[2025 Lingshi Hotels] Travel Guide for Chong Ning Castle Hotel (Updated Jul)

🌄 You must visit Jinzhong—breathe in Shanxi's evening breeze, stroll through Ming and Qing dynasty ancient streets, and experience the unique charm of this historic city. Here, you'll find well-preserved ancient towns, majestic grand courtyards, and mouthwatering local delicacies. Below is the ultimate Jinzhong travel guide for you👇 📍 **Location**: Jinzhong is located in central Shanxi Province, bordered by the Taihang Mountains to the east and the Fen River to the west. Its prime location makes it easily accessible from neighboring cities like Taiyuan, Yangquan, Changzhi, and Lüliang. 🚌 **Transportation Guide**: • **External Transport**: Jinzhong has no airport, so it's best to arrive via Taiyuan Wusu International Airport. From there, you can take an airport shuttle, taxi, or transfer to a train or bus to reach Jinzhong. Alternatively, you can take a train or high-speed rail directly to Jinzhong Station or Pingyao Ancient City Station. • **Local Transport**: The city has bus routes covering most attractions, but some remote scenic spots may require transfers or special shuttle buses. For more flexibility, renting a car is a great option, allowing you to enjoy the beautiful scenery along the way. 📅 **Itinerary Suggestions**: • **3-Day Cultural & Historical Tour**: ◦ **Day 1**: Arrive in Pingyao Ancient City in the morning, wander the Ming-Qing streets, and climb the ancient city walls for a panoramic view. In the afternoon, visit Rishengchang Exchange Shop and Pingyao County Government Office. Enjoy Pingyao beef and Pingyao Wantuo for dinner, then admire the ancient city’s nightscape. ◦ **Day 2**: Head to Qiao Family Compound in Qi County in the morning to marvel at the grandeur of Shanxi merchant mansions. In the afternoon, visit the Wang Family Compound in Lingshi to appreciate its massive scale and exquisite architecture. Dine and rest near the Wang Family Compound in the evening. ◦ **Day 3**: Explore Mianshan Mountain in Jiexiu in the morning, where nature and history intertwine. In the afternoon, visit Zhangbi Ancient Castle to uncover the mysteries of this miniature fortress. Return to the city in the evening to conclude your trip. • **2-Day Nature & Scenery Tour**: ◦ **Day 1**: Visit Longyan Grand Canyon in Xiyang in the morning to admire the deep gorge and cascading waterfalls. In the afternoon, head to Zoumacao in Heshun for breathtaking Taihang Mountain views. Enjoy local food and stay overnight in Heshun County. ◦ **Day 2**: Travel to Yunzhu Lake in Yushe in the morning for a boat ride or lakeside fishing. After lunch at a nearby farmhouse, return home. 🏠 **Accommodation Tips**: • **Pingyao Ancient City**: Highly recommend staying in a traditional inn within the ancient city to fully immerse in its ambiance. Options like the Pingyao Ming-Qing Guildhall (See Pingyao Branch) offer comfort and proximity to attractions, with some inns even providing free ancient costume experiences. • **Qiao Family Compound**: The nearby Fushengcheng area offers a variety of accommodations, allowing you to experience Shanxi merchant culture firsthand. • **Wang Family Compound**: The Chongningbao Hot Spring Hotel, converted from the Wang Family Compound’s Chongningbao, is a great choice—relax in hot springs while soaking in the mansion’s unique charm. 🍱 **Food Recommendations**: • **Taigu Cake**: A Jinzhong specialty with a crispy crust and soft filling—sweet but not cloying. A perfect souvenir for friends and family. • **Yuci Sausage**: Made from buckwheat, it has a chewy texture and pairs perfectly with spicy or garlic sauce. • **Pingyao Beef**: Tender, fragrant, and rich in flavor, with a long history and unique preparation methods. • **Shouyang Dried Tofu**: Crafted from premium tofu through marinating and drying, it has a slightly crispy skin and delicate interior, bursting with bean aroma. Enjoy it as a snack or in dishes. 🎈 **Must-Do Experiences in Jinzhong**: • **Watch "See Pingyao" Immersive Show**: A captivating performance that vividly brings Shanxi merchant culture and spirit to life, transporting you back to their golden era. • **Visit Shanxi Merchant Mansions**: Marvel at the unique architecture, intricate wood, stone, and brick carvings of the Qiao Family Compound and Wang Family Compound, and glimpse the glory of Shanxi merchant dynasties. • **Stroll Through Pingyao Ancient City**: Walk the bluestone-paved streets, admire the ancient architecture, and savor the slow, leisurely pace of life.

The 50 yuan combo ticket includes four major attractions: Wang Family Compound, Wang Family Manor, Gypsum Mountain, and Red Cliff Canyon. Immerse yourself in Jin merchant culture, ancient architecture, natural scenery, and educational experiences. Day 1 Morning: Wang Family Compound (including Chongning Fortress) Wang Family Compound China's largest Qing dynasty civilian residential complex, known as the "Civilian Forbidden City." 🏁 Tour Gaojia Cliff and Red Gate Fortress, admire the brick, wood, and stone carvings, and experience the "Wang character layout" and "dragon-shaped fortress wall" design. You can also participate in intangible cultural heritage activities that preserve Jin merchant culture. Day 1 Afternoon: Wang Family Manor (800 meters from Wang Family Compound) An educational base integrating a coal-themed museum and bee culture park, perfect for parent-child interactions. Hotel Recommendations 👍: Chongning Fortress Hotel, one of the three major building complexes of Wang Family Compound, features an ancient architectural style and now serves as a hot spring hotel. Staying overnight in the ancient fortress and enjoying the hot springs will quickly wash away the day's fatigue. Tongxiang Guesthouse, a 10-minute walk away, with many surrounding food options and snacks. Day 2 Morning: Gypsum Mountain (recommended visiting time: 2-3 hours) A national 4A-level scenic area with 95% forest coverage, featuring thousand-foot waterfalls and ancient temple caves, ideal for hiking and photography. About 30 minutes by taxi from Wang Family Compound (approximately 15 yuan per person for shared rides), or take the scenic area shuttle (check schedules in advance). Day 2 Afternoon: Red Cliff Canyon (adjacent to Gypsum Mountain) Visit the highest peak of Taiyue Mountain "Ox Horn Saddle," U-shaped canyon, and subalpine meadows to experience the pristine ecology of "North China's Green Lung." The canyon is cold, so bring a jacket. Transportation: Public transportation from Lingshi County to various attractions costs 2-5 yuan. Take Bus No. 7 from the high-speed train station to Wang Family Compound. Food: The scenic area has food streets and night markets, averaging 30 yuan per person. There's also economical Shanxi 🍝 for just ten yuan. Clothing: Wear comfortable hiking shoes, bring sunscreen and rain gear. Mountain areas have large temperature differences, so prepare jackets. Explore five major attractions in Lingshi with a 50-yuan pass, experiencing both the grandeur of the "Civilian Forbidden City" and the beauty of natural landscapes!

I went to Wang Family Compound in Lingshi County, Shanxi Province during the Qingming Festival and chose to stay at Chongning Fort Hot Spring Hotel on the west side of Wang Family Compound. Chongning Fort is actually one of the three forts of the original Wang Family Compound. It is also the highest fort and the last defensive fortress. I was disappointed after seeing Wang Family Compound, because there was nothing in it except the rooms, which was far inferior to Cao Family Compound. However, Chongning Fort was the biggest gain in Lingshi. We chose a standard room in the comprehensive building for CNY 420, including breakfast for two. The room was very high-end and quiet, and the city tower, the highest point of Chongning Fort, was just outside the comprehensive building. Because Chongning Fort is built on a mountain, you have to walk up steps whether you stay in the quadrangle or the comprehensive building. It is more cost-effective to stay in the comprehensive building, because you can drive the car from the underground garage to the mountain for a long distance (the underground garage is driving upwards). After parking, you can reach the service desk after walking up three steps. The Chinese and Western restaurants are also located here, and breakfast is served in the Western restaurant. From here, you can take the elevator to each floor of the comprehensive building. Those who live in the quadrangles below have to walk a long way to get here because Chongning Fort is very large, which is not as convenient as living in the comprehensive building. Those who live in the quadrangle park in the square in front of the door, and then take their luggage and climb many steps to reach each quadrangle. Especially in winter, the warmth of the comprehensive building is much better than that of the quadrangle. The Chinese restaurant here is very good, and the prices are cheaper than those in Pingyao Ancient City. But the taste is more authentic, after all, it is a four-star hotel. And the buffet breakfast is even more sumptuous. Special reminder: the main entrance of Chongning Fort is just outside the west gate of Wang Family Compound. However, the west gate of Wang Family Compound cannot be entered, so you can only go to the south gate. However, there is a battery car from Chongning Fort to the south gate of Wang Family Compound, and the fare is CNY 5 per person. At the same time, you can soak in the hot springs in Chongning Fort.

Wang Family Courtyard Hot Spring Hotel in Shanxi 🏯♨️ The Wang Family Courtyard is divided into five sections, one of which, Chongningbao, has been converted into a hot spring hotel 🏨♨️❗ ✨The hotel is quite large and doesn't have elevators 🤭. It was renovated from the original Wang Family Courtyard, so you'll need to navigate stone paths and stairs. If you have large luggage 🧳, be aware that it can be difficult to maneuver 😅. ✨The hotel has hot springs ♨️, so remember to bring your swimsuit 🩱️. There are many large hot spring pools, including some outdoors. Soaking in the hot springs is incredibly relaxing, especially in cold weather! The bathing facilities and service at the hot spring center are excellent! ✨There's a Chinese restaurant in the hotel. If you don't want to go into town for a meal, you can eat at the hotel. They serve typical Shanxi cuisine, and the food is quite good 😋. ✨You can choose from regular hotel rooms or traditional heated-brick beds (kang). If you've never slept on a kang, you might want to give it a try 🧐. However, these kangs aren't actually heated by fire; they're just for show, but it's still a fun experience. ✨Climb the city wall to watch the sunset 🌅 and enjoy the courtyard views. The main part of the Wang Family Courtyard is right next door. It's less crowded here, so you can explore at your leisure. How enjoyable! 😎

🌈Theme Features: This is the first time I have stayed in this type of hotel, a castle on the mountain, which is part of the Wang Family Courtyard—Chongning Fort. It is more like a large mansion than a castle, offering a glimpse into the understated luxury of the Jin merchants of the past. 🏘️Room Types/Layout: There are both large bed rooms and kang bed rooms, all converted from historical courtyard residences with different styles. Each has a small shared courtyard outside. 🧹Soundproofing/Hygiene: The rooms are far apart, so there is no mutual sound interference. However, the beds are close to the windows, which face the courtyard, so you can hear people coming and going clearly. 🎯Entertainment Facilities: Each courtyard has its own features (courtyards with private hot spring pools will have a "No Visitors" sign if occupied). You can freely explore, walk around the city wall, and go up to the gate tower to view the cityscape. There are hot springs available, but they require an additional fee. 💰️Average Cost per Person: 530 💗Other Tips: The hotel's Chinese restaurant offers excellent dishes. The small bowls of noodles for 8 yuan each are delicious, and the different toppings for the knife-cut noodles are all very tasty. Breakfast is served in the Western restaurant with a wide variety of options, including kebabs and lamb offal soup noodles.

This time, our family came to Shanxi for a trip My fascination with ancient architecture made me fall in love with this place... Chongning Fort has a long history. It is the earliest of the five forts in the Wang Family Courtyard, built in the second year of the Yongzheng reign of the Qing Dynasty (1724). It represents the Wang family's agricultural period, 34 years earlier than Hongmen Fort (commercial period) and 76 years earlier than Gaojiaya (officialdom period). The history of the Wang family can be traced back more than 500 years, and its prosperous period began in the second year of Yongzheng, lasting for more than 300 years. The entire hotel is very large, surrounded by city walls. After dinner, we took a leisurely stroll on the city walls. At night, when the red lanterns 🏮 light up... It has a bit of a Chinese horror atmosphere. I specifically chose a courtyard room—the Wang Family Kang Room. To be honest, this room is a bit small, but the kang is very large, more than enough for the three of us to sleep on. However, it's a bit hard, which might be uncomfortable for friends from the south. But it's also an experience~ The hotel also has hot springs ♨️, both indoor and outdoor. Even during the summer holidays, there aren't too many people on weekdays. In the afternoon, when the sun was about to set, I arranged for a photographer to come and take pictures 📷. Taking photos in the hotel, the scenery is great. The best part is that you don't have to squeeze with others in scenic spots. No one is constantly watching, so it's not awkward, and you can be more relaxed. I took a set of photos that I'm particularly satisfied with, which I'll post in the next article~ Oh, by the way~ The hotel has a parking lot, but since this is an ancient building, elevators cannot be built, so all luggage is carried by the hotel's staff. This service is quite excellent. The hotel staff are very enthusiastic and introduced me to a lot of the hotel's history. Overall, it's a highly cost-effective hotel with a unique experience 👍

| Cultural and Natural Summer Weekend Trip.🎬 Beijing's summer is too hot☀️, why not find a weekend to cool off🍃? This short trip's destination is Lingshi, Jinzhong, Shanxi. Utilizing the weekend without taking leave, you can appreciate the cultural architecture of the Wang Family Courtyard in Shanxi and spend a cool time in the natural scenery of Hongya Canyon. Now, I am sharing my travel guide for your reference💗 - 🚄Transportation: ➡️ Departure on Friday, Beijing Fengtai to Lingshi, K609, departs at 23:45, arrives on Saturday at 10:35, sleeper ticket 184 yuan. . ⬅️ Return on Sunday, Lingshi East to Beijing Fengtai, G624, departs at 13:15, arrives at 17:46, second-class seat 238 yuan. - 🏩Hotel Accommodation: We chose the Chongning Fort Hot Spring Hotel in Lingshi, which is very close to the Wang Family Courtyard scenic area. It used to be an ancient fort of the Wang Family Courtyard🏯. Inside, it looks like a small scenic spot, with fewer people for photos📸, and it is very beautiful when lit up at night. The hotel also offers hot springs♨️. We booked a king room in the comprehensive building for 451 yuan on the weekend. - 👣Itinerary: ✔️ Bought a Lingshi all-access ticket🎫 for 50 yuan, valid for 3 days, including 4️⃣ scenic spots: Wang Family Courtyard, Wang Family Manor, Hongya Canyon, and Gypsum Mountain. 🚫 Wang Family Manor is not necessary to visit, and Gypsum Mountain⛰️ is a bit far and takes a long time to tour, so we chose Wang Family Courtyard and Hongya Canyon. . ✔️ Arranged to visit Hongya Canyon on Saturday afternoon. It is recommended to take the cable car🚡 and bus inside, ticket price 130 yuan, because it is too large, and the beautiful scenery is at the top of the mountain. It takes 3-4 hours to complete the tour. There are two seasons on the mountain and at the foot of the mountain. The wind💨 at the top is very strong, so if you are afraid of the cold, you can rent a cotton coat at the cable car station on the mountain. . ✔️ After breakfast on Sunday morning, take the shuttle bus🚌 from the hotel entrance to the east gate of Wang Family Courtyard, fare 5 yuan, tour time about 2 hours. After the tour, exit from the west side, which is right at the hotel entrance. Check out and take a taxi directly to Lingshi East Station. - 🍽️Local Restaurants: Local drivers recommended several restaurants: Yanbei Impression (Wang Family Courtyard Branch), Weiyao Restaurant, and Awen Private Kitchen (Yongji Avenue Branch). The reviews are good and very cheap, but since we planned to stroll around the hotel in the evening, we had all our meals at the hotel restaurant. The local specialty, Tixian noodles🍜, is super delicious😋. - ❣️Other Tips: You can use Didi in Lingshi County, but they are basically taxis🚕, not private cars. Also, after taking a taxi at the train station, it is best to note the driver's phone number☎️ for backup, in case you can't get a car later, you can call the driver directly. - 💗 Pictures 2-4 are of Wang Family Courtyard, 5-6 are of Hongya Canyon, and 7-9 are of Chongning Fort Hot Spring Hotel. Detailed introductions of each scenic spot in this itinerary will be posted in subsequent notes📝. -