Things to do in Xinzhou
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Top 10 attractions in Xinzhou
Xinzhou Ancient City
Xinzhou was called Xiurong in ancient times. It is located between Taiyuan and Mount Wutai. It is the seat of Xinzhou Administrative Office and Prefectural Committee. In the Spring and Autumn Period, Xinzhou belonged to Jin State. In the Warring States Period, it belonged to Zhao State. In the Qin and Han Dynasties, it belonged to Taiyuan County, Yanmen County, and Taiping County. In the Sui Dynasty, it was Xinxingdu and Yanmen. During the Tang, Five Dynasties and Song dynasties, it was called Dingxiang Prefecture of Xinzhou. During the Jin, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, it was called Xinzhou, Daizhou and Baodezhou. During the Anti-Japanese War and the War of Liberation, most of the area belonged to Jinchaji, and the area to the west belonged to Jinsui. In 1949, Xinzhou Prefecture was established. The cultural relics and historical sites in Xinzhou City include: Xinzhou North Gate Tower. Located in Xinzhou City, on the Gongchen Gate of the old north city wall. The North Gate Tower was built in the 24th year of Wanli in the Ming Dynasty. The tower is located on the 12-meter-high city wall, which makes it more majestic and magnificent. The city wall stands tall and is painted red on the outside. There is a Voucher doorway below, with a very high top and a bottom width of more than 3 meters.Xinzhou · 2.1km from downtown
Yanmenguan
Yanmenguan, located approx. 30 km northwest of Dai County in Xinzhou, is a pass on the inner Great Wall of the Ming Dynasty, andNingwu Pass, together with Pianguan, they are known as the "three outer passes". There is no public transportation from Dai County town to the attraction, so you can only get there by private charter. Inside the attraction, you have to rely entirely on walking.YanmenguanSince ancient times, it has been a crucial pass for the Central Plains dynasties to defend against invasions from northern nomadic tribes. Its earliest history can be traced back to the Warring States period when King Wuling of Zhao fought against the Xiongnu here. Han Dynasty generals Li Guang, Wei Qing, and Huo Qubing once led troops to battle the Xiongnu in this area. During the Northern Song Dynasty,YanmenguanIt became the main battlefield between the Song and Liao dynasties, and the prototype of the well-known story of the Yang family generals took place here. A statue of Yang Liulang stands in the attraction. ExistingYanmenguanIt was built in the seventh year of the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty (1374) (with multiple reconstructions in recent years). Currently, there are three gates (east gate, west gate, and small north gate). A wild goose tower stands atop the east gate, and the lintel of the small north gate (i.e., the barbican gate) is inscribed with "Yanmenguan"Three large characters flanked by brick-carved couplets: 'Foremost strategic pass in three frontiers, most revered fortress among nine passes,' both inscribed by the great calligrapher Fu Shan of the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. You can visit the ruins of Ming and Qing military barracks on the hill north of the fortress. To the right outside the west gate areGuan Yu templeOutside the east gate stands the Jingbian Temple, dedicated to Li Mu, a renowned general of the Zhao state during the Warring States period. If you are a fan of the Great Wall, when you visit Yanmenguan, you can walk along the ancient pass trail here. The ancient pass trail in the attraction is built along the local mountain terrain, winding through the peaks. Climbing this section of the trail may be slightly tiring for those who usually work in offices, but when you ascend a peak along the ancient path and gaze at the vast expanse of withered grass outside the pass, quietly feeling the weight of history, you'll find the physical effort well worth it. There are some farmhouse inns near Yanmenguan that can provide food and stay, but most visitors return to Dai County or go to other counties or cities for accommodation. Walking the ancient pass consumes a lot of energy, so you can bring some dry food and drinking water.Dai County · 14.6km from downtown
Wu Tai Shan
Mount Wutai is one of China's famous Buddhist scenic spots and even contains the bodhimanda (place of enlightenment) of the bodhisattva Manjushri. Taihuai Town is at the geographical center of the Mount Wutai scenic area and serves as the lodging and dining center for the area. Most of the temples are also clustered here, so it is a must-visit for travelers here. Visitors typically stay in Taihuai for 2-3 days, which allows plenty of time to visit the main temples.Wutai County · 39.5km from downtown
Luya Mountain Scenic Area
Known for its "asparagus" shape, Luya Mountain is a towering peak among high mountains. There are mountains and waterfalls, as well as odd-looking rocks and lush trees. During the sunrise after rain, the green Luya Mountain turns fire red and a colorful chakra-shaped "Luya Buddha's light" is occasionally seen.Ningwu · 27.1km from downtown
Wannian Ice Cave
The Wannian Ice Cave National Geopark is located in Chunjingqi Town, not far from Ningwu County, Shanxi. The cave was formed in the quaternary glaciation, three million years ago and thus named the Million-year Ice Cave National Geopark. There is a strong cooling mechanism within the cave, leading to ice reserves that are nearly 100 meters deep. There is a volcano beside the ice cave, and together they form a natural wonder.Ningwu · 14.3km from downtown
Xuankong Village
There are two suspended villages deep in Guancen Mountain, one is Wanghuagou and the other is Wuhuashan. The two villages are about 2.5 kilometers apart and are both built on cliffs hundreds of meters high. Most of these houses are built with stone and wood. A wooden plank road is the main street of the village. People walking on the plank road feel like they are in mid-air. Looking up from the bottom of the cliff, it looks like a castle in the sky. Most of the people in these mountains have small attics. Standing in the attic, you can see the endless greenery through the window and the sea of clouds through the door. Behind the village are towering mountains and in front of it is a deep ditch. Originally, you could only enter the village along the steep mountain road. In recent years, cement roads have been built for tourism development, and cars can drive to the parking lot under the village.Ningwu · 23.7km from downtown
Foguang Temple
Foguang Temple was rebuilt in the tenth year of Emperor Xuanzong's reign in Tang Dynasty (856). In terms of construction time, it is second only to the main hall of Nanchan Temple in Wutai County, which was built in the third year of Tang Jianzhong (AD 782). The existing wooden structure in the country Second place in the building. The Tang Dynasty buildings, Tang Dynasty sculptures, Tang Dynasty murals, and Tang Dynasty inscriptions in Foguang Temple are of high historical and artistic value, and are called "Four Wonders". The halls of Foguang Temple are tall and stacked on top of each other, and the layout is sparse, with clear priorities. The east hall stands on a high platform, and there are 35 painted sculptures of the Tang Dynasty on the Buddhist altar in the hall. Sakyamuni Buddha sits in the center of the Buddhist altar, Amitabha Buddha is on the right, Maitreya Buddha is on the left, and the two Bodhisattvas are Samantabhadra and Manjusri. This is different from ordinary temples. In general temples, Manjushri is on the left and Samantabhadra is on the right. However, in all the temples in Foguang Temple and Mount Wutai, Manjusri is on the right and Samantabhadra is on the left. The Bodhisattva Servant and the Bodhisattva in the hall are both daughters, and there is a little red dot in the middle of the crooked eyebrows, which looks quite charming. In front of the inner wall surrounding the Buddhist altar, there are 500 Arhats, shaped for the Ming Dynasty, which are "sketches" of the same size. It is worth noting that there is a Tang Dynasty mural on the back of the Buddha seat. This painting is 80 cm long and 30 cm high. It depicts the story of the heavenly king subduing demons and ghosts. In the middle stands a woman wearing a flower crown and looking panic. Although this painting is more than a thousand years old, its color is still fresh. There is also a mural painted in the fourth year of Xuanhe in the Northern Song Dynasty (1122), which is also quite distinctive. There are seven round lights on the painting, and there are 10 Buddha statues in each round light, and the names of the Buddhas are also written in the boxes under the round lights. The title on the left: "Liu Taizhi, a Buddhist disciple of Foguangzhuang... Xuanhe four years in early March..." These murals, together with the Buddha statues, some black traces under the beams and the building of the East Hall, are known as the "Fourth" of Foguang Temple. absolutely".Wutai County · 19.8km from downtown
Laoniuwan Scenic Area
Located at the border of Shanxi and Inner Mongolia, Laoniuwan Valley is one of China's ten biggest canyons. The scenic area is composed of Baozita Valley, Laoniu Valley, Sizuota Valley and Yangjiachuan Canyon. From Baozita Valley, tourists can look out over the entire area surrounded by the Yellow River, which is known as "China's Colorado."Pianguan · 23km from downtown
Shuxiang Temple
Shuxiang Temple was built in the early years of the Eastern Jin Dynasty. It was rebuilt many times in the Ming Dynasty, and it was called the Wutai Mountain "Five Zen Place" together with Xiantong Temple, Tayuan Temple, Bodhisattva, and Luohou Temple. Facing the Fanxian Mountain, it is named after the Manjushri Bodhisattva in the temple. The iconic building of Shuxiang Temple is the Manjusri Pavilion, and the existing temple was built by Zen Master Tielinguo in the Ming Dynasty. When visiting Shuxiang Temple, don't forget to visit the "Prajna Spring" at the gate. "Prajna Spring" means "the spring of wisdom" in Sanskrit. It is said that drinking the spring water here can help grow wisdom and get rid of folly. When the emperors of the Qing Dynasty came to Wutai Mountain to worship the Buddha on the mountain, they would also drink the spring water.Wutai County · 42.3km from downtown
Yuwang Cave
Yu Wang Cave, originally named Fairy Cave, is located in the southeast side of Xinzhou City. It earned its current name from a stone statue resembling Yu Wang in the cave. The depth of the cave is still a mystery to this day. The part of the cave that has been discovered is built into four stories, including three halls with 10 caves such as the Fairy Cave, the Guanyin Cave, the Stone Flower Cave, and so on. There are stone waterfalls, stone towers, stone flowers, and so on, everywhere in the caves. It is a natural tourist destination.Xinzhou · 14.8km from downtown
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Free things to do in Xinzhou
Xinzhou Ancient City
Xinzhou · 2.1km from downtownYanmenguan
Dai County · 14.6km from downtownImmediate access, Book now for today, Cancel anytimeWu Tai Shan
Wutai County · 39.5km from downtownLuya Mountain Scenic Area
Ningwu · 27.1km from downtownImmediate access, Book now for today, Cancel anytimeWannian Ice Cave
Ningwu · 14.3km from downtownImmediate access, Book now for today, Cancel anytimeXuankong Village
Ningwu · 23.7km from downtownImmediate access, Book now for today, Cancel anytimeFoguang Temple
Wutai County · 19.8km from downtownLaoniuwan Scenic Area
Pianguan · 23km from downtownShuxiang Temple
Wutai County · 42.3km from downtownYuwang Cave
Xinzhou · 14.8km from downtownImmediate access, Book now for today, Cancel anytime
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What travellers say about Xinzhou
Anonymous user17 September 2026
5.0
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! 👍👍👍
Xinzhou Ancient City
玫兰妮13 October 2026
5.0
I've heard about the Yang family generals since I was a child, and I've always wanted to experience the Yanmen Pass that they guarded; the sound of their horses' hooves still echoes in my ears. After arriving, I discovered that Yanmen Pass is more than just the Yang family generals; the profound history accumulated over thousands of years is worth savoring.
Yanmenguan
LI6 October 2026
5.0
It was excellent and breathtaking, especially Daxiantong Temple and Guanghua Temple, which were the most beautiful among the representative temples. It's said there are over 120 temples in the area; two days wasn't enough, so we could only visit some of the famous ones. Thankfully, we climbed 1080 steps to reach the top of Dailuo Peak, making the trip quite fulfilling.
Wu Tai Shan
huqizhao6 October 2026
4.0
I went on October 3rd, and the weather was already cold. The area is full of tall spruce and fine-needle pine trees. You absolutely must take the scenic shuttle bus up the mountain; the terrain is steep. The altitude is high, and the air is very fresh. Climbing Prince Peak is very tiring and somewhat challenging. The round trip takes more than 3 hours.
Luya Mountain Scenic Area
_We***593 October 2026
4.0
The ice cave is only somewhat beautiful towards the end. The path leading out after the ice has been frozen is also lovely. Overall, it's not good value for money, really not good. A sightseeing bus is available for 10 yuan round trip.
Wannian Ice Cave
且行且看且归来9 August 2026
5.0
A very unique ancient village, perched halfway up the mountain. I made a point of experiencing its sunrise and sunset! A wonderful experience, the tranquil coolness of the mountain nights and the captivating scenery during the day.
Xuankong Village
包包军团3 August 2026
5.0
Teacher Li Zi's explanations were amazing! Having listened to so many explanations of ancient architecture in Shanxi, Teacher Li Zi's is undoubtedly the best I've ever heard. He has a profound understanding of architectural history and many unique insights, which were truly impressive. He even prepared many props to help us understand the structure of the dougong (bracket set) and the load-bearing functions of different structures. Next time I come to Shanxi, I will definitely seek out Teacher Li Zi again.
Foguang Temple
Anonymous user10 October 2026
5.0
This place is unique in China, where the Great Wall and the Yellow River "shake hands," a desolate and majestic landscape, a photographer's paradise; however, it is located in a remote area with steps, making it more suitable for self-driving enthusiasts who love cultural landscapes. Purely leisurely tourists may find the journey arduous. Overall, it is still worth a visit.
Laoniuwan Scenic Area
张家老飞侠27 September 2025
5.0
When visiting Mount Wutai, the sanctuary of Manjushri Bodhisattva, you should visit Shuxiang Temple to pray for your children's academic success. It's not far from Wuye Temple and Dailuo Peak, and there's parking available, making it very convenient. Mount Wutai is currently well managed.
Shuxiang Temple
M28***0923 August 2026
4.0
The scenic area is very close to Xinzhou Ancient City, only a ten-minute drive away. Perhaps because it wasn't a holiday, there weren't many tourists, and the shuttle bus departed before it was full, saving time. The scenery is beautiful, and the climb isn't strenuous. If you have the stamina, you can reach the cave entrance in under 30 minutes. Don't listen to the景区 staff trying to persuade you to take the cable car!
Yuwang Cave
