2026 Kelan Travel Guide: must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transport & travel experiences (updated in July)

Kelan Ancient City is nestled among the mountains of northwest Shanxi. Founded during the Later Han of the Five Dynasties period, it is a uniquely shaped boat-form military city and is now a national 3A-level tourist attraction. Historically located on a key border route, the city walls are built with rammed earth foundations and covered with blue bricks. The four bastions are arranged in a regular layout, with a complete defense system, showcasing the majestic aura of a vital frontier town. The bell and drum tower in the city is a landmark building, a three-story wooden pavilion with exquisitely curved eaves. An ancient bell weighing ten thousand jin hangs inside, its chimes resonating far and wide. The Confucian Temple and the ancient prefectural office have been restored to their original appearance. The winding streets paved with bluestone slabs are full of lively local atmosphere. This place combines a millennium of frontier heritage with revolutionary memories, as great leaders passed through here, leaving praise that "Kelan is a great place." Climbing the city wall and looking into the distance, the Lanyi River flows around the city, surrounded by mountains embracing the ancient city. The smoke of a thousand years of war has long since faded, and the blue brick ancient walls stand quietly, blending profound history with peaceful daily life, fully displaying the unique, vast ancient charm of the Loess Plateau.

Songjia Valley is a serene retreat embraced by mountains. The landscape features a harmonious blend of lush forests and flowing streams that meander through the valley like a silver ribbon. Each season brings its own unique charm: spring blankets the mountains with blooming flowers, summer offers cool shade under verdant canopies, autumn sets the hills ablaze with fiery red leaves, and winter transforms the area into a snow-covered wonderland. Walking along the mountain trails, the gentle sound of flowing water accompanies you, bringing a sense of calm and relaxation. Though unassuming, Songjia Valley captivates visitors with its pristine natural beauty. It is an ideal escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life, a sanctuary for the soul. Every pause here allows you to experience the purity of nature and the tranquility of life.

Step right out of Beisita Metro Station, and you’ll find yourself face-to-face with the entrance to Bao’en Temple, home to the iconic Beisi Pagoda. The temple welcomes visitors with its grand stone archway — walk through and follow the clear signage guiding you around the serene complex. Free incense is offered for those who wish to pay respects to the goddess, and the peaceful atmosphere makes it perfect for reflection or quiet exploration. At the heart of the temple grounds stands the impressive Beisi Pagoda. You can admire it from below or climb the winding stairs for a panoramic view — though it’s a bit of a workout! (Or simply offer to take photos of your friends from the base — no judgment!) Beyond the pagoda, take time to explore other prayer halls and the relaxing park area tucked behind the temple — a lovely escape in the city. #cherryblossom25 #suzhou #chinatrip #travel #Beisipagoda #Baoentemple #Beisita

Just a 3-minute walk from Beisita Metro Station, on the way to Suzhou’s historic town, lies Xi Bei Coffee (惜杯咖啡) — a charming two-story café that celebrates the beauty of coffee and cups from around the world. The front opens to the road, but the real magic happens at the back — where you can sip your drink while overlooking the serene riverside. We tried their iced latte, smooth and creamy to the last sip. The standout was the Hawthorn Tree, an ice drip coffee blended with hawthorn juice and topped with fresh hawthorn — tart, refreshing, and unique. To end on a sweet note, we had the affogato, served with perfectly shaped vanilla ice cream and a shot of espresso — pure delight. It’s the kind of place where artful coffee meets scenic tranquility — the perfect pause in Suzhou. #cherryblossom25 #suzhou #chinatrip #travel

|A Rich History. During the Northern Qi Dynasty, the Great Wall was built in Shanxi to resist the invasion of northern ethnic minorities. During the Northern Song Dynasty, the Great Wall was reinforced and expanded to resist the Khitan people, filling the gap of the Song Great Wall in China. The best-preserved section of the Song Great Wall is located in Wangjiacha Village, which has now become a national cultural relic protection unit. You can walk along the path and climb the wall to feel the weight of history. Address: Wangjiacha Village, Kelan County, Xinzhou City, Shanxi Province‌. Tickets: Free

The small towns in Shanxi always give people a feeling of the sedimentation of time. The old houses and old people in the streets and alleys seem to be unable to leave too many traces of the dust of time. Perhaps only in such small towns can one find true tranquility and relaxation. The human touch that is becoming increasingly sparse in big cities still extends here. This may be the reason why Jia Zhangke is so fascinated by these small towns in Shanxi. Kelan County, a small city in northwestern Shanxi Province, has a population of only tens of thousands, but historically it was an important military city in the border area. It still retains the clear outline of the original city. Although the city tower we see now has been renovated in recent years, it is hard to imagine that the tall urn city is the defense structure of a small county city. Strolling in the small town, modernity and tradition are intertwined and collided here, and the atmosphere of leisure and laziness fills every street. Perhaps this is how life should be.

Drive from Taiyuan and arrive at Yinmachuan in 2.5 hours. This time, we encountered heavy fog again, with a visibility of 1m. Drive safely, and beginners should not go! I recommend you to enter Yinmachuan from the south gate, and you can directly enter the wooden plank road and enjoy the alpine meadow scenery by climbing more than 200 small steps🌿 However, it costs 20💰 to enter from the south gate There are many mushrooms🍄 in the mountains, and cows🐮. It's really beautiful if the fog is not heavy! The foot of the mountain is also very beautiful!

Song Great Wall, starting from Qingcheng Mountain in Kelan County in the west, and ending at He Ye Ping, which is connected to Wuzhai County in the east. It was built during the Song Dynasty and has a history of more than a thousand years. Its architectural style is quite unique and has important reference value for the study of ancient Chinese frontier defense and social customs. The existing 20 kilometers of the Song Great Wall in Kelan are built with stone slabs. The well-preserved sections are about 4.2 meters high and about 2.1 meters wide at the top. Some sections still retain the remains of watchtowers, and local people have also found a small number of porcelain pieces, tombstones, and ancient weapons near the Great Wall. He Ye Ping is located at the junction of Ningwu, Wuzhai, and Kelan counties. The mountain is covered with ancient trees, providing dense shade. The original secondary forest covers 820,000 mu and is a national forest park. He Ye Ping is named after its shape, which resembles an enormous lotus leaf. The subalpine meadow of He Ye Ping, at an altitude of 2784 meters, is the highest peak of the Guancen Mountain, known as the 'Emerald of the Plateau.' Trekking route: Wangjiacha Song Great Wall --- Loess Slope --- He Ye Ping, a two-day trek suitable for heavy-load hiking, camping, and mountaineering enthusiasts. Activity intensity: Medium to high intensity. Travel mode: Chartered car + hiking Personal equipment: Backpack, three-season tent, moisture-proof mat, sleeping bag (from -5°C to 15°C), quick-dry clothes, windbreaker, hiking shoes, sun hat, sunglasses, headlamp, sunscreen, spare batteries, military knife, camera, trekking poles, knee pads. If you have a handheld radio or walkie-talkie, you can bring it. Medicines: Antidiarrheal, Yunnan Baiyao, snake medicine, band-aids, antiseptic solution, gauze. Food: 2 lunches, 1 dinner, 1 breakfast. Drinking water: 6 liters for men, 4 liters for women (no water replenishment points along the way). Emergency food: Chocolate, beef jerky, candy, energy bars, etc. Common medicines: Band-aids, anti-inflammatory drugs, motion sickness pills, cold medicine, fever medicine, Yunnan Baiyao, etc. Trekking itinerary: Walk about 13 kilometers of the Song Great Wall ruins to reach the He Ye Ping alpine meadow scenic area. Accommodation: There are many hotels in Dongzhai Town nearby. Nearby scenic spots: Luyashan Scenic Area.

Songjiagou Village is located 12 kilometers east of Kexi County, Shanxi Province. The National Highway 209 and the Xinbao Expressway run through it from east to west. It is rich in water resources and has convenient transportation. Songjiagou was formerly known as Shunjiagou, implying smoothness. The simple place name contains the longing and expectation for a better life of the mountain people over the past thousands of years. Walking into Songjiagou, you can see the green bricks and grey tiles, wooden houses and yellow walls, and the ancient rural style comes oncoming. Since 2018, with the help of unique tourist resources such as the Song Great Wall, Heleping, Luyashan, Chairman Mao's Road Residence, and the ancient city, Kexi County has focused on creating the Songjiagou '6•21' rural cultural tourism season. In recent years, with its rich tourism resources, this small mountain village in the northwest of Shanxi has made the rural tourism industry booming.

There are many villages called Songjiagou in all parts of the country, but the most well-known one is undoubtedly the Songjiagou in Jixian County, Quzhou City, Shanxi Province. This once-deep poverty-stricken village has turned into a beautiful environment. It is a livable and convenient new countryside and attracts a large number of tourists. Visitors came to the village and saw not only the achievements of the beautiful new rural construction, but also many rich and characteristic local activities. In addition to the local dramas that attract local attention, there are lively folk performances, assorted specialties, handicrafts made by the villagers such as dough, paper-cutting, etc., all of which are popular among tourists.