Shanxi丨The filming location of Black Myth: Wukong that I visited

Shanxi truly deserves the title of "Look at Shanxi for above-ground cultural relics." This place is simply a paradise for ancient architecture, and this was also my first wonderful journey focused on exploring ancient buildings. Day1⃣️: Guangzhou➡️Taiyuan➡️Datong➡️Hotel➡️Datong Ancient City➡️Oriental Noodles➡️Hotel When I arrived in Datong, it was already 2-3 PM. Originally, I had meticulously planned a full itinerary of attractions to visit, but due to time constraints, I only managed to visit three spots: Huayan Temple, Shanhua Temple, and Datong Ancient City Wall. Even with just these three places, I was deeply impressed and felt the unique charm of Shanxi's ancient architecture. In Huayan Temple, the high-up chiwen (a mythical creature), with its exquisite design, seemed ready to soar into the sky; the murals inside the temple were breathtaking, with delicate brushstrokes, vibrant colors, and vivid images, as if telling ancient and mysterious stories. The statues of the Four Heavenly Kings in Shanhua Temple were imposing and awe-inspiring, while the Twenty-Four Heavenly Deities had varied postures and expressions, each seemingly possessing its own soul and thoughts. Leaving Shanhua Temple and stepping onto the Datong Ancient City Wall, this ancient wall felt like an old man who had seen much of life, quietly telling me about its past glory and splendor. The sunset cast a golden hue on the wall, adding to its historical weight. Day2⃣️: Hotel➡️Tour Group (Hengshan - Hanging Temple - Yingxian Wooden Pagoda)➡️Datong Ancient City Wall➡️Kaige Restaurant➡️Hotel Given that today's attractions were quite scattered, I chose to join a tour group for convenience and to save time. The first stop was Hengshan. The scenery of Hengshan was magnificent and enchanting. Here, you can choose to take a shuttle bus to one-third of the mountain or take a cable car directly to the halfway point. However, the overall height of Hengshan is manageable for tourists with some physical strength, and climbing it is not difficult. Moreover, the one-way fare for the shuttle bus is only 13 yuan, while the cable car costs 70 yuan, making the shuttle bus a more cost-effective option. The second stop was the famous Hanging Temple. Seeing it with my own eyes, I was amazed by its unique architectural style and perilous location. This temple, embedded in the cliff, is like a dazzling pearl, leaving people in awe. Unfortunately, there were too many visitors queuing to ascend the temple that day, and to avoid delaying the subsequent itinerary, I could only admire this magical temple from the foot of the mountain. Even so, its spectacular sight was enough to leave a lasting impression. The third stop was the Yingxian Wooden Pagoda, one of the most anticipated attractions of this trip. When it appeared before me, the excitement was indescribable. The Yingxian Wooden Pagoda is the tallest and oldest existing pure wooden structure in the world. Its intricate structure and long history made me deeply admire the wisdom and craftsmanship of ancient artisans. However, it is regrettable that some main structures were dismantled early on, causing the pagoda to tilt. Seeing this, I couldn't help but feel worried and regretful, sincerely hoping that effective methods can be found soon to save this precious historical treasure. After a day of rich itinerary, we returned to the Datong Ancient City Wall. Since I didn't go up the wall the previous day due to time constraints, I made up for it today. When I climbed the wall and overlooked the scenery inside and outside the city, I was filled with emotions. But to be honest, the view from the wall was relatively ordinary, without many stunning sights. So, if you plan to go up and take a look, the inside is filled with juicy meat fillings, and taking a bite, the juice bursts out, leaving a lingering taste in your mouth. That wonderful taste still makes me reminisce, and I highly recommend it to every food lover. After enjoying breakfast, I eagerly went to the Yungang Grottoes. This grotto was initially excavated by the Northern Wei royal family and has undergone repairs and additions over various dynasties. Its grand scale, exquisite Buddha statues, and splendid murals make it feel like an art palace. Each Buddha statue is lifelike, with a compassionate smile, seemingly comforting people's hearts; each mural is colorful, vividly depicting the social life and religious beliefs of the time. Here, I deeply felt the endless charm of ancient art and was filled with respect for the exquisite skills and selfless dedication of ancient artisans. After leaving the Yungang Grottoes, I visited the Datong Museum. There, I further understood the historical changes and cultural heritage of Datong. The precious relics and detailed introductions gave me a deeper understanding and appreciation of this city. After finishing the Datong itinerary, I embarked on a journey to Pingyao. Day4⃣️: Hotel➡️Pingyao Ancient City➡️Taiyuan➡️May Day Square➡️Shanxi Hotel➡️Hotel In Pingyao Ancient City, I spent half a day slowly wandering through the streets and alleys of the ancient city. Every street and courtyard here exudes a strong historical atmosphere, as if time has stood still. The ancient city walls, quaint shops, and traditional courtyard houses all tell of the city's past prosperity and glory. In the evening, I arrived in Taiyuan. Under the night, Taiyuan was brightly lit and bustling. I went to May Day Square, where people were coming and going, full of life. Then, I was attracted by a building, the Shanxi Hotel, which was magnificently decorated and had an antique style. Its exquisite architectural style and unique decorations made me feel like I had traveled back in time. Day5⃣️: Hotel➡️Shanxi Museum➡️Guangzhou On the last day in Shanxi, I chose to visit the Shanxi Museum. This place is like a huge historical treasure trove, housing many exquisite bronzes, ceramics, paintings, and other artifacts. Each artifact carries a piece of history and tells a story. Here, I also saw detailed introductions about the ancient buildings I visited in the past few days, giving me a deeper understanding and appreciation of them. This trip to Shanxi was very rewarding. Before setting off to Shanxi, I watched many related documentaries. When I stood in front of the buildings and artifacts that appeared in the documentaries, the excitement and thrill in my heart were indescribable. I recommend the documentary "Humanistic Tsinghua" on Bilibili, which provided me with a wealth of knowledge and background information for my trip, allowing me to better appreciate and understand the history and culture of Shanxi.