2018 Shaanxi & Shanxi Tour Group 8 days-2

This is the scenic spot introduced in this note, starting from Hukou and ending in Datong City.

2018.07.17 Hukou >> Ancient City of Pingyao

07:34

Next, we will take a 4-hour drive to the ancient city of Pingyao, ok~ This drive is really not the farthest, only farther! !

11:53

After getting off the special car, take a battery car into the city and go to a restaurant for lunch. In the hot summer, it is very comfortable to sit in a windowless car and enjoy the scenery of the ancient city of Pingyao, but it is inevitably dusty.

12:20

For lunch, there is a noodle roasted grandma, which is a special food in Shanxi. It is very attractive in terms of appearance, taste and name.

Youmian 栲栳, known as You Mian 栲栳 and You Mian Wowo, is a well-known traditional pasta snack with glutinous noodles as the main body, belonging to Shanxi cuisine. The dough is kneaded with both hands into small rolls or small wine cups, arranged in a steamer, and then dipped in special sauces to eat.

The raw material for making the noodle is the barley (also known as oats, jade wheat, and oil wheat) produced in the alpine region of Shanxi, which is one of the specialties of the Yanbei region. The flour made from oats is yellow and white in color, high in protein, full of strength and rich in nutrients. The calories released can be equivalent to that of pork or beef. source.

The ancient city of Pingyao is located in Pingyao County, Jinzhong City, Shanxi Province, China. It is the birthplace of China's banking industry and a world cultural heritage with a history of more than 2,000 years. It covers a vast area. It takes an hour and a half to walk around the city wall!

During the Spring and Autumn Period, it belonged to Jin State, and the Warring States Period belonged to Zhao State. The Qin Dynasty set up Pingtao County, and the Han Dynasty set up Zhongdu County, which was the capital of the king. In the first year of Shiguang in the Northern Wei Dynasty (424), it was renamed Pingyao.

13:15

While everyone was still eating, and there was still about half an hour before the meeting time, I ran to the wall of the ancient city of Pingyao.

I used to watch the introduction of these historical monuments on TV. This time I finally saw the ancient city walls thousands of years ago, and I no longer have to try to imagine myself in the quiet ancient city. I have a whole afternoon and evening to get along with this ancient city, how romantic and real!

14:25

In the late Qing Dynasty, there were more than 20 bank accounts headquartered in Pingyao, accounting for more than half of the country, and it was also called "ancient Chinese Wall Street". Among them, the largest one is China's first ticket number "Rishengchang", which was founded in the Daoguang period of the Qing Dynasty and is famous for its "connecting the world". More than 20 ticket numbers have been established subsequently.

The streets of the ancient city of Pingyao are open to the public and do not require tickets. However, to visit some scenic spots in the ancient city, such as Pingyao Confucian Temple, Pingyao County Office, Pingyao City Wall, Rishengchang Ticket Number, China Escort Museum, Pingyao Ancient Residence Museum, etc., you need to buy a pass to visit.

16:53

I have been exposed to the sun for too long. At this time, I have begun to show signs of heatstroke, but it is not very serious. I quickly drink more water to prevent my shock.

19:05

Dinner is Pingyao snacks and Jinshang Township music show RMB ￥50. Although this scene is not as touching as the show in Xiangxi during the Qingming Festival, it still makes me miss the good times of traveling in Zhangjiajie (I have time to travel again.) Notes added).

19:35

There are many hotels, restaurants and shops in the ancient city of Pingyao. The hotels are all residential-style, and many shops sell Pingyao specialty Guanyun beef, lacquerware, embroidered shoes, etc.

20:13

The ancient city of Pingyao is full of traffic during the day, and even more beautiful at night.

When I go abroad, I always don’t forget postcards. I wandered around in this huge ancient city, but it was really difficult to find a post office to send postcards. Fortunately, I finally found the post office after wandering around for a while.

21:00

After visiting the ancient city for a whole day, I finally reluctantly returned to the clubhouse to rest. Pingyao Guild Hall is a relatively high-end inn in the ancient city of Pingyao. I really like this antique-built inn. It turns out to be sleeping on a kang that can only be seen on TV. Even the door lock is antique. Going back to ancient times, this trip completely satisfied me, who loves Chinese culture.

The first time I slept on the kang, the kang was good everywhere, but it was too high. The disadvantage here is that there are many mosquitoes, and the rooms are designed with screen doors.

Overnight: Four-Star District of Pingyao Guild Hall (No. 19, Confucian Temple Street, Pingyao Ancient City)

2018.7.18 Ancient City of Pingyao >> Qiao Family Courtyard >> Yanmen Pass

06:50

Today's drive is too far, so I got up early to start the day's trip, and I quickly took a few photos with this beautiful inn before leaving.

10:00

After a half-hour drive, we arrived at Qiaojiabao Village, Qixian County, Shanxi Province, 47 kilometers away from Taiyuan.

The Qiao Family Courtyard is the residence of Qiao Zhiyong, a commercial and financial capitalist in the Qing Dynasty. It is also a famous tourist area and a filming location for TV dramas. The entire compound covers an area of 8,724.8 meters. It is divided into 6 courtyards, with 13 small courtyards and 313 houses. There are exquisite stone carvings, brick carvings and wood carvings everywhere. It is called the "Folk Forbidden City".

The Qiao Family Courtyard is the most famous and best-preserved Shanxi Merchant Courtyard. There are many Shanxi merchants' courtyards that have been completely destroyed by wars and turmoil. It is very rare that the Qiao's courtyard can be preserved so intact.

13:55

Window view on the road to Yanmenguan

16:00

After another 3-hour drive, we came to Yanmen Pass, which is unknown to all dynasties and generations!

16:20

This is the Yanmenguan section of the Great Wall, located in Yanmen Mountain, about 20 kilometers north of Daixian County, Xinzhou City, Shanxi Province, China. From the Western Han Dynasty, the Sui Tang Dynasty to the Northern Song Dynasty, here are the places where countless heroes and heroes established their prestige, among them, the Yang family generals have made brilliant military exploits here, which have been praised by later generations.

16:23

I don't know if it's because of the remoteness, or because of the exploitation of tourists, the things the merchants sell are too expensive! There are only 8 families living here, with a population of about 20.

16:29

"Nine fortresses in the world, Yanmen is the leader"

Yanmen Pass is the most important pass on the Great Wall. It is cool outside and sultry inside. It has a history of more than 3,000 years. Together with Ningwuguan and Pianguan, they are collectively called the Three Outer Passes.

16:39

This is the way that Wang Zhaojun and his pro-Huns passed by in ancient times. Zhaojun went out of the fortress and brought stability and prosperity to the border people for decades. Everything she paid is indelible in the hearts of the people.

16:39

Since ancient times, it has been a battleground for military strategists and a pass with the most wars. Many heroes and famous generals of all dynasties have guarded this place, so it is known as the No. 1 Great Pass in China.

16:40

Yanmenguan Post Station is located in the cave courtyard on the south side of the Bianci Temple in Yanmenguan Town. Cave dwellings are called cave dwellings because most of Shanxi is made of loess. There are 6 holes in the north, 3 holes in the east, and 2 holes in the northeast corner of the cave courtyard, a total of 11 caves. The main buildings are General Cave, Emperor Cave, Princess Cave and Yashi Cave.

• General Cave has received Li Mu, Zhidu, Wei Qing, Huo Qubing, Li Guang, Guo Liang, Du Mao, Liu Kun, Zhao Zhao, Li Daen, Zhang Gongjin, Xue Wanche, Li Jing, Xue Rengui, Li Keyong, Pan Mei, Yang Ye, Zhang Qixian, 22 generals including Yang Yanlang, Xu Da, Lu Zhongheng and Zhou Yuji.
• The Emperor Cave has hosted King Mu of Zhou, King Xiangzi of Zhao, King Dai, King Wuling of Zhao, Emperor Gaozu of Han, Emperor Wen of Han, Emperor Wu of Han, Emperor Daowu of Northern Wei, Emperor Mingyuan of Northern Wei, Emperor Taiwu of Northern Wei, Emperor Xiaowen of Northern Wei, Emperor Wenxuan of Northern Qi, Emperor Yang of Sui, Emperor Tang of Tang Dynasty. There were 22 emperors including Emperor Gaozu, Emperor Taizong of Tang Dynasty, Taizu of Later Tang Dynasty, Zhuangzong of Later Tang Dynasty, Taizu of Later Han Dynasty, Emperor Qinzong of Song Dynasty, Emperor Wuzong of Ming Dynasty, Emperor Dashun and Guangxu.
• Princess Cave has received 5 princesses from the Western Han Dynasty, including Princess Jingning (Wang Zhaojun) of the Western Han Dynasty, Princess Lanling of the Eastern Wei Dynasty, Princess Yicheng of Sui Dynasty, Princess Xian'an of Tang Dynasty, and Princess Taihe of Tang Dynasty.
• Yashidong has received historical celebrities such as Lou Jing, Cai Wenji, Li Bai, Shen Kuo, Yuan Haowen, Fu Shan, Zhu Yizun, Gu Yanwu, Xu Jiyu and so on.

16:54

After passing through a series of scenic spots in front, go back to the section of the Great Wall outside the gate.

The first time I knew about Yanmenguan was because of the Heavenly Dragons and Eight Divisions, and I fell in love with Yanmenguan because of its many tragic stories. It was said in ancient times: "Whoever gains Yanmenguan gains the world, and whoever loses Yanmenguan loses the Central Plains." Famous generals of all dynasties have been guarded, and I am afraid that now the people occupying the Central Plains will not be Han people.

17:08

Stepping on the Yanmenguan Great Wall, which fascinates me, touching the city wall that has been devastated for thousands of years, and looking at the green mountains outside the city wall, all this is so shocking to me!

Close your eyes, as if you can hear the footsteps of soldiers patrolling, the sound of gongs and drums beating the city, and the hoofs of horses. . .

For me, no amount of photos or video introductions on the Internet can be as touching as staying here for a minute. History lovers must not miss such a great attraction.

19:46

Dinner Datong Hot Pot RMB￥40

22:00

Come out at night, Datong's rabbit head is famous all over the world. Although rabbits are so adorable, eating rabbit meat is a bit unbearable, but if you come all the way here, you should buy them and try them!

Datong Rabbit Head is one of the traditional and famous dishes in Datong, Shanxi Province. It is a favorite food of local people. The rabbit's head is braised with more than ten kinds of spices such as ginger, onion, pepper, star anise, etc., and it takes at least three hours to boil. Until the flavor of the spice penetrates into the soft and rotten rabbit meat, it is a typical northern dish with spicy, heavy taste and good taste.

The photos taken in the past few days are really rich. I finally have time to sort it out in the evening, send it to IG, and look forward to the Yungang Grottoes tomorrow (next post).

Overnight: Haohai International Hotel (No. 46, Weidu Avenue, Datong City)