10 Days Shanxi Itinerary

10 Days Shanxi Travel Itinerary

Shanxi is the cradle of Chinese civilization, with a long history and a gathering of talents. The province is renowned for its dramatic landscapes and abundant historical sites, boasting the largest number of pre-Yuan dynasty wooden structures in the country, the most densely clustered properties on the World Cultural Heritage Tentative List, and diverse cultural remains spanning five thousand years of history. If you have ten days to explore Shanxi, how can you make the most of your time and fully experience its allure? This guide will provide you with a detailed itinerary for an unforgettable ten-day trip, ensuring that you can explore Shanxi to the fullest without missing out on its wonders.

10 Days Shanxi Itinerary for Family with Kids

Jinci Temple

Day 1: Arrive in Taiyuan and check into your hotel. Enjoy some free time to explore the beauty of Shanxi, and walk around Taiyuan's snack streets in search of local delicacies.

Day 2: Visit the Jinci Temple in the morning, then take a bus to the Mount Wutai, offer your incense at the Wuye Temple, then explore the temples on Pusa Top.

Day 3: After a night's rest, climb onto the Dailuo Peak, enjoying panoramic views of the surroundings and have a small pilgrimage. Head to Yingxian County for accomodation.

Day 4: Visit the Pagoda of Fogong Temple and then the Xuankong Temple, marveling at the craftsmanship of ancient architecture. Then, continue to explore the Mount Hengshan to experience the grandeur of nature.

Day 5: Arrive in Datong and visit the Yungang Grottoes, then explore the Ancient City of Datong. In the evening, arrive in Xinzhou Ancient City to watch the iron flower heating.

Day 6: Take a train to Linfen and watch Hukou Waterfall, feeling the boundless power of the Yellow River and the pulse of life that it embodies.

Day 7: Head to the Yunqiu Mountain to explore the perennial ice cave, and then watch a traditional shadow puppet show and distinctive folk performances in the ancient village.

Day 8: Visit the Wang Family Courtyard, and then reach the Ancient City of Pingyao. You can stroll around the city to watch the show that recreates the Yamen judge the case, and watch the performance of Impression Pingyao in the evening.

Day 9: Visit the Shuanglin Temple in the morning, then return to the ancient city to enjoy local meals, and then head to visit the Qiao Family Courtyard. In the evening, return to Taiyuan and take photos with Taiyuan's landmark, Yongzuo Temple.

Day 10: In the last day you can leave for the Taiyuan Oriental Heritage and enjoy a nice day with its recreation facilities filling with Chinese traditional culture.

10 Days Shanxi Itinerary for Seniors with Slow Pace

Ancient City of Pingyao

Day 1: After arriving in Taiyuan, check in at your hotel and take a rest. Once refreshed, you can walk out and take photos with Taiyuan's landmark, Yongzuo Temple. In the evening, you can also stroll around night markets or wander along the Fen River.

Day 2: Take a train to Linfen and view the Hukou Waterfall, feeling the boundless power of the Yellow River and the pulse of life that it embodies.

Day 3: Head to the Ancient City of Pingyao, with stops along the way at the Wang Family Courtyard and the Shuanglin Temple. After arriving in the old town, check into your hotel to rest, then enjoy the evening performance Impression Pingyao.

Day 4: Walk around the ancient city, soak in the charm of an ancient Chinese town. You may also ascend onto the city wall and enjoy the beautiful sight.

Day 5: Sleep in and then head to visit the Qiao Family Courtyard. Then return to Taiyuan, visit the Jinci Temple, and hike in the Yingze Park.

Day 6: Head to the Mount Wutai, and visit the Wuye Temple, then walk to the Pusa Top and visit the temples on there. In the evening, you may also visit the Guanghua Temple.

Day 7: After a good night rest, take a small pilgrimage. Climb onto the Dailuo Peak, enjoy the panoramic views of the beautiful scenery of Mount Wutai.

Day 8: Travel to Hunyuan to visit the Northern Hengshan Mountain and see the gravity-defying Xuankong Temple. In the evening, arrive in Datong for an overnight stay.

Day 9: Visit the Yungang Grottoes, where you can admire the grotto art. Then return to Datong and explore the ancient city.

Day 10: Turn back to Taiyuan after finishing your visit at the Ancient City of Datong. Then in Taiyuan, you can also stroll through the Zhonggu Street to enjoy your free time.

10 Days Shanxi Itinerary for Young Travelers

Mount Wutai

Day 1: Arrive in Taiyuan, head to Taihuai Town in the Mount Wutai Scenic Area and then get acquainted with the surroundings. Visit the highly revered Wuye Temple to offer incense, then continue on to Tayuan Temple to see the iconic landmark of Mount Wutai.

Day 2: On the second day, you can get up early to watch the sunrise over Mount Wutai, then take part in a small pilgrimage. In the evening, head to Datong.

Day 3: Visit the Yungang Grottoes, admiring the craftsmanship of ancient architecture. In the afternoon, return to the Ancient City of Datong and explore the royal buildings.

Day 4: Head to Ningwu County and explore the Ten-thousand-year ice cave. Then take a train to Qikou Ancient Town for free exploration.

Day 5: Take a bus to Xiaoxitian (the New West), is an important setting in Journey to the West, and also the place for the final battle with Yellowbrow in the game, Black Myth: Wukong. In the evening, continue on to Jixian County.

Day 6: Visit the Hukou Waterfall to witness its four great spectacles. After the visit, head to Huguan and have a good rest.

Day 7: Visit the Baquan Gorge and walk along the canyon plank paths to experience the beauty of the mountains and rivers. You can also try the Grand Canyon's high-altitude drifting. In the evening, you may also try to camp at Taihang Mountains Grand Canyon.

Day 8: Walk in the Wangmang Ridge, which brings together the essence of the 800-li-long Taihang Mountains. Return to Taiyuan in the evening and hunt for local delicacies at the night markets.

Day 9: Leave for Pingyao and explore the ancient city of Pingyao. Rent a bicycle and ride along the city wall, or catch a ceremonial performance at the county Yamen.

Day 10: Back to Taiyuan, and along the way you may visit the Qiao Family Courtyard. In the afternoon, you can rent a bicycle and ride along the bike path by the Fen River, enjoying the beauty of the city of Taiyuan.

10 Days Shanxi cultural Immersion Itinerary

Xuankong Temple

Day 1: Arrive in Datong, visit the Datong Ancient City. You can climb the ancient city wall to enjoy the view of this former Northern Wei capital.

Day 2: Visit the Datong Museum to learn about Datong's history. Then you can head to the Yungang Grottoes to appreciate the millennia-old stone carving art. After the visit, go to the Northern Hengshan Mountain to admire the dramatic and Xuankong Temple.

Day 3: Drive to Yingxian County to delve into the mysterious Pagoda of Fogong Temple. In the afternoon, visit the Yanmen Pass and walk along the Great Wall, feeling the majestic grandeur of the First Pass in China. In the evening, take a bus to the Mount Wutai.

Day 4: Visit the Mount Wutai, where you can offer incense and pray for blessings at the Wuye Temple, then go up to the Pusa Top and explore the temples on it. In the evening, head to the Ancient City of Xinzhou, watch the performance of iron flower.

Day 5: Explore Xinzhou Ancient City, then head to Taiyuan for lunch, followed by a visit to the Shanxi Museum to learn about the 5,000-year-old glorious history of Shanxi.

Day 6: Visit the Jinci Temple, then head to the Qiao Family Courtyard. In the afternoon, arrive in Pingyao Ancient City to learn about the legendary stories of Shanxi merchants. In the evening, you will watch the unmissable Impression Pingyao.

Day 7: Head to the Wang Family Courtyard, which boasts Ming and Qing–dynasty charm no less impressive than the Qiao Family Courtyard. In the afternoon, arrive in Xi County and visit Xiaoxitian to see the finely carved Buddha statues.

Day 8: Visit the Hukou Waterfall to feel the vastness and power of the Yellow River. In the afternoon, head to Yuncheng and visit the Guandi Temple to learn about the spirit of Guan Yu's loyalty and righteousness.

Day 9: Return to Pingyao Ancient City, gain a deeper understanding of the architectural styles of the Ming and Qing dynasties.

Day 10: Turn back to Taiyuan, see the Yongzuo Temple and the ruins of Jinyang Ancient City. After that, you can walk in Zhonggu Street to feel Shanxi's humanity.

Customize Your Unique Shanxi Tour

If you are interested in one of the Shanxi itineraries mentioned above, please contact us, and we will be happy to customize it and provide a quote tailored to your preferences.

Alternatively, if you would like to customize your Shanxi Tour, please visit our Shanxi Tour Customized Center. We assure you that you will receive a reply within 24 working hours.

Informative Articles for Your Shanxi Trip

The New West, Xi County

• Travel Guide: attractions, weather, hotels, food, etc.
• Top destinations: recommanded places to visit in Shanxi
• Travel itineraries: itineraries for your reference
• Local culture: brief history, folk culture, religion, etc.
• Weather: the best time and seasons to visit Shanxi
• Top attractions: sightseeing to watch in Shanxi
• Cultural immersions: activities to spotlight your trip
• Unique perspective: top different things to do
• Local food: what to eat while traveling in Shanxi
• Luxury hotels: best accommodation to stay in Shanxi
• Shanxi Tours: customized Shanxi tours for your reference