GU LOU SLICED NOODLES

The location of this restaurant is very good, just at the southeast corner of the Drum Tower, next to the intersection of Drum Tower East Street, and facing the Drum Tower through the French windows in the restaurant. It is a fast food restaurant. You can order your food at the front desk and pick it up when it is ready. They also have milk tea and coffee. In the morning, I had a set meal, which was just right. The portion was large, and I probably couldn't finish it if I had a small appetite. The taste was also more authentic Shanxi flavor.

Today is the first time I set foot on the land of Shanxi, and the first time I ate authentic local knife-cut noodles. This noodle shop next to the Drum Tower in the old city of Datong has a strong Internet celebrity style. The shop is well organized, the noodles taste very good, and the price is cheaper than Beijing

How can you not have a bowl of knife-cut noodles when you go to Datong, Shanxi? The location and decoration of Gulou Knife-cut Noodles are very good, especially the taste of the knife-cut noodles is very authentic.

💸 Budget 1️⃣ Tickets: Yungang Grottoes 120 yuan + Hanging Temple 115 yuan (entrance fee not included) + Huayan Temple 50 yuan... Tickets for a casual visit can cost over 500 yuan per person! Students, remember to bring your ID; some attractions are half-price. 2️⃣ Accommodation pitfalls: B&Bs in the ancient city are significantly overpriced. A "Siheyuan" room that costs over 300 yuan per night might have such poor soundproofing that you can hear your neighbor snoring! I recommend staying in the Yudong New District; chain hotels are over 200 yuan with breakfast included. 3️⃣ Transportation pitfalls: Taxis don't use meters! A taxi from the ancient city to the Yungang Grottoes costs 30 yuan, but bus No. 3 goes directly there for only 2 yuan (don't be fooled). 🚫 Attractions to avoid ▪️ Yungang Grottoes: Crowds are common! Tour groups often flock to the area after 9:00 PM. Want to take a photo of the Buddha statue without a view? It's recommended to wait for the gates to open at 6:00 PM or rush in at 6:00 PM when the gates close. ▪️ Hanging Temple: 2-hour queue + 5-minute stair climb! For those afraid of heights, don't buy the entrance ticket; the panoramic views from the "Xiake Pavilion" across the street are even better (and free!). ▪️ Fantawild Happy World: 280 yuan admission is worse than going to Universal Studios Beijing! The attractions are old, and there are too many naughty kids this summer. ✅ Off-the-beaten-path recommendations: ▫️ Shanhua Temple: Free! Ancient Liao and Jin Dynasty architecture and 24 statues of deities. So crowded you can even lie back and stare blankly in the main hall (just be careful not to actually fall asleep). ▫️ Earth Forest Geopark: Take photos of the "Mars surface" at dusk. Navigating the "Duzhuang Earth Forest" is free (parking is charged a 10 yuan fee by villagers). 🗺️ Buddhist Route (Avoid Crowds) Day 1: ⏳ 6:00 AM Yungang Grottoes (Go straight to Caves 5-13; the sidelight of the Great Buddha in Cave 20 is stunning) 🍜 11:00 AM Xijindao Sliced Noodles (Sauerkraut and pickled mustard greens, 17 RMB set meal with egg and dried tofu) ⛩️ 2:00 PM Datong Museum (Free! See the Northern Wei Dynasty lacquer screens, air conditioning is a lifesaver) 🌃 7:30 PM Ancient City Wall Night Ride (Light show on Fridays and Saturdays, bike rental 30 RMB/hour) Day 2: ⛰️ 5:30 AM Hanging Temple (resembles a fairy pavilion in the morning mist, don't come after 7 PM!) 🚗 10:00 AM Chartered car to Yingxian Wooden Pagoda (the world's tallest wooden pagoda, with a fantastic camera position at the southwest corner) 🍲 5:00 PM Kaige Restaurant (Sand Chicken and Yellow Rice Jelly, 50 RMB per person, so you'll have to lean on the wall). 🍜 Food Hot and Cold List 🔥 Must-Try: - Hunyuan Jelly (Xiaoxifu Main Branch): Sour and spicy with crispy broad beans, the fried pancakes are amazing! - Baihua Shaomai (Fenglin Pavilion): The lamb and crab roe filling looks like a peony, but the lines start at 1 hour... - Mutton Offal Soup (Shuaifu Street): Opens at 5 AM! A milky white broth with chili oil, and the oil is superb. 💣 Don'ts: - "Datong Sliced Noodles" at the entrance to the scenic area: Tourist prices are doubled, and the noodles are still clumpy! - "Dragon-shaped cultural and creative goods" next to the Nine Dragon Wall: Yiwu goods sold at Forbidden City prices. 💡 Final rant ▪️ In August and September, Datong is sunburnt during the day and so cold at night that you need a jacket! Bring sunscreen and a windbreaker (temperature difference of 15°C+). ▪️ Don't fall for the "Ancient Capital Cultural Festival" hype! The September event is just a crowded, low-quality performance. ▪️ True beauty is in the details: the toothy grin of the Buddha at Huayan Temple, the dusk glow of the Earth Forest, the steaming hot mutton offal soup... slow down and appreciate it. Summary: Datong is perfect for history buffs and photography enthusiasts, but the peak season offers incredible value! We recommend visiting in April-May or October for less crowded, beautiful scenery, and a cheaper price! #MyLegoland #Lilo & Stitch #SonglikeJourney #NationalDayTravelDiary

As a major city in northern Shanxi, Datong's cuisine retains the rich, distinctive characteristics of Shanxi cuisine while also incorporating the culinary traditions of the northern nomadic peoples, fostering a unique local flavor. Fried Pork: A traditional Shanxi specialty, the Datong version emphasizes a savory, fragrant, and tender flavor. Sliced pork tenderloin or lamb is deep-fried, then stir-fried with wood ear mushrooms and garlic sprouts. Thickened with starch, the dish achieves a golden, smooth texture. Specialty: The skillful frying technique is crucial, making it a standard feature of Datong banquets. Sheep Offal Noodles: Minced lamb liver, lungs, tripe, and blood are stewed with vermicelli noodles and potatoes, creating a thick broth often enhanced by scallions and cilantro. Specialty: A perfect winter treat, especially when paired with yellow cake or fried cake. Huanggao Paosugao: Made with millet flour, a specialty of Datong, steamed in Datong, yellow cake is soft, sticky, and delicious with broth (such as mutton sauerkraut). Sugao is plain, unfried cake and often served with cold dishes. Features: The millet grain has a rich aroma and is a staple food at weddings and funerals in Datong. Hunyuan Liangfen: Originating from Hunyuan County in Datong, this jelly is made from potato starch. Cut into strips, it is topped with shredded cucumber and dried tofu, and topped with chili oil, vinegar, and chopped green onions for a refreshing, sour, and spicy flavor. Features: The chili oil is fragrant but not harsh, making it a must-try for summer heat relief. Oat noodle kuoluoluo: A classic noodle dish from northern Shanxi, oat noodles are rolled into tubes and steamed, and dipped in mutton sauerkraut or tomato sauce for a chewy texture. Features: It symbolizes "reliability" and good luck, and is a staple dish for entertaining guests in Datong. Sliced Noodles: A quintessential Shanxi noodle dish, Datong's slicing noodles are renowned for their chewy texture. These noodles are cut into curved shapes and served with sauces (such as pork stew, tomato and egg) or a rich broth. Specialty: The "flying knife" technique creates noodles that are thick in the middle and thin at the edges, giving them a firm, chewy texture. Rabbit Head: Braised or spicy rabbit head, with tender meat and fragrant bone marrow, is a signature Datong late-night snack. Specialty: The process of chewing is delightful, a local favorite. Siomai: Made with scalding dough, the edges are pressed into lotus leaf folds. Steamed, they are translucent and have a puffy, flower-like top. Mainly mutton, the classic filling is minced mutton with a rich, fatty texture, mixed with minced ginger, scallions, and Sichuan peppercorns. Locals formerly called it "Shaomei," because the folds resemble plum blossoms, a name that later evolved into "Siomai" (shaomai). If you're in Datong, don't miss these delicacies! #DatongTravel #DatongTravelStrategy #ShanxiDatong #Datong #DatongFood