Things to do in Ying County

The Yingxian Wooden Pagoda is the pinnacle of ancient architecture in Shanxi. Unlike the "Liao and Jin art" of Huayan Temple, it is a "wooden miracle" that will shock you purely with its mechanics and structure.

The scenic spot, where everyone is looking up, is truly magnificent. It's only 200 meters from the Wooden Pagoda, and there's a parking lot right next to it. I was so happy to find a parking space even during the National Day holiday.

The Yingxian Wooden Pagoda, an ancient building bearing a thousand-year history, stands silently on the land of Shanxi. Its unique structure and exquisite craftsmanship showcase the wisdom and ingenuity of ancient artisans. Through the passage of time, it remains steadfast, seemingly recounting its past glories and vicissitudes. Every brick and tile bears the marks of time, every beam and pillar a testament to historical changes. Standing before it, one can almost hear the whispers of the wind through the pagoda and feel a profound sense of awe that transcends time.

After arriving at Hengshan Scenic Area, we took their shuttle bus in, which felt a bit unreasonable. The scenery was amazing, and the architecture was quite impressive when we walked around. It was also famous for the Black Monkey King. However, tickets to the summit are extremely hard to get; they are limited and almost impossible to see. You can only admire them from afar. If you have the chance to get a ticket to the summit, it's worth going back to see it.

This is a Buddhist temple rebuilt in the Qing Dynasty. It is located next to the Main Hall of Fogong Temple in Ying County. It is not large in scale and houses a seated statue of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva. There are also many painted clay sculptures and murals around it. It is open to the public free of charge.

Yanmen Pass is worth visiting. Don't rush through just to take a quick photo. Take your time and appreciate its ruggedness. A comfortable pair of shoes and the time you've saved up are essential for a trip to Yanmen Pass. Your first impression of Yanmen Pass might not be stunning or breathtaking, but the deeper you explore, the more you'll discover its charm.

The Yungang Grottoes are definitely worth a visit; they are magnificent and a testament to the power of the ancients' faith. The official guided tours are reasonably priced. With this, only Maijishan Grottoes remain of the four major grottoes I haven't visited.

Very beautiful, but too crowded in my personal taste. We chose this part of the wall bcz we had limited time. Overall it was amazing to see, if I'll have opportunity to come back to China I'll choose other less crowded parts of the wall.

The scholar said that Director Li took me to tour the Forbidden City, and the Hall of Supreme Harmony was the most magnificent, while the Treasure Gallery was the most breathtaking. Listening to his stories and anecdotes helped me understand the 600-year history of the Forbidden City. Director Li was witty and knowledgeable about historical figures; the trip was definitely worthwhile!

Mount Heng, one of the Five Sacred Mountains, is well worth a visit. The Hanging Temple, a magnificent sight, is located within the same scenic area as Mount Heng. You can easily reach the scenic area by taking the shuttle bus.