Boasting rich tourism resources including many historical sites, Shanxi is known as "China's museum of ancient culture." The classic Chinese folk song "Beautiful scenery of Shanxi" tells the beauty of Shanxi's landscapes and folk culture.
The following are the top 10 must-see attractions in Shanxi.
House of the Huangcheng Chancellor(皇城相府)
House of the Huangcheng Chancellor |
Located in southeast Shanxi Province, the House of the Huangcheng Chancellor is one of the most famous historic sites to visit. It was the home of Chen Tingjing (1638-1712), a royal teacher of Emperor Kangxi as well as the editor-in-chief of the Kangxi Dictionary in Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).
It is actually a palace, or a town, which contains a group of castle-style buildings. It was designed in two architectural styles. The inner palace was designed in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) by his uncle Chen Changyan in 1633. The outer complex was finished in Qing Dynasty by Chen Tingjing himself in 1703. The palace has 19 gardens and yards, 640 rooms and 9 castle gates, covering an area of 90,000 square meters (9 hectares). It has a wall which is 1,700 meters long and 12 meters high.
The palace attracts millions of visitors every year.
Admission: 100 yuan (US$15.8)/person