Taiyuan, Shanxi Province

Donghu Vinegar Garden

东湖醋园Old Towns & Villages

Shanxi's first company-run, factory-style museum to showcase both traditional and modern production processes for aged Shanxi vinegar and the history and culture behind it.…

Donghu Vinegar Garden, Taiyuan

Key facts

Admission
Project A combo ticket ¥7; Project B combo ticket ¥30; Project C combo ticket ¥12
Opening hours
8:00—18:00
Time needed
1–2 hours
Getting there
Near the Fuhong Street–Honggou Road intersection (bus stop)
Guidebook rating
3 / 5

From China Self Guided Travel 2025, page 1793. Open in Google Maps

About Donghu Vinegar Garden

Shanxi's first company-run, factory-style museum to showcase both traditional and modern production processes for aged Shanxi vinegar and the history and culture behind it. Visitors can learn in depth about the cultural heritage of Shanxi aged vinegar, take part in some of the production steps themselves, and sample a variety of aged vinegars for free.

Frequently asked questions

How much does Donghu Vinegar Garden cost?

Admission to Donghu Vinegar Garden is Project A combo ticket ¥7; Project B combo ticket ¥30; Project C combo ticket ¥12, as listed in the 2025 guidebook. Prices can change; check the official channel before you go.

What are the opening hours of Donghu Vinegar Garden?

Donghu Vinegar Garden is open 8:00—18:00.

How do I get to Donghu Vinegar Garden?

Near the Fuhong Street–Honggou Road intersection (bus stop)

How long should I spend at Donghu Vinegar Garden?

Plan on 1–2 hours for Donghu Vinegar Garden.

Where is Donghu Vinegar Garden?

Donghu Vinegar Garden is in Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, in the North China of China. No. 26 Madao Slope Street, Xinghualing District, Taiyuan

More places in Taiyuan

Jinci Temple — illustration

Jinci Temple

Jinci Temple was first built during the Northern Wei dynasty and was once the ancestral shrine of Ji Yu, the founding ruler of the State of Jin. After many rounds of construction and expansion, it has become a scenic site where natural landscape and historical relics intertwine. Half-hidden among lush trees, clear spring water winds through its shrines and halls, drawing constant praise from visitors. There are three must-see highlights, known as the “Three Wonders of Jinci.” The first is the Ancient Cypresses of Zhou and the Tang Locust, planted during the Northern Zhou dynasty. More than 900 years ago, Ouyang Xiu praised them in verse: “The land's spirit nourishes the grasses and trees, and the ancient cypresses breathe a hazy green.” They still stand tall and vigorous today. The second is the Song-dynasty painted sculptures inside the Holy Mother Hall. The Holy Mother Hall is the main building of Jinci Temple, magnificent and grand, and it houses 43 painted clay sculptures. Their postures are natural and their craftsmanship is exquisite, making them masterpieces in the history of Chinese sculpture. The third is Nanlao Spring, the main source of the Jin River, which flows ceaselessly day and night. Also within Jinci is the stele bearing the “Inscription of Jinci Temple,” personally composed by Emperor Taizong of the Tang dynasty, Li Shimin. It is a particularly precious famous stele.

¥80 · 2–4 hours

Shuangta Temple

A landmark of Taiyuan, first built during the Wanli era of the Ming dynasty. Shuangta Temple, also known as Yongzuo Temple, where “zuo” means blessing and protection. The Great Hall and the east and west side halls are built with blue-brick carvings imitating wooden structures. The twin pagodas, Xuanwen Pagoda and Wenfeng Pagoda, each with 13 stories, have an octagonal structure and stand about 54.7 metres tall. Their eaves are decorated with glazed ridge beasts, making a dazzling and spectacular sight.

Peak season ¥30; off-season ¥20 · 1–2 hours

Mengshan Giant Buddha

Mengshan Giant Buddha is located about 20 km southwest of Taiyuan. With a history of nearly 1,500 years, it is the earliest stone-carved Buddha statue in the world. The statue stands more than 60 metres tall, about 10 metres taller than the Bamiyan Buddhas in Afghanistan, once regarded as the “largest Buddha in the world,” and it is over 100 years older. Three legendary episodes make the Giant Buddha especially compelling. First, Empress Wu Zetian once ordered a huge kasaya robe made for the statue, decorated with gold, silver and jewels that lit up the cliffs and illuminated the mountains and rivers. Second, after Emperor Gaozu of the Tang dynasty, Li Yuan, paid respects to the Giant Buddha one day, he dreamed that night of Buddha light shining everywhere, which strengthened his resolve to raise an army and ultimately achieve his great cause. Third, the Mengshan Giant Buddha vanished from history for several centuries. At the end of the Yuan dynasty, the Buddha, which had flourished for more than 800 years, disappeared amid the wars. During a place-name survey in the 1980s, people discovered that a spot called Dadu Cliff, in Sidi Village, was the body of the Western Mountain Giant Buddha. After protective development and restoration, this Buddha, which had been lost for more than 600 years, once again appeared before the world.

¥35 · 2–4 hours

Jinyang Lake Park

Jinyang Lake is equivalent to 17 Yingze Parks and is larger than West Lake. It is the largest water park in North China, covering nearly 17,000 mu in total, and is nicknamed the “Little Sanya.” Walking on fine sand, looking out over Jinyang Lake and feeling the gentle, refreshing breeze, you can stroll along the beach and enjoy a sensation much like being in Sanya.

Free · 1–2 hours

Fenhe River Scenic Area

The Fen River is the second-largest tributary of the Yellow River and the largest river in Shanxi. Along its east and west banks are 14 distinctive scenic spots, including “Echoes of Jin and Fen,” “Five Rings Aglow,” “Evening Crossing on the Fen River” and “Seven Pavilions.” At night, more than 8,000 lanterns spread across the scenic areas lend the river a hazy, profound charm. The Fenhe River Scenic Area is a prime destination for leisure travel.

From ¥10 (children under 6 years/1.2 m free; free for ages 60 and over; students half price; military personnel/veterans free, etc.) · 1–3 hours

Tianlongshan Grottoes

Located on the mountainside of Tianlong Mountain, 40 km southwest of Taiyuan, the grottoes were first carved during the Eastern Wei dynasty and contain 24 caves in total. The finest of them is the Tang-dynasty grotto in Cave 9, Manshan Pavilion, which houses a well-preserved seated statue of Maitreya Buddha, a supreme example of ancient sculptural art. A road near the Tianlongshan scenic area passes four bridges and one tunnel along the way. The so-called “Internet-famous Bridge” is the highest of them, a three-tier elevated bridge.

¥50 · 2–3 hours