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Taiyuan Travel Guide
North China

Taiyuan Travel Guide

Jinyang Ancient City and Shanxi Museum

Taiyuan | Jinyang Ancient City and Shanxi Museum: Taiyuan serves as the transportation and accommodation hub for central Shanxi. The two exhibition halls at Shanxi Museum, 'The Hegemony of the Jin State' and 'The Lingering Charm of Buddhist Culture,' provide a 'preliminary lesson' for the ancient buildings you'll visit in the following days. Jinci Temple, located in the southwest suburbs, is a collection of Song Dynasty architecture and sculptures. This site has compiled the best seasons to visit, recommended duration of stay, intercity transportation, and local tips.

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Destination Details

Key facts
Best seasonApril to October; dry and cold in winter
Suggested stay1 day
Affiliated AreaNorth China · Shanxi
Key highlightsShanxi Museum · Jinci Temple · Shuangta Temple (Yongzuo Temple) · Liuxiang and Food Street
Local cuisineKnife-cut noodles, fried pork, brain (breakfast), cat ears, Taigu cakes.

Taiyuan is the transportation and accommodation hub of central Shanxi. The two exhibition halls at the Shanxi Museum, "The Hegemony of Jin" and "The Remnants of Buddhist Influence," are places to "take a lesson first" about ancient architecture for the following days; Jin Temple, located in the southwest suburbs, is a collection of Song Dynasty architecture and sculptures.

Highlights

Shanxi Museum

Bird-shaped bronze vessels, Houma Covenant inscriptions, and Northern Dynasty Buddhist statues—seeing these first will make the ancient architecture much clearer.

Jin Temple

The Song Dynasty Holy Mother Hall and Fish Pond Flying Beam, with maid statues that are exquisite works of Song Dynasty sculpture.

Shuangta Temple (Yongzuo Temple)

Ming Dynasty twin towers, a city symbol of Taiyuan.

Liuxiang and Food Street

Places in the city for dining and shopping.

Suggested Stay and Route

  • Recommended stay: 1 day.
  • Half a day at the museum + half a day at Jin Temple, then on the second day head north to Mount Wutai.
  • It is more efficient to link with other cities of the same theme; see the "extendable routes" below for reference.

Best Season

April to October; winter is dry and cold.

How to Get There and Intercity Transportation

Taiyuan South Station has the Daxi High-Speed Railway; city buses and metro can reach the main attractions.

Local Food

Knife-cut noodles, stir-fried meat, "Tou Nao" (breakfast dish), cat ear noodles, Taigu cakes.

Local Tips

  • Shanxi Museum is closed on Mondays; Jin Temple is about 25 km from the city center, approximately 40 minutes by bus or taxi.

Province

This entry belongs to Shanxi (2 ready-made routes are available), you can compare all possible routes in the province on its page.

Routes that include this stop

Ancient Buildings of Northern Jin 4 Days · Taiyuan Wutai Mountain PingyaoAncient Buildings of Northern Jin 4 Days · Taiyuan Wutai Mountain Pingyao4 days / 3 nightsJin Merchants Ancient Buildings 6 Days · Including Fo Guang Temple and Hongdong Great Pagoda TreeJin Merchants Ancient Buildings 6 Days · Including Fo Guang Temple and Hongdong Great Pagoda Tree6 days / 5 nights8-Day In-Depth Tour of Ancient Shanxi Merchants' Architecture · Including Linfen and Guangsheng Temple8-Day In-Depth Tour of Ancient Shanxi Merchants' Architecture · Including Linfen and Guangsheng Temple8 days / 7 nightsJinchong 5th · Pingyao and TaiyuanJinchong 5th · Pingyao and Taiyuan5 days / 4 nights7 Days in Northern Shanxi Ancient Architecture · Yungang and Wutai7 Days in Northern Shanxi Ancient Architecture · Yungang and Wutai7 days / 6 nights