Top 10 Things to Do in Daning 2026

No. 4 of Best Things to Do in Shanxi

The Hukou Waterfall Scenic Area

8.5

Ji County · 45.6km from Daning

22.7k reviews

The Hukou Waterfall Scenic Area is located in the Jin-Shaan Grand Canyon in the middle reaches of the Yellow River and is the Shanxi-side section for viewing Hukou Waterfall. As the Yellow River rushes here, its surface suddenly narrows from several hundred meters wide to just a few dozen meters. The water, laden with silt, churns and pours down like water being poured into a giant kettle, which is how the name "Hukou" (Kettle Mouth) came to be. This is a rare yellow waterfall on the Yellow River, with muddy waves surging skyward and a roar like thunder, displaying magnificent momentum. The attraction is located on the east side of the waterfall, where the bank is relatively low, allowing visitors to look up and take in the full panorama of the Yellow River plunging downward. Below the waterfall, mist rises and fills the air, appearing like smoke or clouds from afar and creating the wondrous sight known as "smoke rising from the water"; on clear days, sunlight refracts through the mist to form a rainbow arching across the river, called "rainbow reaching the heavens." Within the attraction, Dragon Cave is a natural stone cave; following the stone steps down leads to a viewing platform close to the waterfall, where you can look up as the river pours down from above—an ideal spot to feel the force of the waterfall up close. Downstream from the waterfall, the Ten-Mile Dragon Trough is a deep channel formed by the river's long-term erosion of the riverbed; in the dry season, the trough floor is wide and flat, and ancients once used this terrain to haul boats along the bank, leaving behind the unique scene known as "sailing on dry land." Further downstream is Mengmen Mountain, where two huge rocks in the river split the Yellow River in two before the streams merge again; carved on the rock face are the four characters "Wo Zhen Kuang Liu" (Resting Here, Quelling the Raging Flow). The view of Hukou Waterfall is distinctive in each of the four seasons. Every year between April and May, peach blossoms bloom and the ice melts, coinciding with the "March peach blossom flood," when the abundant water volume makes the waterfall particularly spectacular. From September to November, the air is crisp in fall, and rainbows often appear in the mist, a phenomenon known as the "Hukou fall wind." Water volume is greater in spring and fall, and the sound of the water striking the rocks is like thunder, making these the best periods to admire the waterfall. The image of Hukou Waterfall once appeared on the CNY 50 banknote of the fourth series of the renminbi, making it a widely recognized classic symbol of Yellow River culture.

No. 8 of Best Things to Do in Shaanxi

Hukou Waterfall tourist area of the Yellow River

Hukou Waterfall tourist area of the Yellow River

8.3

4.6/5

18.2k reviews

The Hukou Waterfall tourist area of the Yellow River is located on the riverbed of the Yellow River in the Qin-Jin Grand Canyon, where the provinces of Shanxi and Shaanxi face each other across the river. The main stream of the Yellow River, originally hundreds of m wide, suddenly narrows to dozens of m and plunges into a deep trough with a drop of 20–30 m, resembling water being poured from a giant pot—hence the name "Hukou" (Pot Mouth). Due to the large amount of sediment carried by the river, the waterfall presents a rare golden-yellow view: the turbid waves roar down with a sound like distant thunder rolling through the valley, while the rising mist lingers before the cliff, earning the nickname "smoke rising from the water." On sunny days, sunlight casts a rainbow over the waterfall, known as "a rainbow playing in the water." The mist may drench visitors even without wind or rain, creating the wonder called "rainfall under a clear sky." Hukou waterfall is regarded as the symbol of the "soul of the Yellow River" and the spirit of the Chinese nation. In 1938, when poet Guang Weiran crossed the Yellow River, he witnessed the roaring waves of Hukou and the boatmen's chants, which inspired him to create the now-legendary Yellow River Cantata. Liang Heng's essay of the same name was selected for middle school Chinese textbooks, and the back of the fourth series CNY 50 banknote also features this scene. Many first learned about it through textbooks and currency before visiting in person. In the past, cargo ships had to leave the water and bypass the waterfall here, leaving behind the maritime memory of "sailing on dry land." The scenery here varies with the seasons: In early spring, the upstream ice melts and the water level rises sharply, coinciding with the blooming of mountain peach blossoms on both banks, known as the "March peach blossom flood." In midsummer, the rainy season brings abundant water, with muddy waves towering into the sky. After fall begins, the rainy season subsides, and the water becomes high and steady. As the fall breeze sweeps by, rainbows often appear, earning the name "Hukou autumn breeze." In deep winter, layers of ice form along the banks, and overflow freezes into inverted ice peaks, glistening under the sunlight, creating the spectacular "upside-down ice peaks." The viewing platform on the Shaanxi side stretches along the cliff top on the western bank, offering a commanding view of the "thousand-mile Yellow River funneled into one pot" and the ten-mile-long Dragon Trough below the waterfall. During high-water seasons, the mist is heavy, and clothes get soaked quickly, so remember to protect your camera and phone; the boardwalk is slippery, so watch your step while walking and taking photos.

Yichuan · 47.1km from Daning

2026 Global 100 - Best Things to Do

Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum

Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum

10

150.8k reviews

Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum is a large site museum built on the site of the Terracotta Army pits, which are located approx. 1.5 km east of the mound of Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum. In March 1974, farmers from Xiyang Village accidentally unearthed fragments of terracotta figures while digging a well, and archaeological exploration confirmed Pit 1; in 1976, Pits 2 and 3 were successively discovered to the north of Pit 1. This army, which had slumbered for over 2,000 years, was thus brought back to light, and the discovery of the Terracotta Army has been hailed as "one of the great discoveries in the history of 20th-century archaeology." Pit 1 is the main military formation among the three pits, stretching over 200 m from east to west, with an estimated 6,000 pottery figurines and horses buried inside. Standing at the edge and looking down, armored warrior figurines, war chariots, and pottery horses are arrayed eastward in battle formation. A closer look at each figure reveals different facial shapes, hairstyles, beards, and even hand gestures. The figurines were originally painted all over, but most of the paint has peeled off and discolored due to fire and long burial. Pit 2 is L-shaped, with crossbowmen, cavalry, and charioteers arranged in a mixed formation; the vividly expressive kneeling archer was unearthed here. Pit 3 is small in scale, and scholars believe the ceremonial guard figurines and war chariots unearthed there indicate it served as the command center—known in ancient times as a "military tent"—directing the formations in Pits 1 and 2. The bronze swords, pi halberds, spears, crossbow triggers, and large quantities of arrowheads unearthed from the pits—many still sharp after more than 2,000 years—demonstrate the sophistication of Qin dynasty metallurgy. The Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum and the Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum at the foot of Mount Li were originally one integrated whole. After Qin Shi Huang ascended the throne at the age of 13, he began constructing the mausoleum, conscripting hundreds of thousands of laborers over a period spanning more than 30 years; the terracotta army, which replaced human sacrifice with figurines, served as the underground guard for this imperial mausoleum. To avoid the crowds during your visit, you might want to see Pit 3 and Pit 2 first, and then take your time to experience the awe-inspiring scene of Pit 1 last. After viewing the terracotta pits, you can also take the attraction's shuttle bus to Lishan Garden, where Emperor Qinshihuang's mausoleum is located; the Acrobats Pit, the Civil Officials Pit, and the Bronze Chariots and Horses Museum are all within the garden. The two painted bronze chariots and horses, cast at half the scale of real chariots, are exquisitely crafted with brilliantly gleaming gold and silver fittings, and are well worth a special trip to see.

2026 Asia 100 - Family-friendly Attractions

Shaanxi History Museum

9.5

4.8/5

35.4k reviews

Shaanxi History Museum is a large modern museum built after China's reform and opening up and officially opened in 1991. The building was designed by architect Zhang Jinqiu and adopts a Tang-style architectural layout of "central hall and four corner towers," with a symmetrical central axis and a clear hierarchy of primary and secondary structures; in 2016 it was included in the first batch of the "Chinese Architectural Heritage of the 20th Century" list. Shaanxi was once the political center of dynasties such as the Zhou, Qin, Han, and Tang, and the museum's collection spans a million years of history, covering categories such as Shang and Zhou bronzes, pottery figurines of successive dynasties, Han and Tang gold and silver wares, and Tang tomb murals, with a total of over one million items. The permanent exhibition "Ancient Civilization of Shaanxi" follows a chronological main line and presents the historical process from prehistoric Lantian Man to the eve of the Opium War across three galleries, with the Zhou, Qin, Han, and Tang periods as the focus. The east and west sides of the central hall each host a thematic exhibition: on the west side, "Treasures of the Great Tang: Hejiacun Hoard Unearthed Artifacts Exhibition" concentrates on fine gold and silver wares of the High Tang, while on the east side, the "Tang Dynasty Mural Treasures Gallery" displays authentic murals removed from Tang tombs, with subjects covering figures, architecture, ceremonial guards, and more, making it a uniquely distinctive category of the museum's collection. Among the many artifacts in the museum, several are particularly notable. The agate cup with gold-inlaid beast head, from the Hejiacun hoard, is carved from a single piece of banded agate into the form of a curved-horn beast head, resembling Central Asian rhyton cups, and is one of the first batch of cultural relics prohibited from being exhibited abroad. The tri-color glazed camel carrying musicians figurine vividly recreates the lively scene of musicians playing and singers performing on a camel's back, with bright glaze colors and figures with distinct expressions. The Empress's Seal is made of Western Han Hetian mutton-fat jade and carved with a chi-tiger knob, and is the only known actual jade seal of a Han dynasty empress discovered to date. In addition, the gilt silver flask with a dancing horse holding a cup design, the celadon ewer with an overhead handle and bottom-filling design, and the black-glazed oil-spot bowl each have their own distinctive features. The gold and silver wares unearthed from the Hejiacun hoard are concentrated in the thematic gallery and are a highlight of any visit; visitors are advised to allow time to examine them closely.

Dongyue Temple

5.5

Pu County · 33.2km from Daning

149 reviews

Dongyue Temple is located on the top of Baishan Mountain, 2 kilometers east of Pu County, Shanxi Province. The mountain is covered with lush cypress trees, which are green all year round, so it is commonly known as Baishan Temple. The temple is large in scale and well-planned, with more than 60 buildings including the mountain gate, Lingxiao Hall, Music Tower, meeting hall, offering pavilion, Dongyue Palace Hall, Houtu Temple, Shengmu Temple, Qingxu Palace, Dizang Temple, Hell, corner towers and surrounding corridors. The founding date is unknown, but it was established in the fifth year of Jin Taihe (1205). This palace-style building, like other famous Dongyue Temples, is regarded as the traditional palace of Huang Feihu, the Emperor of Dongyue. Dongyue Temple is unique in design, with a prominent main body, symmetrical left and right, dotted with pavilions, two-story corridors, and towering corner towers at the four corners of the temple. Near the temple, Mengjue Temple, Taiwei Terrace, Huachi Temple, and Bifeng Tower stand on the top of the mountain. The green pines and cypresses all over the mountain are towering, making Dongyue Temple extremely beautiful.

2026 Asia 100 - Best Things to Do

Longmen Grottoes

8.9

62.4k reviews

Longmen Grottoes are located in the southern suburbs of Luoyang, Henan Province, on the cliffs along both banks of the Yi River. As one of China's three major grotto art treasures, they were inscribed on the World Cultural Heritage list in 2000. The grottoes were first carved when Emperor Xiaowen of Northern Wei moved the capital to Luoyang, and construction continued through the Eastern Wei, Western Wei, Northern Qi, Sui, and Tang dynasties, with the vast majority of niches and statues left from the Northern Wei and Tang periods. Today, more than 2,000 niches and over 100,000 statues remain, along with a large number of inscriptions and steles, making the site an important representative of Chinese stone carving art. The attraction is divided by the Yi River into two parts: West Hill and East Hill. The West Hill Grottoes are the essence of the site, carved from the Northern Dynasties through the Sui and Tang periods. Famous caves include Guyang Cave, Binyang Cave, Lotus Cave, Wanfo Cave, and Fengxian Temple. The Lushena Buddha at Fengxian Temple stands about 17 m tall, making it one of the larger Buddha statues at Longmen Grottoes. Its face is dignified and serene, with a faint smile, and legend holds that it was modeled on the appearance of Wu Zetian, earning it the name "Oriental Mona Lisa." The inner walls of Wanfo Cave are densely covered with about 15,000 small Buddha statues, each only a few cm tall, neatly arranged and finely crafted. Guyang Cave is the earliest cave carved at Longmen, and its inscription calligraphy is exquisite; the selected "Twenty Masterpieces of Longmen" are representative works of Wei stele calligraphy. Binyang Cave consists of the South, Middle, and North caves and took more than twenty years to complete. Its original reliefs depicting emperors and empresses worshipping the Buddha were looted and lost overseas in the 1930s. In Binyang North Cave, a Buddha statue has a distinctive hand gesture, with the right index and middle fingers raised in a shape resembling the modern "scissors hand," though it is actually a Buddhist mudra, and it once sparked heated discussion online. The East Hill Grottoes are mostly Tang dynasty works and are smaller in scale than those on West Hill, but from the opposite bank visitors can enjoy panoramic views of West Hill from different angles, especially distant views of the Lushena Buddha. The attraction also includes Xiangshan Temple and Bai Juyi Memorial Park (Bai Garden). The Tang dynasty poet Bai Juyi lived in Luoyang in his later years and once praised it, saying, "Of the scenic splendors of Luoyang's surrounding mountains and waters, Longmen ranks first." When visiting, simply follow the route West Hill—East Hill—Xiangshan Temple—Bai Garden, proceeding in one direction without backtracking. The West Hill Grottoes are densely packed with content, so it is advisable to set aside ample time for a closer look; East Hill is quieter and more secluded, suitable for a brief visit and gazing across the river when energy is limited.

China · Luoyang

2026 Global 100 - Night Attractions

Xi'an City Wall

8.8

4.6/5

63.1k reviews

Xi'an City Wall, also known as the Xi'an Ming City Wall, is an ancient city wall defense system encircling the old city of Xi'an from the Ming and Qing dynasties. The main body of the existing wall was built during the Hongwu period of the Ming Dynasty, expanded on the foundation of the imperial city of Chang'an from the Sui and Tang dynasties, and has undergone multiple renovations since then, remaining well preserved to this day. The wall is roughly rectangular in plan, with a perimeter of about 14 km, and the area it encloses is the old city of Xi'an. The wall is about 12 m high, about 15 to 18 m wide at the base, and about 12 to 14 m wide at the top. The top of the wall is broad and flat, allowing visitors to cycle or stroll along it while overlooking the scenery inside and outside the city. The defensive system of the wall consists of the wall body, city gates, barbicans, bastions, corner towers, and the moat. Nearly a hundred bastions were built along the outer face of the wall, spaced about 120 m apart, precisely within bow-and-arrow range, reflecting the defensive wisdom of the cold weapon era. There is a corner platform at each of the four corners, among which the southwest corner platform is circular, forming a striking contrast with the other three square corner platforms—a unique form rarely seen among surviving ancient city walls. The moat outside the wall encircles the entire city, together with the wall forming a complete defensive layout. The wall currently has 18 city gates, among which Yongning Gate (South Gate), Anding Gate (West Gate), Anyuan Gate (North Gate), and Changle Gate (East Gate) are the four main gates originally built in the Ming Dynasty. Each main gate features three tiers of gate towers—the gate control tower, arrow tower, and main tower—forming a layered barbican defense. Yongning Gate is the one that has been in use the longest, with a history dating back to the Sui Dynasty, and is also the one whose form is relatively well preserved. The section of the wall at Hanguang Gate encloses the remains of the Sui and Tang imperial city, with a site exhibition that offers an intuitive sense of the wall's layered history spanning over a thousand years. Cycling a full loop around the city on the wall is a popular experience, taking about one and a half to two hours in total. Ascending the wall in the evening allows you to take in both the traditional architecture inside the city and the modern urban skyline outside, with the wall and moat set off beautifully against the glow of the setting sun.

2026 Asia 100 - Family-friendly Attractions

Jinci Temple Museum

8.7

4.8/5

21k reviews

Jinci Temple Museum is located at the foot of Xuanweng Mountain by the banks of the Jin River. It is an ancestral temple built to commemorate Tang Shuyu, the founding feudal lord of the State of Jin, and is also one of the earlier surviving royal sacrificial gardens in China. There is a saying that "you have not truly visited Taiyuan until you have visited Jinci." The ancient buildings in the museum are arranged in sequence along the central axis, among which the Xian Hall, the Flying Bridge over the Fish Pond, and the Hall of the Holy Mother are known as the "three treasures," while the Zhou Cypress, the Never-Aging Spring, and the Song dynasty attendant statues are known as the "three wonders"—these are the core highlights of any visit. The "Three Treasures" are located on the central axis and can be visited together. Xian Hall is the place where sacrificial offerings are placed. The hall is surrounded by railings instead of walls, making it well-ventilated and bright, and its beam structure is simple and lightweight. The Flying Bridge Across Fish Pond is on the west side of Xian Hall. It is a cross-shaped ancient bridge built over a square pond, resembling a modern overpass in form, and this type of bridge structure is extremely rare among surviving ancient buildings. The west end of the bridge connects to Shengmu Hall, the oldest surviving building in the museum. Wooden carved dragons coil around the porch columns in front of the hall, making them relatively early surviving examples of wooden coiled dragons. The hall interior was built using the reduced-column method, creating a rather spacious interior. It houses dozens of Song Dynasty colored sculptures, with the main statue of Shengmu seated in the shrine and the remaining attendants arranged on both sides with varied expressions. One attendant statue is half joyful and half sorrowful, vividly lifelike and moving. With Shengmu Hall as the center, you can also seek out the "Three Wonders." The Zhou Cypress is located on the north side of Shengmu Hall. It is said to have been planted in the Western Zhou Dynasty, and its trunk leans south like a reclining dragon, full of ancient majesty. The Never-Aging Spring is located on the south side of Shengmu Hall and is the main source of the Jin River. The museum also houses the Stele of the Inscription and Preface to Jinci, composed and handwritten by Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, whose running-script calligraphy is vigorous and forceful. In the southern part is the Shifang Fengsheng Zen Temple, said to have originally been the villa of the Tang Dynasty general Yuchi Gong. In the Futu Courtyard, the Sarira ShengSheng Pagoda can be climbed for a distant view. The Jinci temple fair has been passed down to the present day and has been included in the national-level intangible cultural heritage list. The Water Mirror Stage, an ancient theater stage in the museum, is an important venue for activities during the temple fair.

China · Taiyuan

No. 5 of Global Traveller-Picked Attractions in Xi'an

Huaqing Palace

8.7

4.6/5

33.8k reviews

Huaqing Palace attraction is located 30 km east of Xi'an, adjacent to the Terracotta Warriors. Renowned for its timeless hot spring resources and numerous historical events, it has become an iconic cultural tourism attraction of Tang Dynasty palaces in China. Palace scenic spots Huaqing Palace boasts a long history, serving as an imperial retreat for emperors from the Zhou, Qin, Han, Sui, and Tang dynasties. The palace features cultural zones like the Tang Imperial Hot Spring Relics Museum, the Xi'an Incident site—Five-Room Hall, Nine Dragon Lake and Lotus Lake scenic areas, and the Tang Pear Garden Museum. Notable architectural complexes include Feishuang Hall, Wanshou Hall, Changsheng Hall, Huanyuan Garden, and Yuwang Hall. The stele of "hot spring ode" Mount Li hot springs, developed early and favored by emperors throughout history, enjoy the reputation of being "the imperial hot springs under heaven." As far back as the Yangshao culture period 6,000 years ago, the ancient Jiangzhai people began utilizing these springs. With their profound cultural heritage spanning millennia, Mount Li hot springs represent an indispensable part of Chinese historical culture. The stele of hot spring ode in the attraction stands 154 cm tall, 72 cm wide, and 19 cm thick, featuring a coiled dragon design and a trapezoidal base. Engraved by Yuan Chang, the governor of Yongzhou during the Northern Wei Dynasty, the inscription reads, "The hot spring is nature's prescription and the primordial healer of the universe. People from all nations and those suffering from ailments come with provisions to seek relief in its waters." This stele is the earliest surviving written artifact at Huaqing Palace. Tang Imperial Hot Spring Relics Museum This is the site of the bathing pool described in the "Song of Everlasting Sorrow" where Yang Guifei emerged from her bath. After the An Lushan Rebellion, little remained of the original structure. In 1982, while constructing the "Guifei Pavilion," the Lintong County Government accidentally discovered the ruins of a Tang Dynasty bathing pool. After excavation and restoration, the Huaqing Palace imperial hot spring ruins museum was established. This small yet exquisitely designed pool measures 3.6 meters east-west and 2.9 meters north-south, with an oval-like shape. The pool walls are entirely built with bluestone slabs, featuring a two-tiered terrace structure composed of 18 arched stone sections. Inside the pool lies a dedicated bathing stone for Yang Guifei, engraved with the character "Yang." At the center of the pool bottom is a 10 cm diameter water inlet. A white marble lotus pedestal was unearthed here, connecting to both a showerhead above and ceramic water pipes below that linked to the main water source. Due to natural pressure, hot spring water would spray outward through the lotus showerhead, creating a mist effect remarkably similar to modern showers. Adjacent to the Guifei Pool to the east lies Emperor Xuanzong's exclusive imperial hot spring. During the Tang Dynasty, the Nine Dragon Hall stood above this pool, featuring nine white jade-carved dragons spouting water outside. This pool's surface resembles a realistic lotus shape, hence its alternate name "Lotus Pool." Xi'an incident site The five-room hall at the Xi'an incident site in Huaqing Palace is where the Xi'an incident took place. To this day, the glass windows and walls of the five-room hall still bear bullet marks from the fierce battle during the military remonstrance. The desks, chairs, beds, sofas, tea sets, stoves, carpets, telephones, and other office items in each room are replicated and arranged according to their original appearance. Historical events: Beacon fire to deceive the feudal lords In 779 BC, King You of Zhou obtained the beautiful Bao Si, yet she never smiled. To solve this, the king conspired with the treacherous minister Guo Shifu and lit the beacon fires at the Huaqing Palace attraction. The feudal lords across the land saw the signals.Beacon fireHe quickly led his troops to rescue the king, but King You told the feudal lords, "I lit the beacon fires just to make my queen laugh," upon which Bao Si burst into laughter. The feudal lords arrived valiantly but left resentfully. Seeing King You's incompetence and the people's discontent, the Quanrong tribe seized the opportunity to launch an attack. As the enemy troops approached the mountain, King You urgently raised the beacon fires.Beacon fireHe mobilized troops, but none of the feudal lords came to his rescue. King You fled with Bao Si toMount LiHe was later killed by the Quanrong tribe, leaving behind historical anecdotes such as "a smile worth a thousand gold," "losing the kingdom for a smile," and "playing with beacon fires to deceive the feudal lords." And this beacon tower at Huaqing Palace attraction towers at an altitude of 913.6 m.Mount LiThe beacon tower at Huaqing Palace attraction on the first peak of Xixiu Ridge. Su Dongpo composing poetry at Mount Li During the Jiayou era of the Northern Song Dynasty, the Lishan hot springs, meticulously restored by Liu Ziyong and others, became breathtakingly beautiful, attracting crowds of visitors who composed poems and essays to express their nostalgia. Among the countless poetic works, the emerging literary giant Su Shi stood out with his masterpieces like "Lady of Guo's night outing" and "Lishan" during his visit to the hot springs. Xi'an incident The Xi'an incident, also known as the "double-twelfth incident". Zhang Xueliang and Yang Hucheng launched a mutiny at Huaqing Palace, detaining the then chairman of the Military Commission of the National Government. Performance items You can watch a large-scale dance drama at the attraction. ▲ The Song of Everlasting Sorrow is China's first large-scale live historical dance drama created by Shaanxi Tourism Group. Based on Bai Juyi's timeless poem of the same name, it fully utilizes the attraction's resources and employs high-tech stage lighting to combine historical storytelling with live performances, recreating the love story of Emperor Li Longji and Yang Guifei at Huaqing Palace over 1,300 years ago. ▲There is also the historical adaptation "12-12 Xi'an Incident," which vividly and authentically recreates the lesser-known details of the "Xi'an Incident."