Things to do in Shuozhou

Having been there and seen it, the obsession has been let go. I always wanted to see it again. I was afraid it would disappear one day. Looking up, I marveled at the wisdom of the ancients. Those who appreciate architecture will certainly not be disappointed.

The streets were clean and tidy, with few tourists and many shops closed.

The Guangwu section of the Ming Great Wall is absolutely worth a visit! It's authentic and far superior to any newly built section. Seeing the Great Wall winding along the mountain ridge amidst the undulating mountains evokes a sense of vastness and grandeur. The 600-year-old Great Wall and the modern wind turbines echo each other, reminding us that our efforts for a better life have never ceased. Standing atop the watchtower, one can imagine the clash of swords and the mournful sounds of war drums, and the red flags fluttering in the west wind – today we hold the long spear in our hands, when will we bind the dragon? A visit here can be short or long. It takes about half an hour to walk from the parking lot to the Moon Gate. If time permits, you can continue walking to see several well-preserved watchtowers. Be sure to wear sunscreen as the UV radiation is strong.

The Yingxian Wooden Pagoda, an ancient building bearing a thousand-year history, stands silently on the land of Shanxi. Its unique structure and exquisite craftsmanship showcase the wisdom and ingenuity of ancient artisans. Through the passage of time, it remains steadfast, seemingly recounting its past glories and vicissitudes. Every brick and tile bears the marks of time, every beam and pillar a testament to historical changes. Standing before it, one can almost hear the whispers of the wind through the pagoda and feel a profound sense of awe that transcends time.

The majestic pass of Shaohukou allows you to feel the momentum of going out of the pass to kill the enemy in ancient times. This fortress at the junction of Shanxi and Inner Mongolia has had a great influence on the inland Central Plains since the Ming Dynasty.

The Old Guangwu City is the most complete ancient city in Shanxi. It is located at the pass, overlooking the Inner Great Wall to the south, the New Guangwu City to the east, the Hanyin Wan Ancient City to the north, and the Yanmen Pass to the west. It is an important area of ​​war between the Han people and the northern ethnic minorities. The opposing enemy towers and beacon towers formed a complete defense system, which still retains the fighting momentum of the ancient battlefield.

One of the three mountains in Zhenjiang, I visited here after the epidemic because I wanted to see Ganlu Temple, where the "Ganlu Temple Liu Bei's marriage proposal" took place during the Three Kingdoms period. Beigu Mountain was dubbed "Temple Crown Mountain" because of the existence of Ganlu Temple. There is also "Weigong Tower", one of our six well-preserved iron towers. The tower was built in the Tang Dynasty. It was originally a stone tower. After it was destroyed by fire, it was rebuilt into iron in the Song Dynasty. It was rebuilt in the Ming and Qing Dynasties, and was destroyed by lightning, etc., and became a residual tower. The iron tower now has four levels, about eight meters high, and is composed of ancient towers from past dynasties. Tourists coming to Zhenjiang visit the three mountains, walk Beigu, and taste the Three Kingdoms👍

This is a Buddhist temple rebuilt in the Qing Dynasty. It is located next to the Main Hall of Fogong Temple in Ying County. It is not large in scale and houses a seated statue of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva. There are also many painted clay sculptures and murals around it. It is open to the public free of charge.

This is the most spectacular iron flower display I've ever seen! The program was diverse and engaging, the host was witty, the audience interaction was lively, the iron flower workers were incredibly skilled, and the iron flowers were dazzling and colorful – the effect was absolutely stunning! Thumbs up! 👍👍👍

The tour guide was attentive and incredibly friendly, covering everything he needed to, and explaining things in considerable detail. With so many people during the National Day holiday, his experience helped us squeeze in every possible moment, and surprisingly, the trip wasn't crowded at all. The Yungang Buddha and the VR tour of Wutai Mountain were definitely worthwhile, and the Yanmen Pass Great Wall and Wang Family Courtyard were also very enjoyable. The driver was fantastic, incredibly experienced, and knew many shortcuts to Xiaoxitian, taking us directly to the scenic area entrance and saving us a lot of walking. The small group size meant it wasn't crowded, and the hotel arrangements were quite reasonable. The Yingxian Wooden Pagoda, the Yanmen Sunset, and the Wang Family Brick Carvings were all breathtakingly beautiful. The local tour guide was completely transparent and honest. I highly recommend this Shanxi tour; if you want to see ancient architecture but are afraid of doing research, book this tour without hesitation.