Things to Do in Taiyuan

Taiyuan is the capital city of Shanxi Province, not a hot tourist destination but has a few fun things to do. If you want to know what to do in Taiyuan before departure, you may glance down the following list of things to do including places to visit, special events to see and interesting activities to join in. And then you will not feel confused but clear about what to do after arriving in Taiyuan.

Top 8 Things to do in Taiyuan
1. Must-Do Things on Mt. Wutai
For tourists visiting Mt. Wutai, there are some must-do things. First, to pay homage to the god and burn joss-sticks to make a wish in Wuye Temple; then, to worship the five Manjusris on the big and small worshiping platforms; fourth, to turn the dharma wheel under the Big White Pagoda; fifth, to view the big Buddha statue at Linggeng Temple; sixth, to drink Prajna water from a spring in Shuxiang Temple; seventh, to pass through the Thousand-Buddha Cave; eighth, to participate some Buddhist activities; ninth, to taste the special dishes and snacks.

2. Enjoying Peonies and Climbing Pagodas at Twin Pagoda Temple
Although the peonies in Twin Pagoda Temple can’t compare with those in Peng County, Heze, Luoyang, etc. in quantity and species, those existing from the Ming Dynasty make them get out of the others and become distinctive. As for the twin pagodas, they have unique layout and architectural features. Climbing to the top of the pagodas, visitors can have a spacious view of Tiayuan City. Besides, the valuable stone tablets collected in the temple are also worth watching.

3. Admiring the Three Treasures in Chongshan Monastery
Chongshan Monastery collected many a priceless cultural relics and materials, among which the most imposing ones are the three treasures - numerous and rare Tibet Scriptures, two frescos copying from paintings and three clay gilding Bodhisattva standing statues. If visitors come to Chongshan Monastery, the above treasures can’t be missed.

4. Visiting Jinci Temple Fair
Jinci Temple Fair falls to the second day of the seventh month in the Chinese calendar each year, which is a day for the locals to offer sacrifices to the Gods and has existed for hundreds of years. Every time when the Jinci Temple Fair comes, the peasants in the neighborhood of Jinci temple will set up a stage and invite a troupe to sing the Chinese opera. At night, there are also traditional folk art and firework performances 

5. Exploring the Grottoes on Tianlong Mountain
Tianlongshan Grottoes, located on the mountainside of Tianlong Mountain, were chiseled successively in Northern Qi, Sui, and Tang Dynasties and contain 27 grottoes with 1500 stone statues and 1144 pieces of relief, sunk panel and portray. The best time for tourists to visit Tianlongshan Grottoes is from May to September every year.

6. Experiencing Historical and Cultural Shanxi Museum 
Shanxi Museum, built in1918, assembles the most precious cultural relics of the whole Shanxi Province. According to the data, it collected 3,300 collections including the cultural heritages in the New Stone Age, Shang, Zhou, Jin and Northern Dynasties, stone statues, Shanxi local ceramics, opera heritages in Jin and Yuan Dynasties as well as Shanxi ancient businessmen’s heritages. 

7. Attending Shanxi Taiyuan International Folk Art Festival
Initially opened in September 21, 1991, the Shanxi Taiyuan International Folk Art Festival was an annual distinguished event happened in September. Meanwhile, the Shanxi International Gong and Drum Festival and the Shanxi Friendly Exchange with Foreign Countries Week are also held. During the folk art festival, thousands of domestic and foreign art groups gather in Taiyuan to present the viewers with various brilliant performances. 

8. Go Shopping in Liuxiang Street
Liuxiang Street is situated at the business hub of Taiyuan, and serves as a shopping street, similar to the Wangfujing and Causeway Bay. As the most flourishing old commercial street, Liuxiang Street has a commercial history over 300 hundred years and boasts the largest night market in North China. In most cases, people visiting Taiyuan will take a around in Liuxiang Street and appreciate the relics of Shanxi ancient businessmen.