I have time to travel during the holidays, and I want to choose attractions closer to home. It is difficult to choose between Datong and Pingyao, so simply extend the vacation time and go to both places. Hence this travelogue.

       Both "Datong" and "Pingyao" are ancient cities in Chinese history. If you simply look at the ancient city walls, Datong is not as good as Pingyao, because the Datong city walls are a fake antique, and the original city walls have long been turned into ruins, while Pingyao is still preserved. The old days of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. But in terms of historical relics, Datong is still much higher than Pingyao. In addition to the cultural relics in Datong, you can also enjoy the Buddha statues of the Northern Wei Dynasty, the Xuankong Temple, Yingxian Wooden Pagoda and other surrounding attractions. In addition to the old city, Pingyao City also has Shuanglin Temple for you to admire.

      Compared with the ancient city of Pingyao, the ancient city of Datong only has the city walls and scattered ancient buildings in the city walls, but it can be seen just by looking at the city walls that the ancient city of Datong should be very well built at that time. The interior of the ancient city walls of Pingyao is compacted with loess. The ancient city walls of Datong are built of bricks inside and outside. The architectural styles of the two are also different. There are four gates on the city wall of Datong, and the buildings on the city wall are also very magnificent, which really has the style of the former capital. The ancient city of Pingyao is a small county. The city walls may not be as grand as the city walls of Datong, but it wins in terms of culture.

Datong

     The scenic spots in Datong are scattered. Famous scenic spots such as Yungang Grottoes and Hengshan Hanging Temple are all far away from the downtown area of ​​Datong. You need to take a bus or bus to get there.

transportation:

      Yungang Grottoes: Datong Station---(603 Tourist Line)---Yungang Grottoes fare 3 yuan

      Hengshan, Xuankong Temple: Tourist bus (take the bus near the railway station) fare is 80 yuan (from railway station to Hengshan)

      Mount Heng: 70 yuan for cable car on the mountainside

                 The tour guide on the bus strongly suggested that we only buy the ascending cable car of Mount Heng. There is no need to buy the descending cable car. Some people want to experience the fun of mountain climbing and want to buy the descending cable car, but they are finally persuaded by the tour guide to buy the ascending cable car ticket. (The possibility of the tour guide saving time is not ruled out)

 Tickets (half-price tickets):

          There are two tickets for Hengshan and Xuankong Temple

         Mount Hengshan Entrance ticket + temple group ticket: 10+15 yuan

         Hanging Temple Entering the park + going to the temple: 8+50 yuan         

stay:

      Ordinary hotel  

Have a meal:

      Lunch at a small restaurant at the foot of Mount Heng

      Hunyuan jelly + sliced ​​noodles 20 yuan

      It is said that jelly noodles should be warm, but what is served is a bowl of ice-cold noodles, and the sliced ​​noodles are not authentic. If you want to eat them, you have to go to Datong City to find them.

Attractions:

      Personally, I suggest that it would be more convenient for a one-day tour group to go to Hengshan Xuankong Temple, because traffic is a big problem, and self-driving tours can be ignored.

     

   Hunyuan County--Xuankong Temple

     It looked shocking in the photo, but after going to the temple, I found that the interior of the Xuankong Temple was only more than 100 square meters. The temple is very narrow, and the number of people going to the temple will be limited during the peak period. We arrived at 11:00 noon, and the scenic spot had stopped selling tickets to the temple at that time. Tickets were bought because the tour guide was familiar with the staff of the scenic spot.

    

Mount Heng

      Before climbing the mountain, it was always a sunny day, and it was rare to encounter a rainy day to climb the mountain.

       Arriving at Mount Heng happened to be on a rainy day, and mountaineering on rainy days is also a different kind of travel experience.

Yungang Grottoes

      Yungang Grottoes recommends scanning the QR code at the entrance of the scenic spot, and you can listen while walking after 10 yuan is activated. Otherwise, just looking at the Buddha statue is meaningless (although the Buddha statue is very shocking). Much cheaper than renting a guide. It is not allowed to take pictures inside the Yungang Grottoes. There will be a special security reminder that the rocks used in the Yungang Grottoes carvings are easy to carve but not easy to preserve, so many of them have been weathered and disappeared. If you want to take pictures, you should take pictures of the external stone statues.

      In addition to the grottoes, the Yungang Grottoes Scenic Area also has the Yungang Museum for people to visit.

Pingyao

    The ancient city of Pingyao is an outstanding example of architecture in the Ming and Qing Dynasties, and the interior of the ancient city basically maintains the style of the Ming and Qing Dynasties.

    The ancient city of Pingyao has a relatively long history of construction. It was expanded during the Hongwu period of the Ming Dynasty, and after repairs in successive dynasties, it flourished in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. So this is an ancient city of Ming and Qing Dynasties.

     The ancient city of Datong was built on the old earth city of Yuangu city wall during the Hongwu period. Due to factors such as wars and man-made, the city wall we see now is the modern restored city wall.

 transportation:

       The scenic spots in the ancient city of Pingyao are relatively concentrated. The only relatively far away Shuanglin Temple is not far from the high-speed rail station. After getting off the high-speed rail, it will take a bus to get there. It only costs about 10 yuan by taxi.

        The tour bus in the ancient city is 10 yuan/person, and the scope of activities is in the ancient city and the streets around the ancient city.

        There is no shared reversing in the ancient city, which may be the reason why the scenic spot is difficult to manage. Cycling is not allowed on the main streets of the ancient city within the specified time.

Tickets:

      125 yuan ancient city full-price ticket 22 scenic spots valid for three days

stay:

      South Street Ancient Style Inn Deshenglou Ancient Style Culture Inn, a courtyard-style hotel, decorated in an ancient style. There are big kang rooms and ancient characteristic beds of dragon and phoenix beds. Here you can experience the lifestyle of ancient rich families. And the address is on South Street, where the most scenic spots are concentrated, which is very convenient.

      There is a stage and theater seats in the courtyard, but there are no opera singers, but you can sit on the stage and wooden chairs in the courtyard to enjoy food.

Have a meal:

      Also on the South Street is the No. 1 restaurant in the ancient city——Hongwuji

      Recommended menu :

       Pingyao Beef

       Beef Noodles

        Sweet and Sour Meatballs

         Steamed Oats with Mutton Topping

         Shanxi fried pork

specialty:

      vinegar

      Besides Pingyao beef, the most famous specialty in Shanxi is Shanxi aged vinegar.

      There are many types of vinegar, in addition to the seasoned vinegar that is commonly eaten at home, there are also beverage vinegars such as apple cider vinegar and honey vinegar. Jujube vinegar and other health vinegars

Fenjiu

Fenjiu, one of China's top ten famous liquors, used to be as famous as Maotai Wuliangye, but now its status seems to be inferior to the former.

Pingyao Beef

Pingyao beef is very famous, and it is also delicious when dipped in vinegar

In general restaurants, the price of a plate of beef is around 40 yuan

Attractions:

      Let’s first talk about the ancient city wall of Pingyao, which we used to compare with the ancient city of Datong. Personally, I feel that the travel experience on the ancient city wall of Pingyao is better, because on the city wall, you can overlook the scenery inside and outside the ancient city, and enjoy the whole picture of this ancient small city.

Ancient City Wall

The ancient city from the perspective of the south gate tower is the most lively.

Temple of Literature

County government

city ​​building

The landmark building of the ancient city in the center of South Street

Synergy Celebration (Chinese Qianzhuang Museum

)

Helan Bridge

Rishengchang

The originator of the ticket number, the predecessor of the bank

Pingyao ancient style travel photography

Location selection for photography - at the foot of the city wall of Pingyao, the natural background of the ancient city wall

                          Helan Bridge Park--an ancient style garden

Unpopular attractions

old city gate

private house

ancient city alley

Courtyard along the street

map

Finally, a tourist map for everyone

Map of Pingyao Ancient City

     The itinerary is relatively compact. Two days in Datong is enough, and two days in Pingyao Ancient City is enough to visit all the attractions. Everyone should arrange transportation as much as possible when going to Datong. It is relatively free to go to Pingyao. You don’t need to go with a group, and you can walk down by yourself. .