The Tourism Giant That Coal Mining Almost Overlooked: Turns Out It's...?!

In the public's stereotype, Shanxi seems to be all about coal. But for lovers of ancient architecture, this is an absolute mecca. Shanxi silently tells of its glorious past with its architectural relics that have been preserved for thousands of years. During my 7-day trip in Shanxi, I deeply felt that even without rushing, just exploring one city can be very rewarding. No other province in the country has such a wealth of above-ground cultural relics as Shanxi. There are as many as 28,027 ancient buildings here, accounting for 10% of the country's total. Each one has witnessed the vicissitudes of time and is touching. Below, I will share with you the treasure attractions I discovered during my trip to Shanxi. ❶ Yingxian Wooden Pagoda: It is the tallest and oldest wooden pagoda in the world. After thousands of years of wind, rain, and war, it still stands proudly. Looking up at the wooden pagoda, its majestic momentum rushes towards you, making you marvel at the wisdom and skills of the ancients. ❷ Pure Land Temple: This small temple next to the Yingxian Wooden Pagoda is often overlooked by tourists, but the exquisiteness of its caisson ceiling is comparable to that of the Forbidden City. The shape is elegant, the conception is ingenious, and the structure is exquisite. Every detail is worth savoring. ❸ Gwangseong Temple: The "Three Wonders of Gwangseong" - the Feihong Pagoda, the Zhaocheng Jin Tripitaka, and the Yuan Dynasty mural Water God Temple, are well-known. Among them, the Feihong Pagoda is recognized by the World Record as the tallest colorful glazed pagoda with its unique shape and colorful glaze, which is dazzling and shocking. ❹ Datong Ancient City: This is an ancient city full of life. Although it has gone through the changes of the times, a large number of ancient buildings are still well preserved in the city. There are temples, Taoist temples, pavilions, etc. Each place carries a profound history and culture. ❺ Huayan Temple: As one of the three existing Liao Dynasty temples in China, Huayan Temple is not only magnificent in architecture, but also the colored sculptures and murals in the temple are extremely precious and of great artistic value, and are worth visiting. ❻ Yungang Grottoes: A large grotto complex from the Northern Wei Dynasty. The Buddha statues in the grottoes are lifelike, either solemn or humorous. Walking into each cave, it seems that you can travel through time and space and feel the ancients' persistence and pursuit of art. ❼ Wang Family Compound: As the saying goes, "No need to see other courtyards after visiting the Wang Family Compound". As a typical representative of Jin merchant residences and Jin-style architecture, the Wang Family Compound is large in scale and rigorous in layout. It is known as the "Folk Forbidden City of China" and the "Forbidden City of Shanxi". ❽ Jinci Temple: It is the oldest existing royal sacrificial garden in China and the ancestral hall of the Jin State. The "Three Wonders of Jinci" - the Difficult Old Spring, the Maid Statue, and the Zhou Cypress are well-known. In addition, the Shengmu Hall, the wood-carved dragon, and the Fish Marsh Flying Bridge also demonstrate the superb skills of the ancients. ❾ Twin Pagoda Temple: The tallest ancient building in Taiyuan City, the twin pagodas of Yongzuo Temple are like a pair of twin sisters, complementing each other and standing majestically, which is very beautiful. ❿ Little West Heaven: The full hall of painted sculptures in Xiaoxitian Hall in Xi County is known as the "Suspended Sculpture Masterpiece" in the history of Chinese sculpture art. Numerous colored sculptures are lifelike and exquisitely crafted, which is amazing. ⓫ Guanyin Hall: Although the Guanyin Hall is small in area, it is covered with about 500 clay colored sculptures and suspended sculptures, integrating the elements of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism, reflecting the harmonious coexistence of diverse cultures. ⓬ Shuanglin Temple: Shuanglin Temple, located in Pingyao County, is famous for its colored sculptures and enjoys the reputation of "Oriental Colored Sculpture Art Treasury". The Thousand-Hand Guanyin and "The World's No. 1 Wei Tuo" colored sculptures in the temple are rare art treasures.