Shanxi

Most famous of all Shanxi’s sights are the fantastic Yungang Buddhist Caves near the city of Datong in the north part of the province. Like their counterparts in Luoyang, Dunhuang and many other places the caves here are a collection of thousands of statues of Buddha< it took 60 years to complete the more than 50.000 statues, with work beginning in 460 A.D. Near Datong you can also visit the stunning Hanging Monastery, a monastery built one the side of a cliff, with dramatic views of both the countryside and the temple itself. In the north part of the province you can also visit crumbling parts of the Great Wall in many places.

A little south of here the Wutaishan mountain range is yet another beautiful scenic spot with many small temples dotting the mountain slopes.

The provincial capital of Taiyuan is not that interesting, but offers great rail and flight connections to many other parts of China and is an access point if you want to go to the ancient town of Pingyao. Pingyao is a charming town,
and although modernity has arrived the well-preserved Old Town with most of the original houses still intact, is a fantastic place to visit. The cobbled streets and stone houses coupled with a great nighttime atmosphere make this a
must-visit for anybody coming to this part of China.

The far south of Shanxi, around Jincheng City, is home to many small villages offering a glimpse into rural China.