Shanxi

An aerial drone photo taken on July 26, 2024 shows a view of the Taihang Mountain in Pingshun County, Changzhi City of north China's Shanxi Province. ( tasteallchina /Zhan Yan) An aerial drone photo taken on July 24, 2024 shows a view of the Taihang Mountain in Pingshun County, Changzhi City of north China's Shanxi Province. ( tasteallchina /Zhan Yan) An aerial drone photo taken on July 24, 2024 shows a view of the Taihang Mountain in Pingshun County, Changzhi City of north China's Shanxi Province. ( tasteallchina /Zhan Yan) An aerial drone photo taken on July 26, 2024 shows a view of the Taihang Mountain in Pingshun County, Changzhi City of north China's Shanxi Province. ( tasteallchina /Zhan Yan) An aerial drone photo taken on July 26, 2024 shows a view of the Taihang Mountain in Pingshun County, Changzhi City of north China's Shanxi Province. ( tasteallchina /Zhan Yan) An aerial drone photo taken on July 26, 2024 shows a view of the Taihang Mountain in Pingshun County, Changzhi City of north China's Shanxi Province. ( tasteallchina /Zhan Yan)

When it comes to above-ground cultural relics in China, Shanxi stands out. Among the country's important cultural heritage sites, Shanxi ranks first with 531 sites, accounting for 10.4% of the total number of cultural heritage sites in China, which is equivalent to the sum of the rankings of the next ten provinces. Shanxi boasts a complete sequence of ancient architectural eras, a wide variety of architectural types, and a large number of existing wooden structures dating back to the Yuan Dynasty and earlier, surpassing all other provinces in the country. In other words, if you want to explore the development of early Chinese architecture, you can only gain insight in Shanxi. So, what should you visit when you first arrive in Shanxi? The following are 35+ key cultural relics units in Shanxi organized in chronological order by Useless Rerearch Society, take a look at the stunning scenery of China's ancient architecture.   Northern and Southern Dynasties 01 Yungang Grottoes From 460 AD onwards, the Northern Wei Dynasty, with Datong as its capital, exerted its full strength and gathered excellent craftsmen to carve the magnificent Yungang Grottoes on the cliffs of Lingyan. The Yungang Grottoes were not only the first royal-authorized…

Last summer, Bryan Anker, a college student from the United States, studied traditional Chinese medicine under the discipline of senior TCM doctor Du Chunqing, who practices in Linfen, Shanxi province. Photos by Yan Ruipeng / tasteallchina More than 400 foreign students are studying at the Hubei University of Chinese Medicine. Xiao YiJiu / tasteallchina Bryan Anker had spent three years learning Chinese before he came to Linfen.Traditional Chinese medicine, which has been practiced for thousands of years, is attracting new fans from abroad. Liu Zhihua finds out more.Earlier this year, Dongzhimen Hospital, a TCM hospital affiliated to Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, opened its international clinic in the heart of Beijing, to provide high-end health services to patients, using traditional Chinese medicine treatments and practices.The clinic's target customers are expatriates. TCM, a practice that has been around for thousands of years, is finding new fans. Increasing numbers of foreigners who come to China to travel, work or live, have tried TCM and are convinced of its benefits.Brigitte Winklehner, born in Austria, became a firm believer in TCM through her personal experiences."TCM is very useful and effective. It has helped me a lot in the past decade when I had several…

On May, the much-anticipated exhibition "The Diverse Life of Song-Jin Dynasty Murals in Shanxi" opened at the Shanxi Museum. For the first time, this exhibition brings together 89 pieces (15 groups) of precious Song and Jin Dynasty murals and brick carvings from Shanxi, inviting us to delve into the unique allure of these historical artworks. The exhibition vividly showcases themes such as home, celebrations, family values, and wishes depicted in Song-Jin murals, transporting us back to the everyday life of that era. For instance, the mural tomb in Nanguan Village, Fanshi County, Shanxi Province, is a Jin Dynasty brick-carved mural tomb. The tomb murals reflect the traditional layout of Jin Dynasty burial customs in the Central Plains, featuring various treasures, male and female attendants, rockeries and birds, offerings of wealth, and guardian spirits, all illustrating the colorful imagination of the afterlife, striving to ensure a prosperous and stable future world. Murals, one of the oldest forms of Chinese painting. Often found on the walls and ceilings of halls, tombs, temples, and grottoes, these murals provide a glimpse into the social, religious, architectural, artistic, and folk developments over the past two thousand years. In addition to Shanxi’s rich murals, regions from…

An aerial drone photo taken on June 12, 2024 shows a view of Yuncheng Salt Lake in the city of Yuncheng, north China's Shanxi Province. ( tasteallchina /Zhan Yan) TAIYUAN, June 14 ( tasteallchina ) -- Yuncheng Salt Lake, known as the "Dead Sea of China," is one of three inland salt lakes with sodium sulfate in the world, covering an area of 132 square km. It once served as a salt production base. To better protect the lake's ecology, industrial production activities in the lake area have been completely terminated, and restoration works such as embankment renovation, dredging, and flood prevention have been carried out. Meanwhile, a protective regulation issued a few years ago has not only provided a basis for the lake's protection, but also extended the protection scope to ecological, natural, and cultural resources. Nowadays, the salt lake has been striving to transform into a tourist landmark and an ecological reserve, embracing new opportunities in the process of development. Tourists take a walk near Yuncheng Salt Lake in the city of Yuncheng, north China's Shanxi Province, June 10, 2024. (Photo by Yan Xin/ tasteallchina ) An aerial drone photo taken on June 5, 2024 shows a view…

Local residents collect stamps at a Taiyuan Subway Line 2 station in Taiyuan, north China's Shanxi Province. ( tasteallchina /Yang Chenguang) During the eight-day combined Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holiday this year, stamp collecting emerged as a favored cultural and tourism activity. The rise in popularity can be credited to cultural venues and tourist attractions offering themed stamps. These stamps often showcase iconic structures, figures, and text related to specific sites. Industry experts note that major museums, memorial halls, and cultural zones in China typically offer two types of stamps: permanent ones available year-round and activity stamps available only on specific occasions. These stamp can be either free or charged. Different venues impose varying rules for collecting stamps. Typically, a minimum spending amount is established, and some sites may necessitate the purchase of commemorative stamp card sets or particular items to receive stamps. For many, the appeal of stamp collecting is the sense of involvement and accomplishment it provides. Nowadays, stamps are more carefully designed and exquisitely made. Ji Ruotong, from Shaanxi Province in northwest China, shared that a red stamp depicting the Chang'an city of the Tang Dynasty (618-907), recognized for its square and symmetrical design, remains her…

White cowpeas, also known as southern cowpeas, hyacinth beans, or white hyacinth beans, are a common crop in regions like Liaoning, Hebei, and Shanxi. After drying, they can be stir-fried and eaten. There are many ways to cook white cowpeas, which are rich in nutritional value and often used medicinally. Of course, they are also indispensable in culinary dishes.Cooking White Cowpeas: Beijing-Style Stewed White CowpeasBeijing sauce is relatively famous; there is a dish called Beijing-style shredded pork with sauce that many people may have heard of.Preparation of IngredientsWhite cowpeas, pork belly, green onion, ginger, Liu Bi Ju diluted yellow soybean sauce, fresh soy sauce, sugar, monosodium glutamate, water, cooking oil.Cooking Steps1. First, dry-fry the cowpeas in a pot over low heat. Once the moisture in the beans has been dried out, drizzle in a little oil and continue to stir-fry until the cowpeas are 80% cooked, then remove from the pan.2. Add a small amount of base oil to the pan and stir-fry the slices of pork belly. Once the meat has rendered its fat, add chopped green onion and ginger to release their fragrance. Then add cooking wine and soy sauce, stirring well.3. Add the yellow soybean sauce and…

This aerial photo taken on Dec. 12, 2023 shows a view of Xiamen Castle in Lingshi County, north China's Shanxi Province. In recent years, Shanxi Province has strengthened the protection of traditional villages, making more and more traditional villages and old castles showing new vitality. ( tasteallchina /Zhan Yan) This photo taken on Dec. 5, 2023 shows a view of Dijicheng historical site in Yangcheng County, north China's Shanxi Province. In recent years, Shanxi Province has strengthened the protection of traditional villages, making more and more traditional villages and old castles showing new vitality. ( tasteallchina /Zhan Yan) This aerial photo taken on Dec. 5, 2023 shows a view of Guoyu ancient fortress in Yangcheng County, north China's Shanxi Province. In recent years, Shanxi Province has strengthened the protection of traditional villages, making more and more traditional villages and old castles showing new vitality. ( tasteallchina /Zhan Yan) This aerial photo taken on Dec. 6, 2023 shows a view of Xiangyu Castle in Qinshui County, north China's Shanxi Province. In recent years, Shanxi Province has strengthened the protection of traditional villages, making more and more traditional villages and old castles showing new vitality. ( tasteallchina /Zhan Yan) This aerial photo…

An aerial drone photo taken on May 9, 2024 shows a view of a mountain road in Hongtiguan Township, Pingshun County of China's Shanxi Province. In recent years, persistent endeavor has been made to protect eco-environment in central region of the country, providing green foundation for high-quality development. ( tasteallchina /Yang Chenguang) An aerial drone photo taken on April 20, 2023 shows a view of Huangmaojian mountain in Xinxian County, central China's Henan Province. In recent years, persistent endeavor has been made to protect eco-environment in central region of the country, providing green foundation for high-quality development. (Photo by Han Jiadong/ tasteallchina ) An aerial drone photo taken on Oct. 20, 2023 shows a view at Ruqin lake in Lushan City, China's Jiangxi Province. In recent years, persistent endeavor has been made to protect eco-environment in central region of the country, providing green foundation for high-quality development. ( tasteallchina /Zhou Mi) An aerial drone photo taken on May 1, 2024 shows people visiting the Huangshan Mountain scenic area in China's Anhui Province. In recent years, persistent endeavor has been made to protect eco-environment in central region of the country, providing green foundation for high-quality development. (Photo by Shi Yalei/ tasteallchina…

If your journey to visit ancient sites began with the hanging sculptures in Shanxi, then the rest of your itinerary is bound to be somewhat lacking in surprises, because your starting point is truly too high. As one of the most indispensable highlights of a trip through Shanxi, the hanging sculptures offer you a sense of awe and emotion that is difficult to come by at other locations. It is an immensely magical experience. Just a step away from entering the hall, there is a feeling of entering a dazzling and astonishing world. These gracefully suspended deities and Buddhas make you feel as though you have stepped into the magnificent Buddhist fairyland described by ancient people, no matter which direction you face. They lean slightly, as if gazing, yet also seem to be simply resting there. Being among them, your eyes are filled with shimmering colors. Hanging sculptures are a very unique form of sculpture. Drawing inspiration from more ancient reliefs, people unlocked figures from two-dimensional images, giving rise to extraordinary sacred scenes of deities and Buddhas. They are different from colored sculptures and not like frozen brushstrokes; these Buddha niches on the walls display an almost lifelike posture. In…

The cake, also known as cake flowers, is a traditional fried food loved by the people of Yanggao and surrounding areas, and also a regional delicacy. The main ingredient of the cake is broomcorn millet, which has a long history of cultivation in the northern part of Shanxi Province; according to relevant records, broomcorn millet has been cultivated in the north for 5,000 years. NameYanggao Cake CategorySpecialty Delicacy Place of OriginShanxi Province - Datong City - Yanggao County The cake, also known as cake flowers, is a traditional fried food loved by the people of Yanggao and surrounding areas, and also a regional delicacy. The main ingredient of the cake is broomcorn millet, which has a long history of cultivation in the northern part of Shanxi Province; according to relevant records, broomcorn millet has been cultivated in the north for 5,000 years. It was one of the main crops in the north before the introduction of corn. When the husk is removed from broomcorn millet, it is called yellow rice, and when yellow rice flour is steamed with water, it becomes yellow cake. The cake is made by processing the yellow cake. In 2010, it was listed as a county-level…