Shanxi is one of the birth places of Chinese nation. Except for the rich storage of coal resource,there are also rich in cultural relics and thus has much tourism resource. Shanxi is a province that has the most units preserved as national key historical relics in China. The abbreviation of Shanxi province is “Jin”, because Shanxi province was the place where the Jin kingdom located 4000 years ago.Of course there are more things that you could pay attention to. If you want to travel to Shanxi, then the three places you would not want to miss.

By: Hanyu Qie 121106136 class 4

Taihang Great Canyon

• Level of attraction: AAAA
• The best time to travel: May—October
• Opening time: 07:00~19:00
• Ticket price:￥160(including sightseeing vehicle:60)

 

The Taihang Great Canyon is located in Huguan County of Changzhi City.

First of all,I would like to recommend to you the Taihang Great Canyon. Because I grew up in Changzhi city, naturally, I often visit there.

There’s only one path to get there. But on both sides of the road, there’re mountains on one side while the other the cliffs. Every time I went there, I was so scared that I nearly had a heart attack. One of the main canyons—Wuzhi Canyons and one of 9 branch canyons—Hongdou Canyon are the most classical canyons that I ever visited. The water here is very clean, flowing all year round without stopping. And in Hongdou canyon, there are tens of thousands of Yew and they are so beautiful. The sceneries impressed me deeply when I was a child. And every time I go there, I would certainly shocked again and again by her beauty and mystery. However what shocked me is also that my classmates who lived there. When I was in high school,some of my classmates did come from the Taihang Great Canyon. They were boarding at the school, but every Friday, school was closed early in order to enable the students could catch the last bus which destined for The Taihang Great Canyon—their home. At the meanwhile, the drivers always increase their bus for the students.

Honestly, all of these make people in the city have a lot of feelings.

A mountain Sacred to Buddhists—Mount Wutai

• Level of attraction:AAAAA
• Tip:Rent a car(It might a little expensive.)

Mount Wutai is located in Xinzhou city, Wutai country. It is one of four major Buddhist mountain in China and one of five famous major Buddhist holy places. Mountain Wutai is one of the earliest places to build Buddhist temple in China. Since the Eastern Han years, the ancient temples built with magnificent pagoda and temples. All of those are the ancient architecture and cultural resources.

In addition to faith, many people go to Wutai Mountain has a very important reason: to make a wish. Mount Wutai is the first of China’s four famous Buddhist mountains, and is one of the world’s five major Buddhist mountains. It is not just the history of natural causes, but also because the Mountain seems to possess a power of magic: All most of the wishes people promised in Wutai Mountain are realized. It’s so amazing.

Of course, I thought those wishes which are able to realize are practical. I wonder why this land is so amazing, but there are so many people with a pious heart to make a wish, and finally realized, which is why the Wutai mountain every year will attract so many Chinese and foreign tourists, the Buddhist believers to visit the mysterious land.

Meanwhile, Wutai Mountain as a great summer resort, if you also want to try this magical powers, you might walk in Wutai mountain, have a look, make a lovely wish. I believe that your wishes if strong enough, honest enough, they will certainly be achieved.

Root of China—The Grand Scholar Tree, Hongdong

• Level of attraction:AAAA
• Ticket price:￥50

Ancient Chinese Scholar tree, also called Hongdong Grand Scholar tree.

The big ancient Chinese scholar tree in Hongdong County of Shanxi is also a sacred place for people from central plains of China to seek their roots and worship their ancestors, because it once was a famous immigration site in the Ming Dynasty . The common saying “If you ask where my ancestors are , the big Chinese scholar tree in Hongdong County , Shanxi Province gives full proof ” can be used as an evidence of immigration history.

There an ancient and interesting legend about the big Chinese scholar tree. When working with immigration, in order to distinguish clearly , immigration officers cut a knife in each immigrant’s little toenails as a tag. From then on, therefore, people often say that whether their own ancestors are big locust tree immigrants, just take off your shoes and look at your little toenails whether it is divided in two. Haha, guess what? My little toenails just like this!

If you find yourself or your relatives or friends around are also under such a situation, just pack up your possessions and to hongdong big pagoda tree honor your ancestors, that’s quite a good idea. And You will start a wonderful journey! Let’s move!

[LINK: http://www.shanxichina.gov.cn/zh/index.shtml]