperor Xuanzong of Tang and experience the ancient flavors. Afternoon Route: Shuitaogou - A natural scenic area known as the "Little Jiuzhai." Zhengguo Temple - Feel the tranquility of Buddhist culture. Qixian Valley - Enjoy the natural scenery and historical and cultural attractions. Yidou Spring - Experience the natural spring water of Mianshan. Specialty Food Recommendations: Shanxi-style Youmian Kaolao - Authentic Shanxi cuisine. Jiexiu Dandan Noodles - Unique breakfast culture with delicious soup. Guanxian Candy - Traditional Han candy from Jiexiu, Shanxi, and one of the eight treasures of Jiexiu. Opening Hours and Prices Peak Season: April 1–October 31, 8:00 am–7:30 pm, tickets CNY 110/person, sightseeing bus CNY 50/person. Off Season: November 1–March 31, 8:30 am–6:00 pm, tickets CNY 90/person, sightseeing bus CNY 50/person. Transportation Self-driving: Exit at the Lingshi Toll Station on the Beijing-Kunming Expressway - Yongji Avenue - X378 (Jieqin Line) - Mianshan Scenic Area. Public Transportation: Jiexiu City - Mianshan Scenic Area direct tourist bus/Jiexiu Bus 223 to Jiexiu Bus 302. Travel Tips and Photo Spots Daluo Palace: A 13-story ancient-style building built on the mountain, the largest temple in the country, perfect for photos. Yunfeng Temple: The temple houses more than 70 exquisite colored sculptures from various dynasties, including three bone statues, making it a great place for photos. Tianqiao: A 400-meter-long ancient plank road in the clouds. After the rain, clouds rise, and when you walk on the bridge, the clouds fly under your feet, making it a perfect photo spot.

Pingyao → Zhangbi Ancient Castle → Wang Family Courtyard → Pingyao → Shuanglin Temple|||The transportation for the entire route is very inconvenient. If you are not driving yourself and only using public transportation, you either need to have plenty of time and stay overnight in Jiexiu, or be prepared to take a taxi. First, from Pingyao to Jiexiu, there is a bus from Jiexiu to Zhangbi Ancient Castle. The bus stop is right outside the train station, but the schedule is uncertain, with buses running about once an hour. You can ask for more information when you get there. Zhangbi Ancient Castle is not very big, and about 3 hours is enough to explore it. There is no direct transportation from Zhangbi Ancient Castle to Wang Family Courtyard, so you need to take a bus back to Jiexiu and then go to Wang Family Courtyard. In this case, you will probably need to take a taxi, which costs about 50 yuan. Alternatively, you can take a train from Jiexiu to Lingshi, and then take a bus from Lingshi to Wang Family Courtyard. The route depends on your schedule. We planned to do it in one day, and we booked a car for the two segments in between. It is difficult to book a car in Jiexiu, and almost all of them are taxis. After a day of sightseeing, we returned to Pingyao from Lingshi. It is very convenient to get from Pingyao to Shuanglin Temple. You can take bus 108 near the train station, which goes directly to the temple. While waiting for the bus, private car drivers may approach you and ask if you want a ride. You can negotiate the price, and they can take you there for 8 yuan. The choice is yours. Shuanglin Temple is really worth visiting. The craftsmanship of the various hanging sculptures of gods and Buddhas in the Three Thousand Worlds is particularly exquisite.

Located in Beixinwu Village, Jiexiu City, Shanxi Province. Built in the 23rd year of the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty (1897). It has three gates, four pillars, three floors, and a single-eave hip roof. The four pillar bases are stone-carved waist-bundled Sumeru style, and the archway pillars, couplets, balustrades, plaques, brackets, eaves, tile roofs, ridge decorations, and ridge spires are all made of glazed art components. The glaze colors are mainly yellow, green, and blue, occasionally accompanied by white, purple, black, and crimson. Because it is entirely covered with exquisite and luxurious glazed decorations, it is called a glazed archway by the locals. The entire archway is colorful and dazzling under the sunlight. There are very few glazed archways in China, and they are of high quality and very precious.

|Explore the Daluo Wonderland. The name of Mianshan Daluo Palace comes from Jie Zitui, a famous hermit in the Spring and Autumn Period. It is said that Jie Zitui once lived in seclusion with his mother in Mianshan and saw the Taoist highest realm "Daluo Wonderland" here, which is "above the Three Purities, there is Yujing Mountain, on the mountain there are seven treasure trees covering the eight directions of Luotian, called Daluo." Daluo Palace is suspended on the cliff of Lion Mountain, 13 stories and 110 meters high, with layers of pavilions, green walls and golden tiles, painted beams and carved columns. The whole palace is carried on the back of a lion, which is lifelike and majestic. The first to seventh floors are five rooms wide, mainly with the Hall of Wealth God, the Hall of Salvation God, the Hall of Three Officials, the Hall of Sixty Yuanchen, the Hall of Doumu, the Hall of Nine Stars, the Hall of Twenty-eight Constellations, the Hall of Lingxiao, the Hall of Three Purities, and the Hall of Five Old Lords. Above the seventh floor are the Hall of All Wonders, the Lecture Altar, the Hall of Chaos, the Hall of All Immortals, and the Sutra Pavilion. The eighth to thirteenth floors are nine rooms wide, with ten dragon columns under the corridor, like the imperial palace in Journey to the West, resplendent and magnificent. There are shuttle buses in the scenic area, or you can choose to walk.

|Renamed after the appearance of two dragons. Longtou Temple is a Buddhist temple with a long history and profound cultural heritage located at the foot of Mianshan Mountain in Jiexiu City, Shanxi Province. Longtou Temple was originally named Tayan Head, after the Kongwang Pagoda Courtyard on the loess slope under the rock. Later, it was renamed Longtou Temple after Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, saw two dragons appear when he went to Mianshan Mountain to pray for rain. The temple preserves a large number of precious cultural relics and historical artifacts, such as the stone carvings of "Marshal Ye Jianying on Mianshan," "Zuo Zhuan: Jie Zitui Refuses Reward," and "Nine Chapters" by Qu Yuan, which are important attractions to appreciate the profound historical culture of Mianshan. Longtou Temple is the first tourist area in Mianshan Scenic Area, with tour guides explaining the local culture and the stories of the surrounding buildings, as well as reminding visitors of the relevant matters of Longji Ridge and the surrounding cable cars.

In ancient architecture, glazed tiles have always been the most dazzling decorative component. Glazed tiles, as a building material, originated in the Northern Wei Dynasty. Since the Tang Dynasty, they have been widely used in the decoration of buildings. Glazed tiles are a perfect combination of ancient Chinese culture and art. Their brilliance and splendor are the embodiment of the exquisite, delicate, and subtle spirit of the Orientals, and the perfect fusion of thought, emotion, and art! Jiexiu, Shanxi, known as the "Hometown of Glazed Tiles in China," has a long history of making glazed tiles, which flourished in the Ming and Qing Dynasties! This art, tempered in fire and reborn in time, has been passed down from generation to generation, with masterpieces in every generation. After thousands of years of wind and frost, it is still colorful!

|Super High Glazed Art Temple. Jiexiu City God Temple was built during the Hongwu period of the Ming Dynasty (1368–1398), and was rebuilt during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, Jiexiu City God Temple was occupied by the Jiexiu Grain Station, and the mountain gate, screen wall, and glazed lions in front of the temple gate were all demolished. The history of glazed pottery in Jiexiu dates back more than 1,200 years, and the technique of glazed pottery has developed its own style, especially architectural glazed pottery. Jiexiu City God Temple includes all styles such as ridge decorations, chiwen, drip tiles, tubular tiles, flat tiles, hanging fish, windbreaks, screen walls, archways, couplets, and steles. Jiexiu City God Temple is not only a religious building, but also a material carrier of historical information. It reflects the historical background, political and economic system, and social life of the time, and has important historical and religious value. The site selection of the City God Temple is based on the ancient traditional cultural concepts of feng shui, yin and yang, and the five elements, and fully considers the relationship with the ancient city and other public buildings. In addition, the glazed components, wood carvings, flowers, and bird decorations in the temple also demonstrate superb craftsmanship. Address: No. 275, East Street, Beiguan Street, Jiexiu City, Jinzhong City, Shanxi Province.

Transportation Guide External Transportation: - If you are flying to Jinzhong, you can fly to Taiyuan Wusu International Airport first. The airport is not far from downtown Jinzhong, and there are many ways to get to downtown Jinzhong, such as airport buses and taxis 🚕. - If you are taking a train, Jinzhong has its own train station, and many trains stop there, making it convenient for you to travel 🚄. - Internal Transportation: - The city has a well-developed bus network that can take you to many attractions, and the fares are cheap 😃. Just prepare some change or pay with your phone. - Taxis are also convenient, but you may encounter traffic jams during peak hours, so remember to plan your time wisely 🕙. Must-visit Attractions - Pingyao Ancient City: This is a World Heritage Site, and it is very well preserved. The Ming and Qing architecture in the ancient city will take you back in time 😲. You can stroll through the streets and alleys of the ancient city and feel the simplicity and tranquility. You can also visit famous attractions such as the Pingyao County Government Office and Rishengchang Bank to learn about ancient commerce and administrative culture 👍. - Qiao Family Courtyard: The famous Qiao Family Courtyard is magnificent, and the exquisite wood carvings, brick carvings, and stone carvings are amazing 😍. Here, you can deeply feel the glorious history and family culture of the Jin merchants. - Mianshan Mountain: The scenery is beautiful, with many places that combine natural and cultural landscapes 🤩. For example, Daluo Palace and Yunfeng Temple are worth visiting, and you can experience the feeling of being in a fairyland with clouds and mist on the mountain ✨. Local Food Recommendations - Pingyao Beef: The meat is tender and flavorful, and it is delicious 😋. It is delicious whether eaten directly or in a bun. - Taigu Cake: Sweet but not greasy, crispy and delicious, it is a famous traditional pastry in Jinzhong 🥮. It is also a great souvenir. - Yuci Sausage: It has a unique taste and is slippery. It is delicious with special seasonings 😜. Tips - If you are visiting Pingyao Ancient City, it is best to stay overnight in the ancient city so that you can experience the night scene of the ancient city more deeply 🌙. - The weather in Jinzhong is changeable, so remember to check the weather forecast and bring appropriate clothing before you travel 👚. - When tasting local food, some snacks may be heavy in flavor. If you don't like spicy food or prefer a light taste, remember to tell the owner in advance 😏.

Mianshan Scenic Area is a place where natural beauty and historical culture come together. Stepping into Mianshan feels like entering an ancient cultural corridor. The lush mountains and flowing streams intertwine with rich historical culture, bringing a unique sense of tranquility and awe. The winding mountain paths are surrounded by verdant pines and babbling springs, with fresh air that invigorates the spirit. Every step feels like an encounter with the dynamic and grand nature. Reaching the summit, you can overlook the entire scenic area, with mountains encircling and mist lingering, resembling a fairyland on earth. Mianshan not only boasts beautiful natural scenery but also embodies Chinese culture. It is the retreat of Jie Zitui, and the origin of the Qingming Festival in the Spring and Autumn period. Visiting the Jie Gong Temple feels like traveling through millennia, experiencing the noble spirit of Jie Zitui. Additionally, the ancient temples and Buddha statues in the area exude a strong religious atmosphere, purifying the soul. Highly recommended is the Yunfeng Temple, built on the mountain and hanging on a cliff, with a majestic presence. Standing in the temple and looking out, the mountains seem to be within reach, and the vastness of the world overwhelms, instilling a sense of awe. Mianshan offers different beauties in each season: blooming flowers in spring, cool and pleasant summers, fiery red leaves in autumn, and a silver-clad winter. No matter when you visit, you will be moved by the natural splendor and rich historical culture. Mianshan Scenic Area is not just a great place for hiking but also an excellent spot to appreciate nature and history. Every visitor will find inner peace and a reverence for historical culture here. If you long for a journey where culture and nature intertwine, Mianshan will surely bring you endless surprises.

Today, I want to share with you a piece of ancient architecture that made me exclaim, "Wow!"—the Aoshen Tower in Jiexiu, Shanxi! The Aoshen Tower is located on Shuncheng Street in Jiexiu City. It is a street-crossing building and the only remaining Zoroastrian building in China. Do you know about Zoroastrianism? It's an ancient and mysterious religion! The uniqueness of the Aoshen Tower lies not only in its historical value, but also in its amazing architectural style! 🎉 The tower is three stories high, with a double-eave hip and gable roof, and the glazed decorations are gorgeous and dazzling. It's simply stunning! Standing under the tower and looking up, I feel as if I can sense the glory and grandeur of the past! Moreover, the Aoshen Tower has a particularly magical place! It has no foundation and is built directly on the street! I'm dizzy, how did they do it? The wisdom of the ancients is really admirable! The Aoshen Tower has witnessed the changes of history📜. It is not only a building, but also a cultural heritage. 🎊If you are interested in ancient architecture, you must come here to feel its charm!

| A treasure city full of glazed tiles.💫Jiexiu, named after Jie Zitui, a famous minister of the State of Jin during the Spring and Autumn Period, is the hometown of Qingming Cold Food Culture and Chinese Glazed Tile. 💞This small city, only about 30 kilometers away from Pingyao Ancient City, is not visited by many tourists, but it is the city with the best experience for me. Jiexiu is really a treasure. I recommend the following places: ✅Hou Tu Temple A Taoist temple of the Quanzhen School, the highest-level ancient building complex in Jiexiu, famous for its well-preserved glazed tile art, known as the "Glazed Tile Art Museum". The main hall of Hou Tu is covered with golden glazed tiles, which are magnificent and dazzling under the sunlight. ✅City God Temple Jiexiu City God Temple, founded during the Hongwu period of the Ming Dynasty, faces south. Entering the courtyard, the first thing you see is the offering pavilion under the stage, followed by the main hall. The glazed tiles on the roof of the main hall are particularly beautiful, but there are surprisingly few visitors to the City God Temple. Only the grandpas playing chess at the entrance are lively. ✅Five Sacred Mountains Temple Famous for the "Two Dragons Playing with a Pearl" sculpture on the central pillar of the main hall, but the gate is closed all year round. ✅Xian Shen Lou The only surviving Zoroastrian building in China, the Xian Shen Lou has two floors and a "convex" shape. The lower floor is the temple gate, the upper floor is the music hall, and the center is the shrine. There is a flat seat and railing around the waist, and the upper part is covered by a double eaves roof. Four pillars directly support the upper floor beams, the gate and stage are stacked on top of each other, the roof is a cross-shaped hip roof, and the eaves protrude in four directions. All tile ridges and decorations are made of glazed tiles, magnificent and spectacular. ✅Taiheyan Archway Taiheyan Archway, with a history of over 100 years, is definitely the most beautiful peacock blue glazed tile, no argument. The archway's lintel, brackets, plaque, drip tiles, ridge beasts, and various floral patterns and characters are all made of yellow, green, and blue glazed tiles. The sunlight shines through, creating a dazzling and elegant effect. ✅Jiexiu Museum Jiexiu Museum is adjacent to the Xian Shen Lou. You can spend half an hour visiting the glazed tile exhibition on the lower floor. Other exhibition halls are not recommended. 💗Tips: Except for the Taiheyan Glazed Tile Archway, the other attractions are basically within a hundred meters of each other. You can walk or take the free No. 1 bus to get there. 📷Documentary: "China Image Chronicle" - Shanxi Jiexiu Episode 🚶‍♂️Two-day tour route: 1: Jiexiu Museum → Tianshen Tower → Five Sacred Mountains Temple → City God Temple → Hou Tu Temple 2: Mianshan → Zhangbi Ancient Fort

Jiexiu is not well-known in Shanxi. Apart from the reputation of Liuli, few people come here to explore ancient buildings or travel. But this small city has a fresh and artistic atmosphere. Everything you see is made of colored glaze, and there is a lot of peacock blue colored glaze imported from Persia. When paired with the commonly known yellow-green colored glaze, it looks particularly eye-catching and beautiful. Among the ancient buildings in Jiexiu, the most special one is the Houtu Temple. 📍Attraction location: Located on Miaodi Street, Jiexiu City, Jinzhong City, Shanxi Province, it is a Taoist Quanzhen temple building. It is majestic and large in scale. It is also a place known as "Taoist land" in history. 🎈Best features: 1. Architectural structure. The Houtu Temple faces north and faces south. It has a longitudinal double axis and a north-south encirclement layout. It is clean, neat, open and bright. 2. The main buildings, Sanqing Tower, Xian Tower, and Theater Tower, are connected into one, with cross-shaped glazed roofs and exquisite structures. They are all Ming and Qing pavilion-style buildings. Such concentrated presentation is also a rare sight. Among them, the Sanqing Temple contains thousands of colorful sculptures of the "Ten Thousand Saints Chaoyuan" from the Ming Dynasty, which are very spectacular. 3. The Houtu Temple Theater is also a rather unique pavilion-style building. Houtu Temple used to have three music studios, which were rebuilt around 1516. They became more beautiful and complex, and the Jiexiu colored glaze art was used to the extreme. 🚗Transportation: Because several scenic spots in Jiexiu, such as Chenghuang Temple, Ao Shen Tower, and Houtu Temple, are very concentrated, you can choose to take a taxi or ride a bicycle to walk there, which are all easy to find. It is not suitable for driving. Parking is basically on the roadside and it is difficult to find a parking space. 😃Tips: Every year on March 18 of the lunar calendar, legend has it that it is the birthday of Empress Houtu, and it is also the traditional ancient temple fair of Houtu Temple. During the temple fair, people will perform operas in Houtu Temple to honor the gods, prostrate themselves to Queen Houtu, and pray for her health.

Avoid the pit Mianshan: sightseeing, exercise, avoid crowds. After entering Mianshan, the scenic spot will send tourists into the scenic spot, usually the scenic spot goes directly to the innermost part of the scenic spot, Shuitao Gully. Line 1: Don't enter Shuitao Gully, just transfer to the down car, get off at Qixian Valley, pass through Jiegongling from Qixian Valley, and take the cable car down at Jiegongling. Turn left into the ancient vine valley (one-way two kilometers) and Shuitao Gully (one-way four kilometers) at the cable car station. The two gullies take a long time to complete. I only walked Shuitao Gully and returned to the place where the two dragons were playing with beads. Line 2: After leaving the valley, take the scenic spot to Yunfeng Temple and walk from Yunfeng Temple to Zhengguo Temple. After turning Zhengguo Temple, take the elevator down from Zhengguo Temple. The later scenic spots can be visited by getting off at each station, or you can choose to visit. Finally, take the scenic spot back to the ticket inspection office.

Ancient Chinese glazed art ceiling Shanxi Taiheyan glazed archway Taiheyan Archway is located in Beixinwu Village, Yian Town, Jiexiu, Shanxi. According to the archway inscription, it was built in the 23rd year of Guangxu in the Qing Dynasty (1897). The archway faces south, with four pillars, three doors and three floors, built on a stone waist Xumi seat! Jiexiu, as the hometown of glazed art, has a long-standing reputation for architectural glazed art. Its superb glazed firing skills can be said to be fully demonstrated on this "Taiheyan" archway. Except for the base of the four pillars, the whole body of this archway is covered with glazed tiles. The main colors are yellow, green and blue, which are bright and dazzling! The entire archway, whether it is dragon pattern auspicious beasts, flowers, birds, insects and fish, characters, landscapes or couplets, plaques, or wording, not only has Taoist metaphors, but also the good wishes of auspiciousness, happiness, longevity, and peace in traditional Chinese culture! This archway is not only a typical masterpiece representative of the development of glazed art to the peak of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, but also a unique one in ancient Chinese glazed buildings! It's fascinating! Have you ever seen such exquisite glaze! Please leave a message in the comment area! -One TIPS- Taiheyan Glazed Square is the seventh batch of national key cultural relics protection units, 16 kilometers away from Jiexiu City, 30 minutes by car, no bus

Jiexiu is a small city in Shanxi with a rich history, home to numerous ancient buildings and treasures of glazed art, known as the "Hometown of Glazed Art in China". Everyone who comes here will love it, it's niche, quiet, profound, and full of life. - If Jiexiu is the capital of glazed art, the Hou Tu Temple is undoubtedly the pearl of the capital. Hou Tu Temple is a Quanzhen Taoist building with a history of nearly 1,500 years. Almost all the roofs of the buildings are decorated with yellow, green, and blue glazed products. Glazed tiles, ridge beasts, hanging fish, lion bottles, etc., are all eye-catching. The main building in the temple is the Sanqing Building, the three-story cross-hipped roof is ingeniously connected with the Hou Tu Temple stage, the towering ridge beasts, pavilions, lotus ridge tubes, and mythical beasts on the top of the temple, the three colors of yellow, green, and blue are reflected in each other, like a magnificent glazed painting. - Hou Tu, is the mother of the earth, also known as Hou Tu Niangniang. In ancient times, both emperors and ordinary people worshipped Hou Tu Niangniang very much. Emperors of all dynasties presided over the ceremony of worshipping Hou Tu every year. Among the buildings in Jiexiu Hou Tu Temple, the earliest buildings can be traced back to the Northern and Southern Dynasties, and most of the existing buildings were repaired and expanded from the Ming Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty. - 📍Jiexiu Hou Tu Temple 🎫Free 🈺️8:00-19:00 📷In addition to Hou Tu Temple, nearby Wuyue Temple, Chenghuang Temple, Dongyue Temple, Xianshen Building, etc. are also worth visiting, within walking distance, very convenient.

Aoshen Tower is located in Jiexiu City, Shanxi Province. It is a magnificent ancient building with unique historical and cultural value. Aoshen Tower is one of the treasures of ancient Chinese architecture, with a unique architectural style and exquisite structure. It has witnessed the changes of history and the inheritance of culture. The architectural features of Aoshen Tower include exquisite wood carvings, brick carvings, and stone carvings, which show the superb skills of ancient craftsmen.

Houtu Temple is a Taoist temple located in Jixiu City, Shanxi Province, and is one of the key cultural relics protection units in Shanxi Province. According to the inscription, it was rebuilt in the first year of Daming in the Southern Dynasty Song Dynasty (457 AD) and the second year of Datong in the Liang Dynasty (536 AD), and was later destroyed by an earthquake. It was rebuilt in the fifth year of Yuan Yanyou (1318 AD), and the existing halls are mostly Ming and Qing buildings. The temple buildings are all decorated with glazed tiles, most of which are works of the Qing Jiaqing and Daoguang years, and a few of the Ming Dynasty glazed tiles are extremely exquisite. The glazed components are large in quantity, complete in type, beautiful in shape, and exquisite in production. They are the best among the glazed tiles in the Qing Dynasty. There is a stele in the fifth year of Ming Zhengde (1510) and a stele in the 46th year of Qing Qianlong (1718) in the temple, and most of the characters have been blurred.

Zhangbi Ancient Castle is a miniature ancient castle in Jiezhou City, Shanxi Province, China, with rich historical and cultural connotations and unique architectural style. The ancient castle was formed during the Northern Dynasty and the Sixteen Kingdoms, and gradually formed a five-level military defense system with "above-ground castle, underground tunnel" as the main structure through three stages: fortification, military town, and defensive village. The ancient castle is 374 meters long from east to west, 244 meters wide from north to south, and covers an area of 120,000 square meters. The castle has a rich and diverse culture, including ancient tunnels, Khan Temple, Kongwangxing Temple, Liuli Monument, ancient stage and many other cultural relics. The ancient castle has a five-level ancient military defense system with castle gates, alley gates, secondary alley gates, courtyard gates, and tunnels. The tunnel is 20 meters deep from the ground, divided into upper, middle and lower three layers, with a total length of more than 10,000 meters, and is a typical representative of the northern fortress in China with high historical, artistic and scientific value.

| A hidden gem of a 5A scenic spot. 🎉Did you know? There is a picturesque yet little-known 5A tourist attraction in Shanxi - Mianshan. It may be off the beaten path, but the scenery is no less stunning than other well-known spots😎. 🚶[Recommended Route] Qixian Valley ➠ Zhengguo Temple ➠ Yunfeng Temple ➠ Tiansheng Bridge ➠ Daluo Palace 📚[Attraction Introduction] • Qixian Valley, a thrilling and dangerous place where you can climb iron chain ladders for a unique experience. • Zhengguo Temple, home to twelve bone-encased true face statues and a seven-story Lingying Pagoda, is mysterious and solemn. • Yunfeng Temple, with its many temples, crisp wind chimes on the mountain wall, and thrilling zigzag cliff plank road. • Daluo Palace, known as the Little Potala Palace, is a majestic and spectacular thirteen-story building stacked layer upon layer according to the mountain. 🔖[Practical Information] 🚄Take the high-speed train to Lingshi East Station, then take a taxi for 10 kilometers to get there. 🕙Opening hours are 08:00-17:30, the last bus is at 18:30, and the last 302 bus back to the city is around 18:00. 🗺️The nearby Wang Family Courtyard, Zhangbi Ancient Castle, Houtu Temple, and Xianshen Tower are also worth checking out.

Address: 20 km southeast of Jiexiu City, Jinzhong City. Mianshan is best known for the story of Jie Zitui's death. In China's long folk culture, there are only two holidays to commemorate historical figures: one is the Dragon Boat Festival in May to commemorate Qu Yuan, a minister of the State of Chu; the other is the Qingming Festival to commemorate Jie Zitui, a minister of the State of Jin. The Sky Bridge is more than 300 meters long, 20 meters from the top of the mountain, and more than 300 meters from the bottom of the ditch. On cloudy days, people walk on the bridge and clouds surge under their feet. The 500-meter journey from the rock ditch to the rock mast is almost a 75-degree cliff, which is no less thrilling than the thousand-foot cliff of Mount Hua.

Speaking of ancient architecture, the beauty of glazed components is a must-see. ✅ Glazed components were used in the royal courtyards of the Ming and Qing dynasties, and are the facade of palace architecture, reflecting the majesty, solemnity, and style of the royal family. ✅ Shanxi, known as the "hometown of glazed art", is a major producer of glazed components in China. From architectural ridge decorations, shadow walls, archways, pavilions to pagodas, from seagull beaks weighing several tons to small animal pieces, the shadow of glazed components can be seen everywhere. ✅ Guangsheng Temple Feihong Tower, Zhangbi Ancient Castle Kongwangxing Temple's Ming Dynasty tricolor glazed components and peacock blue glazed components stele and Hou Tu Temple, Yuncheng Yongle Palace, etc. are all representative works of Shanxi ancient architecture!!!

Travel Shanxi with Hei Wukong Feihong Tower This is a glazed pagoda in the style of a pavilion. It is octagonal in shape and has a cross-hipped roof. The tower is 47.31 meters high and hollow inside. The top of the tower is decorated with a glazed caisson. The tower is built of blue bricks, and each floor is inlaid with yellow, green, blue, purple, and white glazed decorations. Each floor has eight sides, and each side is different. From the first floor to the thirteenth floor, the decorations are exquisitely made. There are mighty and majestic warriors, pavilions surrounded by clouds and smoke, kind and benevolent Buddhas, and solemn and dignified Bodhisattvas. The poses are varied, and none of them are the same. Feihong Tower is the only glazed tower found so far that has left the inscription of craftsmen. It is the largest and most complete glazed tower. Whenever the wind blows, the 114 golden bells on the tower sway with the wind, making a crisp and pleasant sound, as if telling the vicissitudes and changes of a thousand years. Adult ticket 70 yuan, round-trip sightseeing car fare 20 yuan ⌚️Tour time 3 hours Zhangbi Ancient Castle A rare miniature city, known as a miracle in the history of world architecture! It is called a miniature because it covers an area of only 0.12 square kilometers, but it has everything and is full of mystery! This is Zhangbi Ancient Castle at the foot of Mianshan in Jiexiu. It was built during the Sixteen Kingdoms period. It is the only remaining and rare ancient defensive village cultural relic in China, and it is a complete specimen! · This miniature military ancient castle with a history of 1600 years has witnessed the turbulent changes of dynasties, the arduous process of national integration, and the joys and sorrows of village development! In order to avoid war, there is a huge tunnel system built by the ancients underground in Zhangbi, with a total length of nearly ten kilometers. The traps in the tunnel, communication channels, peepholes, ambush channels, and drainage outlets are all available! The many temples in Zhangbi are also a highlight. There are 16 existing temples in the ancient castle, such as the Kongwang Buddha Temple, Zhenwu Temple, Erlang Temple, Guandi Temple, etc., all of which are located near the north and south gates, most of which are built on the city wall! Very characteristic! Yuci Old City Ticket price: 70 yuan It was formerly known as "Fengcheng" and was built in the second year of Sui Kaihuang (582 AD), and has a long history of 1441 years. The most worth visiting is the Yuci Chenghuang Temple, which was built in the Yuan Dynasty, the Shanmen was in the Ming Dynasty, and the plaque was inscribed by the Qing Dynasty. It is quite diverse. In 1999, it was selected as one of the 100 most beautiful ancient buildings in the world. It is said that it is the oldest Chenghuang Temple in China. Taiheyan Paifang Located in Jiexiu City, Shanxi Province, it was built in the 23rd year of Guangxu in the Qing Dynasty (1897 AD) and has a history of more than 100 years. It is a masterpiece of the heyday of China's Ming and Qing glaze art! The entire archway is exquisitely crafted and complex, with bright and dazzling colors. A large amount of complex peacock blue glaze is used. The bright turquoise color is dazzling, and the glaze firing technology of peacock blue glaze is said to have been lost. Although it is not open to the public, it does not affect entry. Jiexiu Houtu Temple It is a Taoist building complex, built with glazed complex decorations, and can be called a museum of glazed art architecture. According to records, it was created in the Southern and Northern Dynasties or earlier, and most of the existing buildings are relics of the Ming Hongwu period. It is the largest and best-preserved palace-style temple among the existing Houtu temples in China.

🏔️ It's as if you've traveled through time and space to the ancient Han and Tang dynasties. The solemn and majestic buildings bear the weight of a thousand years of history. With careful appreciation, you can feel the accumulation of time and the charm of culture. Here, you can fully appreciate the subtleties of traditional Chinese architectural style and feel the crystallization of ancient wisdom. ✅ The Ao Shen Tower is not just a building, but a witness to history and culture. Let's walk into this historical corridor together and feel the profoundness of Chinese civilization. ✅ The Xian Shen Tower is a majestic and unique wooden structure. It combines a mountain gate, a music tower, and a street-crossing tower. The three-tiered eaves and cross-hipped roof structure is unique in style, rigorous in structure, and proportionate. The glazed roof is exquisite and gorgeous, and the wood carvings under the eaves are unique. It is a "living fossil" for studying Chinese Zoroastrian culture. ✅ The Xian Shen Tower, the Qiu Feng Tower, and the Fei Yun Tower in Wanrong County are known as the three famous towers of the three Jin dynasties.

Mianshan, located in Jinzhong City, Shanxi Province, attracts countless tourists with its unique natural scenery and profound historical and cultural heritage. I. Transportation Guide 1. Arrival in Jiexiu Bus: From Jiexiu East Station or Jiexiu Station, you can take a direct bus to Mianshan. The journey takes about 20 minutes and the fare is only CNY 5. 2. Transportation in the scenic area Sightseeing bus: After arriving at Mianshan Scenic Area, it is recommended to take a sightseeing bus to visit the scenic area. The sightseeing bus route covers the main attractions. II. Recommended Tour Route Recommended route: Longtou Temple - Shuitao Gou - Qixian Valley - Zhengguo Temple - Yunfeng Temple - Daluo Palace Longtou Temple: As the first attraction to enter Mianshan Scenic Area, Longtou Temple is known for its ancient architecture and quiet atmosphere. The main attractions are the underground palace, Guandi Temple, and Longji Ridge. The underground palace enshrines many Buddha statues, and Guandi Temple is a good place to pray for wealth. The dragon head on Longji Ridge is worth exploring. It is said that Emperor Li Shimin of the Tang Dynasty once stayed here. Shuitao Gou: The mountains and rivers here depend on each other, and the scenery is beautiful. Strolling on the path by the stream, listening to the sound of gurgling water, and feeling the tranquility and harmony of nature. Qixian Valley: Known for its cliffs and thrilling suspension bridges, although it is challenging, it is definitely worth a try. Tourists can experience excitement and thrills here and feel the magic of nature. Zhengguo Temple: It enshrines the flesh and blood Bodhisattva, and is a good place to feel the religious atmosphere and understand ancient culture. The buildings in the temple are simple and elegant, and the incense is booming. It is one of the must-visit attractions for tourists. Yunfeng Temple: Adjacent to Daluo Palace, it also witnessed the historical changes of Mianshan. The environment in the temple is quiet and it is a good place for tourists to cultivate their minds. Daluo Palace: The crown of Chinese Taoist architecture, built on the mountain, with layered buildings, painted beams and carved beams, and brilliant. The entire building has 13 floors, and the shape is quite like the Potala Palace, known as the "Little Potala Palace".