I have always wanted to go to an old place, get away from the fast pace of the city, and go to a small city that really understands life. I don't know why, but I have always had a soft spot for the ancient city before. Not long ago, I took advantage of the vacation to arrange a trip to Shanxi to visit ancient times, and let the autumn wind push me to this ancient place in Shanxi.
Approximate itinerary
Day1: Datong Railway Station - Bus to Hunyuan Xuankong Temple (80 yuan round trip) - Xuankong Temple - Mount Heng - Datong City
Day2: Datong City - Yungang Grottoes Tourist Line (3 yuan) - Yungang Grottoes - Datong Railway Station
Day3: Pingyao Railway Station - Pingyao Ancient City
Day4: Pingyao Ancient City - See Pingyao Theater - Return
traffic experience
Because my home is relatively close to Datong, it is more convenient to go to Datong. If you go to Pingyao, as long as the high-speed train passes through the provincial capital Taiyuan in the north-south direction, it will basically stop in the ancient city of Pingyao. After all, it is an international tourist city, and the transportation is quite convenient.
Datong-Hunyuan Chapter
After going to Datong, the most troublesome thing is to go to Mount Heng, because Mount Heng is not in the urban area of Datong, but in Hunyuan County of Datong. We were lucky. At the train station, we met several buses ready to go to Hunyuan, and we could take the bus after paying the money. There are also unprofessional tour guides in the car. After all, it is a cheap tour group and cannot be too demanding. After getting on the bus, the tour guide will count the purchase of tickets, because everyone has different packages, such as the cableway is an additional consumption. The tour guide will not charge money randomly. The price of buying tickets yourself is the same as that of the tour guide. It also saves you from queuing up. Maybe the tour guide will have interests at the ticket office. There are also many packages that do not match the ones received by the tour guide. Most of the cheap packages are not clearly marked, and there is an additional charge for getting on the bus. Here I would like to remind everyone that when the group price is lower than the actual ticket price, you must contact customer service to confirm, to avoid unnecessary trouble, and do not try to be cheap. Of course, it is also possible to make up the cost of getting on the bus.
Pingyao Ancient City
The ancient city of Pingyao has concentrated attractions, and traffic is not a big problem. Take the bullet train and get off at Pingyao Ancient City Station. From Pingyao Ancient City Station, take the No. 108 bus to Pingyao Ancient City. The first bus is at 7:00 in the morning, and the last bus is at 20:26 in the evening. There is a bus every 15 minutes. The whole journey is 28 kilometers, and the fare is one yuan. . (Note: Be sure to check the route of the station before taking the bus, so as not to go in the opposite direction.) If you take the train, you don’t need to take any means of transportation. It’s very convenient to walk from the train station to the lower west gate of the ancient city for about ten minutes. If you have a lot of luggage. You can also choose to take a battery car to the place you go, 10 yuan per person.
Datong
First stop Hanging Temple, Mount Heng
Xuankong Temple is located at the foot of Hengshan Mountain in Hunyuan County, Datong City, with a history of more than 1,000 years. The Xuankong Temple is full of ancient architectural styles, and it is a unique temple that combines Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism. The temple is built on the cliff and will not be eroded by wind and rain. The unique architectural structure has preserved the temple to this day. After traffic jams and rain. Finally came to the foot of the Hanging Temple. Tickets for the Hanging Temple are 15 for entry and 100 for climbing the building. The Chinese have a saying that everyone comes here...so 100 is not worth it, but it still costs...even though it is only more than 100 square meters. But looking at the beautiful pictures on the Internet, and then actually looking at it (overall) feels really different.
The word "magnificent" is written on the rock at the foot of the mountain. It is said that it was written by Li Bai. When Li Bai passed by here and saw such a strange building in the Xuankong Temple, he was very excited, so he wrote the word "magnificent". After finishing writing, I still felt that these two characters could not express my excitement, so I added a point to the right of Zhuang. Some people say that this is a typo, how can there be more "strong" characters? Some people also gave a reasonable explanation, that is because Li Bai thinks that the Xuankong Temple is more than magnificent! It's wonderful to think about it this way!
A place where Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism and the three religions practice together in the air in the middle of the mountain. It is amazing to see from the bottom up, and to be in it is also marveled at its fine architecture: two houses and one courtyard, although the back of each room is supported by a cliff, but the back of each room is also a separate wall, and the building is complete. I didn’t know why the site was chosen there. At first glance, it is also a treasured place of geomantic omen. There are natural eaves to keep out the rain. want to go again. In other words, in a harsh and harsh place, is inclusiveness enough?
It is worthwhile to come here because of the famous name. The location is ingenious from a distance, especially standing up from the position of Li Baiti's "spectacular" stone carving. The visual effect is much more shocking than in the documentary. After landing, it is basically a one-way street, and you can only move forward with the crowd, but the temple is not big, and you can walk around with the flow of people, and you can finish shopping in half an hour. You don't have to go to Mount Heng, but you can't miss the Hanging Temple!
A short walk from the Xuankong Temple is the entrance of Hengshan mountaineering. Because we followed the group, in order to hurry up, we chose the cableway up the mountain, ascended halfway up the mountain and continued to climb to the top. You can also see the Hanging Temple from time to time along the way. The mountain is not high, there are fairies and spirits. It is said that Zhang Guolao attained the Dao through cultivation. There are many allusions about him, but I have not remembered them. What impresses me the most is that I met many cats along the way. Their hair is shiny, they can walk up the steps, and they can also walk down the small slides. They sleep better than tourists, and their life is very comfortable. Cats are so loving when they climb with me. I will see you when my wish is fulfilled.
After coming down from Mount Heng, you can go to a small stall at the foot of the mountain to eat a bowl of Hunyuan jelly. According to the tour guide, the authentic Hunyuan jelly should be warm, and the chili should be fragrant but not spicy. But what we got was a bowl of cold jelly. The chili is indeed very fragrant, and it is actually good when served with orchid beans, but the sliced noodles are not very delicious, they are the kind pressed by a machine. If you want to eat authentic sliced noodles, you still have to go to the downtown area of Datong.
The second stop Yungang Grottoes
The Yungang Grottoes are very convenient to go to from downtown Datong, and there are buses. There are not many people on this bus, and most of them are tourists going to Yungang Grottoes. I have been to the Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang before, and the Yungang Grottoes are relatively well maintained, unlike the Longmen Grottoes, which are basically incomplete. That is, the scale of Yungang Grottoes is not as large as Longmen Grottoes. There are more indoor grottoes in Yungang Grottoes, while Longmen Grottoes are all outdoor grottoes built on the mountain.
It is strongly recommended to scan the QR code at the entrance of the scenic spot to explain the scenic spots. There are explanations of various scenic spots in it. History to the last master library. Save the money of hiring a tour guide, and don't need to rent a guide. Just bring your own headphones.
accommodation advice
At night, it is recommended to live inside the ancient city wall of Datong, because the night view inside the ancient city wall is really good, and there are not many cars to wander around at night.
Pingyao
The ancient city of Pingyao is a well-preserved ancient city with a history of thousands of years, where you can feel the traces of the old times. In addition to crossing the streets and alleys to visit various scenic spots in the ancient city, you can also walk up and down the ancient city wall of Pingyao. Although the weather is not very good, foggy and cloudy, but I still feel the artistic conception of climbing high and looking into the distance. From the city wall, you can see the roofs of the houses below, which feels quite magical.
The ancient city wall near the south gate of the ancient city of Pingyao feels quite shocking after climbing up. The city wall is still wide and has a sense of history. After going up, don't walk very far on the city wall, because the exit is still the entrance, and you can't go out from other places. If you go far, you have to walk back. There is an antique building on the city wall that is also worth seeing.
First stop South Gate Tower
The second stop Ming and Qing Street
There are Ming and Qing Streets in many places in China. The Ming and Qing Streets in Pingyao should be the most worthy of the name. They have preserved the appearance of the early Ming and Qing Dynasties. Shanxi native products and tourist souvenirs.
Walking on the streets paved with bluestone slabs, the misty rain in autumn casts a layer of smoky gray on the ancient city. When there is insufficient sunlight during the day, the ancient city has a different texture. At night, the ancient city is lit up and turned into a noble golden yellow. Every time I go to a shop, I will stop and wait and see. When I hear the greeting from the restaurant clerk, I go in and choose a quiet corner to sit down. , ordered a few dishes, and enjoyed this leisure time with friends.
The ancient city of Pingyao is very popular, and the experience is not good when there are many people. It is suitable for wandering aimlessly inside quietly when there are few people.
When I was having lunch, I smelled the smell of vinegar, which had a special salty aroma and sourness. I learned that it was due to the addition of Shanxi's unique mature vinegar. Even after leaving the restaurant, my friends still couldn't forget the smell of vinegar on the table. I found a wine and vinegar workshop, and my friends went in to watch with great interest. The aroma of vinegar and wine was mixed with the smell of time, and there were even wine bowls and old abacus on the table. There is a deep respect for time and taste.
Shopping Station——Niangjia Wine and Vinegar Workshop
It is a small shop selling wine and vinegar. It is at the intersection of the end of Mingqing Street and Dongxi Street, and there is another one on South Street. The store is not big, but there is a square table in the middle of the store. It feels like a small tavern in a film and television drama. Sitting in it with a small black bowl and pouring a bowl of wine, it really feels like cooking wine and talking about heroes. I like this decoration style very much. If there are not too many people coming and going, I really want to stay here for an afternoon.
I have to say that Shanxi vinegar is really fragrant, very fragrant and very fragrant. I especially like the taste of red dates. The red dates in the shop are acetic and sweet, and the dates are rich in aroma. Apart from Pingyao beef, it is the only specialty that impresses me.
There are many old objects in the store, which are left by the ancestors according to the store owner. I like this simple and simple style very much, and because of the store's inheritance of its old objects, what remains is the spirit of Shanxi merchants that has not faded.
The third stop Pingyao County Government
The county government is well-preserved and it is worth watching carefully. It has a sense of history. Through the visit of this scenic spot, people can have a more comprehensive understanding of the past county government, especially the working scene and living place of the county magistrate. A county magistrate in ancient times Life is pretty good too. The county government office is located in the center of the ancient city of Pingyao. The building is large in scale, complete in form, and beautiful in shape. There are detailed introductions inside. There is also a Shengtang performance every day, but it is a pity that each scenic spot can only be visited once. I didn't catch up.
Generally speaking, the preservation and operation and maintenance are good, so that everyone can see the original appearance of history, and it is worth visiting.
The fourth stop Collaborative Celebration
The entrance of this scenic spot cannot be exited, and the exit is in the small alley at the back door. The underground vault is the highlight. It is very mysterious. There are commemorative banknotes and ingots that can be bought and taken away. Even the floor tiles here are printed with copper coins. It is worthy of being a bank! There are north and south wing rooms in each courtyard of the bank, and the backyard is behind the hall. According to the characteristics of the terrain, the backyard has five lower kilns facing south and one upper floor. There are vertical flower doors as side doors, and a screen wall is built on each side. The back door leads to Huayuan Street. There are five buildings in the backyard, and there is a bridge in front of the house. On the bridge, there is a rolling pavilion. The museum also displays antiquities such as the small scales used to weigh silver at that time, the original horn watermarks, and the treasure of the town hall, the five-story pagoda built in the ninth year of Qianlong's reign.
There is also the Coin Museum, which contains a large number of coins that have circulated from ancient times to the present, which is very interesting and can increase knowledge.
Consumption
Food Station - Hong Wu Ji
Hongwuji was the first restaurant we went to after we came to the ancient city, because compared to other restaurants, this restaurant has a good taste and location. I didn’t have a good meal in Datong, and the specialty products were not easy to buy, so I made up for it in Pingyao.
There are many delicacies in Pingyao, such as 栲栳栳, bowl bald, beef, etc. are all good dishes, and they can all be eaten with vinegar. I've discovered that vinegar is the all-purpose condiment here.
Accommodation stations—Desheng Building, Xiangchangtai
High quality and cheap accommodation recommended. The problem of accommodation is also a big trouble in travel. If you choose a wrong place to stay, the traveler will not have a good rest, which will not only affect the mood, but also affect the progress of the trip. For accommodation, I chose the above two inns for a long time. They are all in the ancient city, and it is convenient to go back and forth between various scenic spots. In terms of environment, the facilities of Deshenglou Inn are relatively new, and the location is more lively on South Street. Xiang Changtai's courtyard is bigger and more gorgeous. are good choices.
The taste on the tip of the tongue makes people miss, and the visual experience makes people recall.
See you again in Pingyao
The last stop, Pingyao, is worth a whole column for me to introduce.
In the ancient city of Pingyao, watching the large-scale live performance of "Seeing Pingyao Again" will bring tourists a special experience. "Encountering Pingyao" broke through the original scenery that used the real scenery of mountains and rivers, but moved it indoors, and organically integrated the elements of the ancient city with the performance. The play mainly shows the history of Shanxi merchants walking to the west entrance. At the same time, it reflects the local customs and customs of Shanxi. The plot is very meaningful and the scene is very shocking.
It is very worth watching, it is Pingyao's big IP, and the acting is great. If you have a chance to go, you must go and see it. After all, it is an important performance driven by the world's intangible cultural heritage, and the form of the performance is also unique. It feels like participating in the whole performance in person, and like a spectator who stays out of it. This is the biggest feature of the show.
epilogue
One day, I will leave all my tiredness and ideals, take my camera and computer, go away from the hustle and bustle, and go to the emptiness. On the way with a backpack, I have seen many people, heard many stories, and seen travel scenery. In this way, I slowly learned to grow up. The passing time has become a beautiful embellishment in the life. Looking at the sky, watching the snow, being quiet, and not saying a word are all beautiful scenery.
