Jiexiu
Day Trips
Make the most of your day with our curated plans, packed with Jiexiu's hidden gems and unique experiences!
Arrive in Jiexiu and settle into your hotel before stretching your legs with a stroll along the ancient city walls.
Visit the Jiexiu Museum to get an overview of the region’s history and admire its collection of Shanxi artifacts.
Sample local knife-cut noodles at a family-run restaurant and wander through a lively night market before turning in for the night.
Depart early for the foothills of Mount Wutai and soak up the crisp mountain air as you hike toward the Xiaozhong temples.
Explore a cluster of centuries-old monasteries, observe monks chanting in courtyards, and admire ornate wood carvings.
Pause at a temple overlook to watch the sunset bathe the pagodas in gold, then return to Jiexiu for a quiet evening.
Journey to the famous Xuanzhong Temple and marvel at the giant Reclining Buddha carved into the hillside.
Attend a short guided ritual, ring the bells in the main hall, and learn about the temple’s role in Silk Road Buddhism.
Enjoy a fragrant tea ceremony offered by resident monks and wander the lantern-lit temple grounds at dusk.
Head out to the nearby Pagoda Forest and trace winding paths among hundreds of ancient brick pagodas.
Photograph intricate inscriptions on stupa bases and hike to a hilltop for panoramic views of the valley below.
Spread a picnic under the pagodas and stargaze in the cool mountain air before heading back to the city.
Travel to the majestic Qiao Family Compound to wander through its inner courtyards and ornate halls.
Learn about the compound’s wealthy merchant heritage and admire lavish wood-carved screens and gilded shrines.
Attend a lavish courtyard performance of shadow puppetry and savor a tasting of Shanxi aged vinegar specialties.
Venture out to a nearby folk custom village and watch traditional paper-cutting artisans at work.
Roll up your sleeves to learn local dumpling folding techniques and help grind millet at a grain mill.
Join villagers around a bonfire for live folk songs and savor fire-toasted cornbread under an open sky.
Drive to the Taosi archaeological site and wander among the massive earthen walls of a 4,000-year-old settlement.
Visit the on-site museum to study Neolithic pottery shards and early astronomical artifacts.
Return to Jiexiu and reflect on ancient civilizations over a casual dinner of local braised pork and steamed buns.
Make your way to the gleaming Yingze Golden Temple and admire its gilded rooftops in the morning light.
Explore the temple’s inner sanctums, listen to a live chanting session, and photograph lacquered Buddhas.
Dine on a vegetarian temple meal in the dining hall before watching candlelit prayers at dusk.
Join a master craftsman for a hands-on workshop in clay figurine making or intricate paper cutting.
Roam the bustling local market to sample Shanxi vinegar snacks, sugar-coated hawthorn sticks, and dried noodles.
Relax in a traditional teahouse with jasmine tea and local pastries while listening to a pipa recital.
Enjoy a final leisurely stroll along Jiexiu’s historic old quarter, pausing to shop for souvenirs.
Pack your bags and indulge in one last bowl of vinegar-tossed cold noodles at a favorite street stall.
Head to the train station or airport, reminiscing about the vibrant temples, mountain vistas, and warm hospitality you experienced.