https://https://www.trip.com/toplist/tripbest/recommend/gujiao/best-things-to-do/10073010900000
Best Things to Do
Top 50 Best Things to Do near Gujiao [2025]
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Yungang Grottoes
4.8
/5
31569 reviews
8.9
From NZD 24.50
Based on 996 reviews
>100 km from downtown
Phone +8603527992666
Address: No. 1, Yungang Town, Yungang District, Datong City, Shanxi Province
Recommended sightseeing time: 3–4 hours
Highlights:
Stroll through the grottoes and explore Forty Caves
59,000+ stone sculptures inside caves
Saved by 845 users24637 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
Yungang Grottoes are not far from Datong, so the route is quite convenient! Currently, it's the off-season, so some grottoes are under renovation. If you don't have a particular passion for any one grotto, I actually think visiting during the off-season is more pleasant, as there are far fewer tourists, parking is easier, and the overall experience is more comfortable! As one of the four major grottoes in China, it is indeed a very impressive attraction, highly recommended!
It's breathtaking! A true recreation of the imperial grandeur of yesteryear. Winter is a great time to visit as it's not crowded. Please dress warmly! A visit will take about 3 hours! A glimpse into a thousand years, a vision of universal harmony!
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Jinci Museum
4.8
/5
14485 reviews
8.6
From NZD 19.60
Based on 119 reviews
Taiyuan Ancient County/Jinci Temple | 32.1 km from downtown
Phone +864006088608
Address: In Jinci Park, Jinyuan District, Taiyuan City, Shanxi Province
Recommended sightseeing time: 2–4 hours
Highlights:
Growing Buddhist Relics Tower overlooking Jinci's panorama
Jinci's Three Treasures showcase ancient architectural charm
Saved by 151 users11322 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
Police officers and seniors over 60 get in free; I only bought children's tickets. After buying the tickets, I only needed to swipe my ID card to enter, which was very convenient. There are many ancient buildings inside, which are quite beautiful.
Three national treasure buildings 👍🏻: The Holy Mother Hall is a precious architectural masterpiece from the Northern Song Dynasty, the Fish Pond Flying Bridge is a cross-shaped ancient bridge, and the Offering Hall is a Jin Dynasty building. The Zhou Cypress, which is over 3,000 years old, along with the Nanlao Spring and the Maiden Statues, are known as the "Three Wonders of Jinci".
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The Hukou Waterfall Scenic Area
4.7
/5
18077 reviews
8.6
From NZD 22.05
Based on 213 reviews
Hukou Waterfall Scenic Area | >100 km from downtown
Phone +8603577955000
Address: Yanhu Road, Hukou Town, Jixian County, Linfen City, Shanxi Province
Recommended sightseeing time: 2–3 hours
Highlights:
Spring & fall thunderous waterfall
See the Thundering Falls in spring and fall
Saved by 157 users13311 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
As the Yellow River bursts out of the Jin-Shaanxi Grand Canyon, its powerful momentum is halted at Hukou Waterfall. The immense force washes over the cliffs on both sides, like thunder, like the sound of pine trees, like a roar, shaking people's hearts. Looking down at Hukou Waterfall, one is awestruck by the magnificent sight of Mother Nature.
Only by experiencing Hukou Waterfall in person can one truly appreciate the awe-inspiring power of the Yellow River's roar! The surging, turbid waves plunge into the deep pool like a thousand horses, their thunderous roar echoing through the sky, while the spray brings a refreshing coolness. A rainbow arches against the backdrop of the raging torrents, creating a breathtakingly beautiful scene. The scenic area's viewing platforms are well-designed, offering multiple angles to appreciate the waterfall's majestic grandeur. This is a baptism of nature's power, a direct display of national spirit—an unforgettable experience!
No.
4
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Pingyao Ancient City
4.6
/5
21702 reviews
8.5
From NZD 29.40
Based on 1,383 reviews
Inside Pingyao Ancient City | 78.2 km from downtown
Phone +8603545690000
Address: No. 58 Zhaobi South Street, Pingyao County, Jinzhong City
Recommended sightseeing time: 1–2 days
Highlights:
Enjoy stunning sunset views from the city wall in the evening
World-class photography exhibition
Saved by 498 users13830 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
This time I visited 13 attractions included in the combined ticket, and adding to the 9 from last time, I've now visited all 22. Very satisfying. Ancient architecture, Shanxi merchant culture,镖局 (armed escort agency) culture… Pingyao Ancient City is truly a wonderful place.
It's pretty good, valid for three days, so you can split the trip into several visits. I personally recommend the Ma Family Courtyard, the County Government Office, Xietongqing, and Rishengchang. Just scan the QR code. If you want paper tickets, you can buy them offline.
No.
5
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Yingxian Wooden Pagoda
4.8
/5
16359 reviews
8.4
From NZD 11.76
Based on 182 reviews
>100 km from downtown
Phone +8603495088889
Address: Northwest corner of Yingxian city, Shuozhou city
Recommended sightseeing time: 1–2 hours
Highlights:
11-foot Buddha statue inside
Panoramic views of nature & history
Saved by 150 users15089 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
Yingxian Wooden Pagoda, one of the three great pagodas of the world alongside the Eiffel Tower and the Leaning Tower of Pisa, boasts a history of over 1500 years. However, its geographical location makes it relatively less visited by tourists. Frankly, when I arrived at Yingxian Wooden Pagoda, I didn't think it was particularly worthwhile because it was slowly tilting, so it wasn't open to the public. It wasn't until I visited the Yingxian Wooden Pagoda exhibition hall at the Shanxi Museum that I realized how absolutely stunning it would be if we could go inside! Therefore, I highly recommend that anyone planning a trip to Yingxian Wooden Pagoda also visit the exhibition hall at the Shanxi Museum. Combining the two visits will give you a more complete understanding of the pagoda!
The Wooden Pagoda is easily accessible by direct bus from downtown Datong. It's a traditional wooden structure built with mortise and tenon joints without nails. Despite its tilted shape, it has stood for a thousand years. The five-story, six-eaved structure, along with its colorful sculptures and murals, tells ancient stories and is truly breathtaking. Although only one floor is currently open to the public, it still evokes a powerful sense of awe and wonder at China's ancient culture.
No.
6
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Xuankong Temple
4.7
/5
10018 reviews
8.4
From NZD 7.11
Based on 793 reviews
>100 km from downtown
Phone +8603528333081
Address: At the foot of Hengshan Mountain in the southeastern suburb of Wuyuan County, Datong City
Recommended sightseeing time: 1–2 hours
Highlights:
Admire Exquisite Wood Carved Murals Along the Plank Road
Cliffside's breathtaking architecture
Saved by 784 users7546 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
Reliable platform to book. Everything goes as planned. Highly recommended.
The Hanging Temple, a national AAAA-level tourist attraction, is located on the cliff of Cuiping Peak on the west side of Jinlong Gorge in Hengshan Mountain, Hunyuan County, Shanxi Province. It is known by the local saying, "The Hanging Temple, halfway to heaven, suspended by three horse tails." Built 1400 years ago in the late Northern Wei Dynasty, it is a unique temple in China that integrates Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism, and is the oldest existing wooden structure complex built on a cliff in the world. Originally called "Xuankong Pavilion," it was later renamed "Hanging Temple" because the entire temple appears to hang on the cliff; in Chinese, "hanging" and "mysterious" are homophones.
No.
7
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Little Western Paradise
4.8
/5
4287 reviews
8.2
From NZD 8.58
>100 km from downtown
Phone +8603576733033
Address: Xiaoxitian, Xicheng Qu, Beijing Shi, China
Recommended sightseeing time: 2 hours
Highlights:
Check out Black Myth: Wukong
Ancient Zen temple from Ming
3965 positive reviews10K views in last month
Verified user reviews
The best time to go is in the morning, when the light is best. If you go in the afternoon, the weather needs to be good enough. Inside the magnificent main hall, which uses 14 kilograms of gold, I spent over an hour looking up repeatedly. My neck pain is almost cured! Aside from the main hall, the rest of the hall isn't particularly impressive. A slight drawback is that the security guards kept reminding everyone to leave quickly, which is understandable given the sheer number of people. I imagine there will be fewer people in winter when it's cold, allowing for a quieter contemplation and communion with the thousand Buddhas across time. Once you're there, you'll know it was worth the trip; it's truly breathtaking. Absolutely breathtaking. Absolutely breathtaking.
It was incredibly impressive and awe-inspiring. Experiencing 600 years of history, interacting with the ancients, and having a unique experience is truly remarkable. It's definitely worth bringing children to see. It's very crowded, but it's absolutely worth the visit!
No.
8
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Hukou Waterfall tourist area of the Yellow River
4.6
/5
14040 reviews
8.2
From NZD 22.05
Hukou Waterfall Scenic Area | >100 km from downtown
Phone +8609114838030
Address: Yanhu Road, Hukou Town, Yichuan County, Yan'an City
Recommended sightseeing time: 2–3 hours
Highlights:
Feel waterfall's power up close
Hukou Waterfall panoramic view
Saved by 243 users9326 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
The room was very clean, with three bedrooms that can accommodate many people. It was fully equipped, and you could cook your own meals. The lovely landlady provided a parking space right outside the door. The welcome fruit provided by the landlady was homegrown, and my child loved it. Overall, I was very satisfied.
Standing beside the surging waterfall, one can't help but think of the Yellow River Cantata. The surging past and future of the Chinese people are embodied in each roar, which is very moving. The only downside is that the scenic area is a bit small, but this doesn't detract from its overall beauty.
No.
9
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Huayan Monastery
4.8
/5
10689 reviews
8.1
From NZD 9.80
Based on 147 reviews
Ancient City Tourist Cultural Area | >100 km from downtown
Phone +8603522042025
Address: No. 459 Xia Sipo Street, Datong City
Recommended sightseeing time: 1–2 hours
Saved by 175 users8814 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
Just for the sake of the Liao and Jin dynasty architecture, you have to go and see it! Because of the orientation of the ancient buildings, it's best to go in the morning. When the light shines through the doors and windows onto each Buddha statue, you will be amazed by its beauty!
Before visiting Huayan Temple, I hadn't done any research and didn't know its history or appearance, so I had low expectations. The day I went, although it was raining, it was indescribably beautiful. The murals inside the temple were even more breathtaking. It's definitely worth a trip to Datong just for Huayan Temple.
No.
10
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Yanmenguan
4.7
/5
5994 reviews
8.0
From NZD 13.48
Based on 5 reviews
>100 km from downtown
Phone +8603506100519
Address: Daixian, Xinzhou, Shanxi, China
Recommended sightseeing time: 3–4 hours
Highlights:
Yang Family's legendary statue
Walk ancient Great Wall path
5041 positive reviewsRecently viewed by 1,000+ people
Verified user reviews
Police officers and seniors over 60 get in for free; we only bought children's tickets. After buying the tickets, we just needed to swipe our ID cards to enter, which was very convenient. It got cold, too windy, and too cold, so we didn't go far and went back.
Yanmen Pass is definitely worth a visit. I visited the Badaling Great Wall many years ago, and the experience was different. The day I went, the fog was quite thick, so visibility was limited. Also, I arrived rather late, so I didn't explore too far, but the early winter scenery was still beautiful. The difficulty of the climb further highlights the hardships endured by the ancient soldiers, and it makes one marvel at the wisdom of the ancients in building this magnificent pass.
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