# Taiyuan travel guide (太原) Shanxi Province · North China, China · 14 places Canonical: https://cnatrip.com/en/destinations/shanxi/taiyuan ## Quick itinerary - **Day 1:** Shanxi Museum → Beilin Park → Shuangta Temple → Chunyang Palace → Food Street (dinner; if time allows, enjoy the night views of the Fenhe Scenic Area after dinner) - **Day 2:** Mengshan Giant Buddha → Tianlongshan Grottoes → Jinci Temple ## The feel of the place - **Changing Environment:** Thanks to its rich coal reserves, Shanxi served as an energy base for many years and made a great contribution to China’s development. At some point, this once-glorious Dragon City turned into a grey city, its face covered in dust and its hair as grey as ash. Fortunately, after painful reflection, the local government made a firm decision and invested great effort to build green urban development into every aspect of city planning. As a result, Taiyuan won the “China Habitat Environment Model Award”. In recent years, the city has looked fresher and fresher. - **Vinegar:** No discussion of Shanxi is complete without aged vinegar. Shanxi has been making vinegar for some 3,000 years, and Shanxi aged vinegar is one of China’s four most famous vinegars. It is known worldwide for its unique flavour, which is smooth, tart, fragrant, sweet and mellow, as well as its long brewing history, and it is said to be “the finest vinegar under heaven”. Almost every table in Shanxi’s restaurants, big or small, has a pot of vinegar on it. - **Noodles:** If vinegar is Shanxi’s “blood”, then noodles are surely its “flesh”, and only together do they make up a complete Shanxi. Shanxi has hundreds of noodle dishes, and knife-shaved noodles are the most famous. In fact, there are plenty of tastier noodles in Shanxi than knife-shaved noodles, such as daobo noodles, bagu, helao, maoerduo and jiupian. Each is made differently and tastes different, but whether served with a rich sauce or stir-fried, they are all delicious. - **Shanxi Men:** The land shapes its people. The yellow earth of Shanxi has nurtured simple, down-to-earth men, in whom you can still faintly see the shadow of the Shanxi merchants of old. Shanxi men combine the delicacy and gentleness of southerners with the boldness and generosity of northerners, embodying more of a “Doctrine of the Mean” spirit. They value loyalty and keep their promises, and they have a strong sense of family. “A wife, children and a warm kang bed” is their greatest happiness. ## The feel of the place ### Shanxi Gong and Drum Hailed as “the number one drum under heaven”, legend has it that as early as the Yao and Shun era, local people were beating gongs and drums to express their joy. The style is simple, but the performances are varied. The lead drummer wears a drum on his head, one on his feet, one hanging from each ear and one on each shoulder, yet can still leap and tumble, striking from above and from the side with remarkable skill. The most spectacular scene is “drum-cart gong and drum”, where the horses pulling the drum cart number at least four and sometimes dozens or even hundreds. With people shouting and horses neighing, the sound carries for dozens of li, creating a magnificent and astonishing spectacle. Airport Information Desk - phone: 0351-96566 Train Station Ticket Hotline - phone: 0351-95105105 ### Preparation and Information ### Language Shanxi dialect differs from Mandarin, but you will have no problem communicating with locals in Mandarin. ### Climate and Best Time to Visit Taiyuan has four distinct seasons. Spring warms up quickly, summer brings concentrated rainfall, autumn is cool and pleasant, and winter is dry and cold. The annual average temperature is 9.6℃. Visitors coming in summer or autumn should take sun protection measures, while in winter and spring, remember to keep hydrated and moisturised. The best seasons to visit Taiyuan are summer and autumn. ## Getting there & around ### Getting In and Out Taiyuan lies in central Shanxi Province on the Fen River. Transport is well developed, with convenient flights, trains and express coaches forming a three-dimensional transport network, though rail and road remain the main options. ### By Air Taiyuan Wusu Airport is located in Wusu, south of Taiyuan, about 18 km from the city centre. Taxis run between the airport and the city. The airport also has international routes to Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Singapore and other destinations. Airport transport: Bus 201, fare ¥2. Airport shuttle Line 1: Airport → May First Square (Train Station), 8:30 until the last flight of the day, departing every 30 minutes, fare ¥16. Line 2: Airport → Xishan Building, 9:30–19:00, departing every 40 minutes, fare ¥16. Line 3: Airport → Taiyuan South Station (express line), 7:40 until 2:00 the next morning, departing every 30 minutes, fare ¥10. Line 4: Airport → East Passenger Station, 9:30–19:00, departs when full, fare ¥16. Taiyuan is the terminus of the Jingyuan and Shitai railway lines and the starting point of the Taijiao Line. It connects Beijing, Shanghai, Xi’an, Chengdu, Baotou and dozens of other major cities, so rail travel to Taiyuan is very convenient. The high-speed rail has made travel from Taiyuan to Shijiazhuang and Beijing even faster. Taiyuan to Shijiazhuang Station takes just 1.5 hours, and Taiyuan to Beijing takes as little as 2.5 hours. ### By Road The modern Taijiu (Taiyuan–Jiuguan) Expressway cuts through the formidable Taihang Mountains, making the journey from Beijing to Taiyuan smooth. Expressways link Yuncheng in southern Shanxi through Taiyuan to Datong in the north. Long-distance buses run from Taiyuan to counties and cities across Shanxi, as well as to Shijiazhuang, Baoding and Zhangjiakou in Hebei and Hohhot in Inner Mongolia. Tourist charter buses also run directly to Mount Wutai, Hanging Temple and the Yingxian Wooden Pagoda. Taiyuan currently has five long-distance bus stations: Taiyuan Bus Station, East Passenger Station, West Passenger Station, Jiannan Bus Station and Yingbin Bus Station. ### Long-distance bus stations and destinations ### Getting Around Taiyuan has more than 200 bus routes and nearly 10,000 taxis, so getting around the city is convenient. Taiyuan's buses are basically all self-service (no conductor), with fares ranging from ¥1 to ¥3. ### Travelling by Coach Taking a coach is a good way to tour Shanxi. It is flexible and convenient, but there are many uncertainties, so be sure to find out the details before boarding. It is best to board at a bus station, which is safer and more reliable. ### Intercity Coaches Taiyuan is located in central Shanxi, and its road network is well developed. Coach services cover a wide area both inside and outside the province. Destinations outside the province include Beijing, Tianjin, Henan and Hebei. Within Shanxi, there are many departures north to Datong and south to Yuncheng, so travel is very convenient. ### Expressways The Taiyuan–Jiuguan Expressway (Tai-Jiu Expressway) was the first expressway in Shanxi. It starts at Wusu in Taiyuan, passes through Yuci District, Shouyang County, Yangquan City and Pingding County, and runs all the way to Jiuguan, the border point between Shanxi and Hebei. After Jiuguan, it connects with the expressway from Shijiazhuang to Beijing. ### Taxis Flag fall is ¥8 for the first 3 km, then ¥1.6 per km beyond 3 km. The night flag fall is ¥8.6 for the first 3 km, then ¥1.8 per km beyond 3 km. Night hours are 9 pm to 5 am. For trips over 10 km, the base fare is increased by 50% as a surcharge to compensate for the empty return journey. ### Metro Taiyuan Metro Line 2 was the first metro line to open in Taiyuan, starting operation on 26 December 2020. - **Taiyuan Railway Station** — (Located at the easternmost end of Yingze Street; the train ticket office is south of the railway station) - **Taiyuan South Railway Station** — (Beiying North Road, Xiaodian District) - **Taiyuan Bus Station** — (88 Yingze Street) - **Taiyuan Jiannan Bus Station** — (Jianshe South Road, 0351-7071191) - **Taiyuan East Bus Station** — (165 Wulongkou Street, Naoma Village, 0351-2389052) - **Taiyuan West Bus Station** — (396 Yingze Street, 0351-6552571) ## Eat & drink Taiyuan is best known for its noodles, which come in many varieties, have long histories and are made in many different ways. Knife-shaved noodles, hand-pulled noodles, knife-flicked noodles, rolled noodles, tijian, maoerduo, helao and other noodles all have their own distinctive character. ### Taiyuan Snacks Taiyuan has a number of snacks with strong local character, such as Mengfeng cakes, pea cakes, lamb offal soup, guanchang, shaomai, you gao, boyu, and dried tofu cubes. They are well worth a try. ### Sturdy Cave Dwellings The cave dwellings are built from stone with mortared joints. After thousands of years of wind and rain, they remain fully intact to this day. ### Taiyuan Vinegar Vinegar is an indispensable seasoning in Shanxi cuisine. Qingxu's aged vinegar is the most famous, and the vinegar brewed by the century-old Yiyuanqing factory is also very authentic and sold in supermarkets across the country. Visitors interested in the process can visit Donghu Vinegar Garden to see how aged vinegar is made. ### Grapes of Qingxu County The grapes of Qingxu County are famous, with varieties including Baipinger, Zilongyan and Heijixin. They have a long history of cultivation, with large berries, sweet flavour and plenty of juice. ### Local Snacks ### Shanxi Dough Sculpture Dough sculpture can be traced back to the Spring and Autumn period. Dough figures can serve as tokens for weddings or as gifts for birthdays and celebrations. Couples preparing to marry both make dough sculptures that convey good wishes for happiness: the 'double fish', symbolising harmony between husband and wife; the 'dragon and phoenix pairing', wishing the new couple mutual respect and love; and 'lotus bringing a noble son'. Birthday sculptures include 'tiger bringing a son', 'hoping your son becomes a dragon', and the twelve zodiac animals. These sculptures have an archaic, simple form and lively charm, expressing people's fond hopes and longings for the future. ### Bustling Shopping Streets Liuxiang Goods Street, Zhonggu Street and the Liunan Night Market Street are not only Taiyuan's newest shopping hotspots, but also new places to observe local folk customs and experience the city's character. However, on holidays these streets are often packed with people. ### Paper-Cuttings In Taiyuan you can buy a few handmade paper-cuts. The patterns are intricate and beautiful, and the prices are very low: a paper-cut one square metre in size costs only ¥15–20. Framed and hung on the wall, it is sure to stand out. - **Taiyuan Toutao (Baozhen Tang)** — The most distinctively local food in Taiyuan, said to have been created by the scholar Fu Shan in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. It is essentially a medicinal lamb offal soup that warms the stomach and nourishes the body, making it a winter favourite. Eating it with maohezi (a staple) makes it even more delicious. - **Knife-Shaved Noodles** — Topped with a cured smoked meat similar to bacon and served with a variety of vegetables. - **Kaolaolao** — A mixture of buckwheat, wheat and oat flour is rolled up, steamed, and eaten dipped in broth. - **Tuoyeer** — Green beans and eggplant are wrapped in a flour coating, boiled, and eaten dipped in sauce. - **Maoerduo, ** — Tijian. Both of these snacks can be eaten in three ways: topped with tomato and egg sauce, with meat sauce, or stir-fried. - **Gexianqian** — There are many ways to eat it. It can be a staple or a side dish, and it is usually braised or stewed. - **Guanchang** — A special noodle dish eaten cold with dressing. The Jia Ji Xugou Guanchang has the most authentic taste and seasoning. - **Food Street** — Once a great place to sample Taiyuan's local snacks, it rightly earned the name 'Food Street' thanks to the ancient-style buildings lining both sides and its many restaurants and taverns. Today it has faded somewhat and no longer has its former grandeur, but the many restaurants, taverns and snack stalls, big and small, still make it a hub for Taiyuan snacks. - **Qinghe Yuan (Tongluowan Branch)** — A halal restaurant with more than 300 years of history. Its name was inscribed by Fu Shan, the thinker of the late Ming and early Qing. The restaurant mainly serves local traditional specialities such as toutao and zage. Its signature dishes include whole-lamb banquet, stir-fried sweet and sour fish, mushroom chicken, sweet and sour pearl meatballs, candied tangerines, sliced lamb hot pot and crispy pastry cakes. (Nan Xiaoqiang Baodi Community, 0351-6635777) ## Nightlife Taiyuan's night scene is not much different from that of other second-tier cities: rows of high-rises and neon lights. The most beautiful place to enjoy the night in Taiyuan is the Fen River, where the rippling water and the lights along both banks shine on each other, and people stroll along the banks enjoying the cool river breeze. The city has many entertainment venues. You might like to catch a performance of Jinju, Shanxi's representative opera, also known as Zhonglu Bangzi, in a local theatre or park. Its melodies are graceful, smooth and beautiful. There are also the varied styles of Nanlu Bangzi, Beilu Bangzi and Shangdang Bangzi, as well as Qitai Yangge, a lively folk style with a strong rustic flavour. ### Recommended Night Walks - **Liunan Night Market Street** — As dusk falls, this, Taiyuan's largest night market street, opens for business, mainly selling clothing, household goods and small items. If you have a good eye, you can also find some interesting little trinkets. - **Qingnian Road Night Market** — Located in the city centre, this market specialises in small commodities, with snacks also on offer. ## Shopping As the provincial capital, Taiyuan stocks local specialties from across Shanxi Province. Shopping areas in the city are mainly concentrated along Yingze East Street, Wuyi Road, Jiefang Road, Jianshe South Road and Jiancaoping. ### Recommended Shopping Streets ### Shanxi Specialties Among local specialties, Fenjiu and Zhuyeqing are the most famous. Other notable products include Wutai mountain mushrooms, Datong yellow flowers (daylilies), Hengshan astragalus, Jishan jujubes, Pinglu lilies, Puzhou green persimmons, Yuanqu kiwifruit, Qingxu grapes, Shangdang codonopsis, Jincheng red fruit, Hongdong soft-shell turtle, Yuncheng Yellow River carp, Wenshan Duanmu inkstone, Gaoping silk, Taiyuan glazed ware, Pingyang woodblock New Year prints, Datong art porcelain, bronzeware, Pingyao beef and Pingyao tuiguang lacquerware, all of which are counted among the region's famous products. - **Zhonglou Street** — A historic and bustling commercial street in Taiyuan. - **Qiaotou Street** — East of Zhonglou Street, this street has many shops, specialising in opera costumes and theatre-related goods. Qinghe Yuan, a well-known restaurant in Taiyuan, is also on this street, so you can enjoy a meal while shopping. - **Liuxiang** — A newly emerging commercial district in Taiyuan. With several large shopping malls joining in recent years, the street has become increasingly lively and crowded. - **Cuijia Lane** — Cuijia Lane is known as Taiyuan's most beautiful street. The shopfronts are full of design flair, and you'll find clothing shops, coffee shops, restaurants and every kind of store imaginable, making it a great place for a city stroll. ## Where to stay In this not-so-large city, most major buildings are concentrated in the zone radiating from Yingze Avenue. Yingze Avenue is a major east-west road; its eastern end is the railway station, and less than 400 metres west of the station is the long-distance bus station. Almost all of Taiyuan's star-rated hotels are located along this avenue. At the railway station there is a hotel accommodation information desk. Nearby are many hotels, inns and guesthouses with local character. They are relatively inexpensive, offer reasonably attentive service, and make a good-value choice for visitors. - **Huayuan Hotel** — Recently renovated, this hotel has good facilities. Buses stop right at the door, making it convenient to reach Jinci Temple. It is a walk to the railway station, and Chongshan Temple is also close by on foot. (No. 9 Yingze Avenue, 0351-8828555) - **Gangxin Business Hotel** — Located on the northern section of Jiefang Road in central Taiyuan, in Jiancaoping, it faces across the street the Shanxi small commodities wholesale market, small food wholesale market and general electronics market. Guests can also pick up some small commodities during their leisure time. (88 North Jiefang Road, 0351-5618777/5618700) ## Things to see - **Jinci Temple** (★★★★★): Admission ¥80; Opening hours 8：30—18：00; Time needed 2–4 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/jinci-temple - **Fenhe River Scenic Area** (★★★★): Admission From ¥10 (children under 6 years/1.2 m free; free for ages 60 and over; students half price; military personnel/veterans free, etc.); Opening hours Nov 1, 2026 - Mar 31, 2027, 08:30-17:30; Time needed 1–3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/fenhe-river-scenic-area - **Tianlongshan Grottoes** (★★★★): Admission ¥50; Opening hours 9：00—16：30; Time needed 2–3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/tianlongshan-grottoes - **Chunyang Palace** (★★★): Admission ¥30; Opening hours 9:00–17:00 (summer); 9:00–16:30 (winter); Time needed 1–2 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/chunyang-palace - **Shanxi Museum** (★★★): Admission Free; Opening hours 9:00–17:00; closed on Mondays, the last day of the lunar year and the first day of the lunar new year; Time needed 2–3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/shanxi-museum - **Shuangta Temple** (★★★★): Admission Peak season ¥30; off-season ¥20; Opening hours 8:30–17:30 (April–October); 9:00–17:00 (November–March); Time needed 1–2 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/shuangta-temple - **Mengshan Giant Buddha** (★★★★): Admission ¥35; Opening hours 8:00–17:00 (March 20–October 20); 8:30–16:00 (October 21–March 20); Time needed 2–4 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/mengshan-giant-buddha - **Donghu Vinegar Garden** (★★★): 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 — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/donghu-vinegar-garden - **China Coal Museum** (★★★): Admission ¥60; Opening hours 8：00—17：00; Time needed 2–3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/china-coal-museum - **Jinyang Lake Park** (★★★★): Admission Free; Opening hours 09:00-12:00; 14:00-17:00; Time needed 1–2 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/jinyang-lake-park - **Taiyuan Ancient County Town** (★★★): 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 — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/taiyuan-ancient-county-town ## Day trips & beyond - **Ningwu** (★★★★): Admission Free (an administrative district, not a ticketed scenic area); Opening hours Open all day — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/ningwu - **Beiwudang Mountain** (★★★★): Admission ¥72; Opening hours 08:00-18:00 (2026.04.01-2027.03.31); Time needed 3–5 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/beiwudang-mountain - **Qikou National Scenic Area** (★★★★): Admission Free; Opening hours Open all day (all year 2026); Time needed 1 day — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/qikou-national-scenic-area --- Source: China Self-Guided Travel 2025 (《中国自助游》, Tianjin Science & Technology Press, Aug 2024), pp. 1782–1801. Prices, hours and transport details are as printed in the August 2024 edition and may have changed. Always confirm with the venue before you travel.