Grotto culture in Taiyuan

Jinci Temple is located at 25 kilometers southwest of Taiyuan city, which was built in memorial of younger son of King Wu of Zhou Dynasty. It gathered the ancient fete architecture, garden, sculpture, mural and stele art as a whole, and was the only and precious cultural heritage of history. Besides, it is the headstream of Jin River, and is regarded as little water town in Shanxi province.

From Taiyuan train station, you can take bus No. 308, bus No. 848, bus No. 804 or bus No. 856 to go to Jinci Temple, the bus ticket is priced at CNY2.00 to CNY2.50 net, and it needs about 45 minutes to reach there. You may also take taxi to go there, and the price is about CNY70.00 net. The entrance fee of Jinci Temple is CNY70.00 net, opens from 08:00 to 18:00 from April to October, 08:30 to 17:00 from November to next March.

There are three highlights in Jinci Temple, spring that never exhausted, cypress that has exist thousands of years, and sculptures of forty-three ladies-in-waiting, all with different shapes.

Tian Long Mountain grotto is located 40 kilometers southwest of Taiyuan city, after you finished the tour at Jinci Temple, take minibus in front of the temple, then after 20 minutes drive you will reach the site. Please do remember to bargain the price before getting on the bus. The entrance fee of this is CNY25.00 net per person, opens from 08:30 to 18:00. Tian Long Mountain grotto was originally built in Eastern Wei dynasty, it has altogether 25 caves, which are dug on the mountainside, within them the ninth cave is the most masterpiece one. Tian Long Mountain was once the summer palace of Emperor North Qi, now still have many Buddhism buildings left, the mountain has an altitude of 1700 meter, beside the Buddhism grotto culture, you may also have a full sightseeing on nature scenery.

Take traveling bus back to Taiyuan. If time is not a problem for you, you may add an additional day to visit Xuanzhong Temple and apricot village. Stay overnight in Tianlong Hotel, go ahead to Jiaocheng County next morning.

Xuanzhong Temple is the birthplace of Pure Land sect of Buddhism, you can still see steles which belongs to old time as long as North Wei dynasty. It is located 10 kilometer northwest of Jiaocheng county, you may either charter a car, or take long-distance bus to go there, stop at mountain pass of Xuanzhong county, then charter a vehicle from Mr. Zhou who live there to get into the mountain.

Apricot village is in Fenyang city, you may take a passing by bus to there. The village is famous for vintage, attracting many people with its wine culture. Then back to Taiyuan city.