Shanxi

A land ringed by mountains and rivers, home of the Shanxi merchants — a northern gateway to the Central Plains with an exceptionally high density of old towns, grottoes and historic buildings.

• History: Shanxi ranks among the top provinces for surviving historic buildings. Pingyao Ancient City is a well-preserved Ming-Qing county town, listed as World Heritage in 1997. The Yungang Grottoes are a large Northern Wei grotto complex with 45 main caves and over 50,000 statues (subject to publication by the scenic area and heritage authorities). Mount Wutai is a famous Buddhist mountain, with temples concentrated around Taihuai town. In Ming-Qing times Shanxi merchants were famed for their draft banks (piaohao); the Rishengchang draft bank site is in Pingyao. Shanxi noodle culture stands out: knife-cut noodles, oat noodle rolls (kaolaolao) and aged vinegar are representative.
• Legend: The legend that Jie Zitui retreated to Mount Mian and that the Cold Food Festival originated from this is widely told — it is legend, and scholars hold several theories on the festival's origin, so legend alone cannot settle it. The folk memory of "Hongdong great locust tree migration" is an oral tradition mixing legend and migration history; migration details follow historical records and local gazetteers, and points to be verified are left undecided.

• Pingyao Ancient City — city wall, Rishengchang draft bank, county yamen.
• Yungang Grottoes — Northern Wei grotto art; the great Buddha of Cave 20 is representative.
• Mount Wutai — Xiantong Temple, Tayuan Temple, Pusading and others; Taihuai is the core area.
• Hanging Temple, Hengshan — ancient temple on a cliff face; those afraid of heights should judge their ability.
• Hukou Waterfall, Shanxi side — great Yellow River falls; in flood season the water is powerful, keep a safe distance.

Intercity travel is mainly by high-speed rail: Taiyuan to Pingyao Gucheng Station takes tens of minutes; Taiyuan to Datong and Xinzhou also have high-speed trains, fares from tens to about a hundred yuan, subject to official publication. Taiyuan Wusu Airport has airport buses and ride-hailing. In Taiyuan, buses, metro and taxis run side by side; buses are mostly one to a few yuan, payable by transit card or ride code. Pingyao Ancient City is mostly explored on foot; from Gucheng Station to the old town take a bus, taxi or tourist line. Mount Wutai, the Hanging Temple and Hukou are mostly reached by scenic-area direct buses or chartered cars; mountain roads have many bends and winter ice. Scenic shuttle fares are mostly about ten yuan, subject to on-site notice. Fines for fare evasion and forcing gates follow each operator's official rules.

• Red Line: In grottoes and temples do not touch statues or murals, and do not photograph or use flash in no-photography zones; do not carve on city walls or historic buildings.
• Taboo: ① In Mount Wutai temples do not enter halls in overly revealing clothes such as shorts or camisoles, and do not point at Buddha statues; ② in Shanxi merchant courtyards and guesthouse homes do not enter residents' private courtyards to photograph without permission.
• Good Manners: On entering a temple, first check whether hats should be removed and keep quiet; when tasting vinegar and noodles, respect the local habit of tasting the original flavour before adding seasoning; walk softly on night tours of the old town and respect residents' rest.
• Common pitfalls for visitors: ① Confusing Pingyao Station with Pingyao Gucheng Station — they are different distances away, so check the station name before travelling; ② Mount Wutai is high and cool, so bring a jacket even in summer, or you will catch cold going up empty-handed.

Best in spring and autumn. Mount Wutai is a summer retreat but cool morning and evening. Hukou is best viewed around flood season, subject to scenic-area notices. Old-town guesthouses are mostly converted Ming-Qing courtyards with varying soundproofing and steps — ask before booking.