Taiyuan Ancient County Town
An ancient town with many surviving historic buildings, and a filming location for the movie *Full River Red*. The core of the old town is Shizi Street (十字街, the “Cross Street”),…
Taiyuan Ancient County Town, Taiyuan
Key facts
- Admission
- County Government Office ¥30; Ancient City Wall ¥20
- Opening hours
- 10：00—24：00；8：00—18：00
- Time needed
- 0.5–1 day; 1–2 hours
- Getting there
- Near Jinyuan (晋源) (bus stop); near Bindong Kangle Street Intersection (滨东康乐街口) (bus stop) Chongshan Temple (崇善寺): Some say it was a traveling palace of Emperor Yang of Sui during his visits to Taiyuan, while others say it was the former site where Empress Wu Zetian became a nun in her youth. The characters “Zongtang Site” (宗唐遗址) on the right side of the mountain gate plaque are probably rooted in these legends.
- Guidebook rating
- 3 / 5
From China Self Guided Travel 2025, page 1794. Open in Google Maps
About Taiyuan Ancient County Town
An ancient town with many surviving historic buildings, and a filming location for the movie *Full River Red*. The core of the old town is Shizi Street (十字街, the “Cross Street”), and around it are numerous museums, exhibition halls and folk-craft shops. The ancient city wall has a very long history: the Fengxuan plaque at the North Gate and the Wangcui plaque at the West Gate are more than 650 years old.
More from the guidebook
One-line recommendation
Fushan Garden: The garden houses large-scale ink calligraphy by the famous calligrapher Fu Shan. There are 184 calligraphy steles carved from rubbings.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Taiyuan Ancient County Town cost?
Admission to Taiyuan Ancient County Town is County Government Office ¥30; Ancient City Wall ¥20, as listed in the 2025 guidebook. Prices can change; check the official channel before you go.
What are the opening hours of Taiyuan Ancient County Town?
Taiyuan Ancient County Town is open 10：00—24：00；8：00—18：00.
How do I get to Taiyuan Ancient County Town?
Near Jinyuan (晋源) (bus stop); near Bindong Kangle Street Intersection (滨东康乐街口) (bus stop) Chongshan Temple (崇善寺): Some say it was a traveling palace of Emperor Yang of Sui during his visits to Taiyuan, while others say it was the former site where Empress Wu Zetian became a nun in her youth. The characters “Zongtang Site” (宗唐遗址) on the right side of the mountain gate plaque are probably rooted in these legends.
How long should I spend at Taiyuan Ancient County Town?
Plan on 0.5–1 day; 1–2 hours for Taiyuan Ancient County Town.
Where is Taiyuan Ancient County Town?
Taiyuan Ancient County Town is in Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, in the North China of China. 9 Chongshan Temple, Di Liang Gong Street, Yingze District, Taiyuan
More places in Taiyuan
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
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
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
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