Let’s step into Shanxi together.

To the east of the Yellow River and to the west of the Taihang Mountains lies a land shaped by great mountains and rivers. In ancient times, it was called Hedong. Now it is called Shanxi. “Surrounded by rivers and mountains” is its exclusive synonym. (Surrounded by rivers and mountains means there are great rivers outside and high mountains inside, referring to natural barriers of mountains and rivers. It comes from “Zuo Zhuan”, and Shanxi is described as “surrounded by rivers and mountains”.)

The 716-kilometer Fen River flows grandly from north to south and runs through almost half of Shanxi’s territory. “Pointing to the Taihang Mountains with the left hand and Lvliang Mountains with the right hand.” The two majestic mountain ranges running from north to south stand in opposition on both sides of the Fen River, presenting a geographical pattern of “two mountains flanking a river”. And surrounding the two mountains and one river is the surging “Mother River” – the Yellow River. Shanxi is also known as “San Jin”. (San Jin originally referred to the combination of the states of Wei, Zhao, and Han during the Warring States Period. As a geographical term, it refers to the former Jin State where Wei, Zhao, and Han are located. Later, it evolved into another name for Shanxi Province.) It is one of the important birthplaces of the Chinese nation. It preserves the most complete memory of 5,000 years of Chinese civilization and is known as the “cradle of Chinese civilization”. It is often called “the museum of ancient Chinese culture”.

Open the cultural map. There is Mount Heng, one of the Five Great Mountains; Mount Wutai, one of the four major Buddhist holy lands; Yungang Grottoes, one of the four major Buddhist grottoes; Pingyao Ancient City, one of the four best-preserved ancient cities in China; and the Guandi Temple in Jiezhou, Yuncheng, the “ancestor of martial temples”; and the Hukou Waterfall, the “world’s largest yellow waterfall”…
Beautiful landscapes and rare ancient architectural remains are scattered and inlaid on the land of Shanxi.

 
▲ “Eosimias centennicus” fossil.

▲ Xihoudu Site.
Among the early Paleolithic sites discovered across the country, there are 157 in Shanxi. The “Eosimias centennicus” fossil in Yuanqu, dating back 40 million years, has pushed forward the origin time of anthropoid apes by 10 million years. The burned bone fossil at Xihoudu in Ruicheng, dating back 1.8 million years, marks that the first flame of human civilization was lit here. The Dingcun site in Xiangfen, dating from 400,000 years to 12,000 years, has filled the gap in the excavation of ancient humans in China.

▲ Ancient Observatory at Taosi Site.
Yaodu Pingyang (Linfen). Shundu Puban (Yongji, Yuncheng). Yudu Anyi (Xi County, Yuncheng). As archaeological discoveries such as the Taosi Site are continuously verified.

The Wooden Pagoda in Yingxian County.

▲ Wooden Pagoda in Yingxian County.
Among the existing 28,027 ancient architectural relics, wooden buildings before the Song, Liao, and Jin Dynasties account for about 75% of the country. Wooden buildings from the Yuan Dynasty account for about 80% of the country. All four existing wooden buildings of the Tang Dynasty in China are 100% located in Shanxi.

Mount Wutai.

 

Pingyao Ancient City.

 

Yungang Grottoes.

The three world cultural heritages of Mount Wutai, Pingyao Ancient City, and Yungang Grottoes are renowned at home and abroad. The world’s tallest and oldest existing wooden tower building, the Wooden Pagoda in Yingxian County, has stood for nearly a thousand years. The only four existing wooden buildings of the Tang Dynasty in China are all in Shanxi (Nanchan Temple at Mount Wutai, Foguang Temple, Tiantai’an in Pingshun, and Guangrenwang Temple in Ruicheng).

The murals in Yongle Palace.

 

▲ Painted sculptures in the Hall of Saintly Mother at Jinci Temple.

There are as many as over 25,000 square meters of existing ancient murals.
There are nearly 13,000 existing painted sculptures from the Tang Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty. There are 3,500 kilometers of Great Wall relics covering from the Zhou Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty. There are more than 3,500 existing ancient villages (including 111 national-level historical and cultural famous towns and villages).

3，This is “Surrounded by Rivers and Mountains”. Shanxi is magnificent and beautiful, with splendid mountains and rivers. Mountains and hills account for about 80% of the total area of the province. To the east, the Taihang Mountains are majestic and tall. To the west, the Lvliang Mountains are profound and meandering. To the south, the Zhongtiao Mountains are beautiful and charming. To the north, the Hengshan Mountains are powerful and rugged. In the middle, the Taiyue Mountains are simple and verdant.

▲ Hukou Waterfall.

The forest area of Shanxi is 2.824 million hectares. The forest coverage rate reaches 23.57%. There are densely distributed eight national-level nature reserves such as Lishan, Manghe River, Pangquangou, and Luya Mountain. Nine large forest areas such as Guancen Mountain, Taiyue Mountain, and Zhongtiao Mountain. Twenty-six national forest parks such as Mount Wutai, Tianlong Mountain, Guandi Mountain, and Wulaofeng. Eleven national geological parks such as Hukou Waterfall, Ningwu Perennial Ice Cave, and Datong Volcanic Cluster.

▲ Guancen Mountain National Forest Park.

 

▲ Luya Mountain Perennial Ice Cave.

4，This is a “giant city”. It shows the majestic passes and strategic passes that are closed yet not secluded.

Shanxi has the largest number of existing Great Wall ruins in China so far. Shanxi has the longest time span. Shanxi has the most complete defense system. Shanxi has the most complete hierarchy of forms. Shanxi has the most frequent offensive and defensive wars. It is truly a “museum of ancient Great Walls of all dynasties in China”.

▲ The “Moon Gate” of Guangwu Great Wall.

In terms of time span,

The ancient Great Wall in Shanxi has the longest existing history preserved to this day. (From the Great Wall of Zhao State and the Great Wall of Han State in the Warring States Period to the Great Wall of Han Dynasty, the Great Wall of Cao Wei, the Great Wall of Northern Wei, the Great Wall of Northern Qi, the Great Wall of Sui Dynasty, the Great Wall of Liao Dynasty, the Great Wall of Jin Dynasty, and the Great Wall of Ming Dynasty). Among them, the Song Dynasty Great Wall in Kelan County, which has the most historical archaeological value, is the only existing Song Dynasty Great Wall site in the country.

In terms of defense system,
The ancient Great Wall in Shanxi has the most complete establishment preserved to this day. (Pass cities, town cities, guard cities, fort cities, square cities, guard ditches, city moats, lookout posts, beacon towers, watchtowers, trenches, side walls, piers, horse-repelling walls, running horse walls, corner towers, pass towers, guard towers, arrow towers, lookout posts, city moats, border walls, long trenches, border enclosures, pavilions and barriers, boundary trenches, horse faces, border forts, garrison cities, smoke beacons, beacon towers, garrison forts, water passes, mountain passes).

Shanxi is the most important joint in the Great Wall defense system of all dynasties in China.
Among the thirteen passes of the Great Wall of ten thousand li, Shanxi alone occupies five passes. (Pingxing Pass, Piantou Pass, Yanmen Pass, Niangzi Pass, Shahukou Pass).

5. This is a “blessed land for health and well-being”, emitting the charm of a leisurely and livable life.

Shanxi has undulating mountains and crisscrossing river valleys. (Surrounded by seven major rivers such as the Fen River, Sanggan River, and Hutuo River, and more than 20 million mu of forests in nine large forest areas such as Guancen Mountain, Taiyue Mountain, and Zhongtiao Mountain). The unique geographical environment creates four distinct seasons with “no intense heat in summer and no severe cold in winter”.

Most areas are at an altitude of about 1500 meters.
It is right in the negative oxygen ion enrichment layer, becoming a veritable “natural oxygen bar”.
It is an excellent place for “cleansing the eyes, purifying the lungs, and nourishing the body”.

▲ High-end health and well-being resort in Baimasi Mountain.

▲ Taihang Honggu forest health and well-being base.

It is between 34°34′ to 40°44′ north latitude.
It belongs to the mid-temperate semi-humid and semi-arid continental monsoon climate. The average summer temperature is below 26℃. The annual average precipitation in the province is 468 millimeters. The average humidity is 59%. It highly coincides with the suitable external temperature and humidity for the human body. It can be said that it is pleasant in dryness and wetness and livable in all seasons.

▲ Dachi Hot Spring.

▲ Huishan Hot Spring in Huangyadong.

It is rich in geothermal resources. There are more than 400 hot spring outlets from south to north, allowing people to enjoy warmth in winter.

6. This is the “hometown of talents”, counting the historical celebrities as brilliant as a galaxy.
   For more than two thousand years, on this ancient land, batches of famous people in various fields have emerged one after another. Like the brilliant stars in the long river of history, they had a positive impact on the society at that time and left precious legacies for future generations.

   

   ▲ Yao Temple.

    

   

   ▲ Shun Emperor’s Mausoleum.

    

   

   ▲ Statue of Guan Yu.

   
   The Chinese ancestors Yao, Shun, and Yu. Duke Wen of Jin, one of the Five Hegemons in the Spring and Autumn Period. Wu Zetian, the only female emperor in China. Guan Yu, the Chinese martial saint. And also,
   Cultural talents: Xunzi, Wang Wei, Bai Juyi, Luo Guanzhong, Fu Shan.
   Political celebrities: Lin Xiangru, Di Renjie, Sima Guang, Chen Tingjing, Yu Chenglong.
   Military powerhouses: Lian Po, Wei Qing, Huo Qubing, Yuchi Gong, and the Yang Family Generals.

   

   ▲ Pei’s Village in Wenxi County, the “prime minister village” of China.

   
   The Pei family in Wenxi once produced 59 prime ministers and 59 generals. It is the most prestigious first great family in China.

7. This is the “hometown of Shanxi merchants”, writing the commercial legend of connecting the world.
   During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, Shanxi, as the “crossroads of trade in the Ming and Qing Dynasties”, was dominant for a time. It created the miracle of “spanning nine thousand li in Europe and Asia and being dominant in the business community for five hundred years”. Shanxi merchants therefore became the top among the ten major business groups in China.

   

   ▲ Shanxi Merchants Museum.

   
   The escort agencies of “unimpeded travel and guarding the nine states” (the predecessor of the logistics industry).
   The draft banks of “widespread circulation and connecting the world” (the originator of the banking industry) and other supporting commercial institutions emerged as the times required.
   With the prosperity of Shanxi merchants’ trade, not only were cities undergoing extensive construction and renovation and expansion. The wealthy merchant families who had accumulated huge wealth through commercial trade also began to build their own residences one after another. The numerous Shanxi merchant courtyards with various characteristics constitute a most beautiful picture scroll of the continuous prosperity of Shanxi merchants for 600 years.

   

   ▲ Qiao Family Courtyard.

   
   This profound land of Shanxi has also given birth to excellent traditional cultures such as Yan Emperor’s farming culture, Yao and Shun’s culture of virtue and filial piety, Guan Gong’s culture of loyalty and righteousness, and capable officials’ culture of integrity. Folk stories such as Jie Zitui living in seclusion to serve his mother, the Yang Family Generals’ bloody battle at Jinsha Beach, and Cheng Ying’s righteous act of hiding the orphan of the Zhao family have spread. In the blood of the sons and daughters of Sanjin, the genes of loyalty, filial piety, and integrity flow.