Things to do in Taiyuan

A microcosm of Shanxi's history, the Song Dynasty wooden structures and painted sculptures are its biggest highlights. The ancient cypress trees reaching for the sky and the murmuring Nanlao Spring are well worth a leisurely visit; a guided tour is highly recommended for a more enriching experience.

Taiyuan Botanical Garden is a highly recommended attraction. The scenery is beautiful, and the garden and exhibition halls are very clean and tidy. 👍👍 The staff are polite, and our whole family praised it, saying it's definitely better than the botanical garden in Beijing. 😄😄

The old town was rather deserted. The art exhibition was quite nice, though a bit over the top. But the park at the exit was absolutely gorgeous. Winding paths led to secluded spots, and unexpected beauty unfolded.

Breathtaking view, amazing hike to the top, unreal experience and genuine atmosphere. Highly recommend

The Shanxi Merchants Museum is located within the old Governor's Mansion; its red walls and green tiles are very photogenic. The exhibitions mainly focus on the history of Shanxi merchants and their banks. The courtyard is exquisite, quiet, and not crowded. It's a pleasant place to stroll around; about two hours is sufficient.

Endless shopping spree. You'll need at leas half a day to get through the whole street, that is if you actually wish to shop at least. Didn't get to take much photos. Was too busy window shopping

The most worthwhile rides at Taiyuan Fantawild are "Flying With You," "Nuwa Mending the Sky," and "Divine Painting." They offer excellent VR experiences and are very fun. All the rides at Taiyuan Fantawild are quite good; I recommend checking them out.

The ancient city of Jinyang, founded in the mid-to-late Spring and Autumn Period (497 BC), served as the capital of the State of Zhao during the Warring States Period, a secondary capital during the Northern Qi Dynasty, the capital of the Northern Han Dynasty during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period, and finally, Beijing during the Tang Dynasty. Jinyang witnessed the division of Jin by three states, the border defense of the Western Han Dynasty, the hegemony of the Eastern Wei Dynasty, the secondary capital of the Northern Qi Dynasty, the founding of the prosperous Tang Dynasty, and the wars of the Five Dynasties. A series of major historical events were closely linked to the ancient city of Jinyang. In the fourth year of the Taiping Xingguo reign of the Song Dynasty (979), the Song Dynasty destroyed the Northern Han Dynasty and burned Jinyang to the ground. The Fen River was then diverted to flood the city, razing the ancient city to the ground. Currently, the ruins of the temple and the canal are available at the site, but the core ruins of the Jinyang Palace have yet to be found. Admission is free, and parking is convenient.

Places with such deep cultural heritage are not recommended for young children. I've always been captivated by ancient Chinese architecture, especially in Shanxi, a province rich in ancient buildings and cultural relics. I can easily spend all day there by myself, from morning till closing time. Bringing a child, we only had a quick, superficial look around. I'd definitely come back again sometime.

I learned about Jinci Temple in junior high and high school Chinese classes, and 30 years later I finally got to visit it. I should have taken my time and spent the whole day exploring it, but unfortunately I only had half a day, and I had to rush to Pingyao the next morning.