Other historical places
Jindoudaifu Shrine
Old Mosque
A mosque at this location was first built in the Tang Dynasty, but the present one is much younger.
Chunyang Palace
Originally built in the 13th century and since extented significantly. Features garden and temple as well as a number of other buildings.
Museums
Shanxi Museum
The Shanxi Museum is located in a modern four-storey building situated at a prime location along the Fen River in central Taiyuan and features a very impressive collection of artifacts from this history-heavy province. Chinese civilization first began to develop in Shanxi and Shaanxi provinces along the banks of the Yellow River, and this handsome provincial museum features some of the best of the historical artfacts from around the province. The museum has on display thousands of objects in a series of well laid out exhibition halls. Permanent exhibits include those devoted to relics from the Paleolithic and Neolithic ages, ancient Chinese porcelain, painting and caligraphy, jades, bronzes, Chinese currency, historical architecutre, Buddhist stone scultptures, and Shanxi merchants. Signage in Chinese and English. directions="Bus 1 then walk"
China Coal Museum
Exhibits on China's coal industry. Note you will have to pay 60 yuan for a personal tour guide who speaks English in addition to the museum entrance fee. The personal tour guides do add to the experience though.
Shanxi Science and Technology Museum
Nature and parks
Children's park
Dating back to the Qing Dynasty. Is home to library, exhibitions, planetarium and a number of older and newer buildings.
Taiyuan Zoo
Forest Park
Recently built artifical forest park landscaped with valleys and rivers. It is features various recreational facilities.
Tianlongshan Grottoes
Tianlongshan Grottoes is a series of 25 caves carved into the mountainside of Tianlong Mountain and well known among Chinese art experts for the fine Buddhist statues and decorations which were sculpted within. The earliest of these caves were built during the Eastern Wei Dynasty 534-550, and additional caves were added in the Northern Qu, Sui, and Tang Dynasties. Grottoes 2 and 3 are the oldest in the complex, dating back nearly 1500 years. The largest and most impressive grotto is the ninth one, a multi-storied cave with several large Buddha statues and covered by an intricate three-story wooden pavilion, the Manshan Pavilion.
Longshan Grottoes
Built at the beginning of Yuan Dynasty. They comprise a Taoist temple and a number of statues.
Fenhe Scenic Area
Scenic area around Fen River. It includes four theme areas, six natural scenery areas and seven sightseeing spots.
Juewei Mountain Scenic Area
The scenic area is home to a temple, a tower, pagodas and lots of trees. Locals flock here in autumn to see the red leaves and in spring to see the flowers. In clear weather there are great views of Taiyuan.
Temples
Jinci Temple
Jinci Temple, an ancient ancestral temple, was founded about 1400 years ago and was expanded during the Sui, Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing Dynasties, resulting in a variety of architecutural styles. Today it comprises of over 100 halls, towers, pavilions, terraces, and bridges and includes some of the best Song Dynasty sculptures and buildings still extant in China as well as some lovely gardens and ancient trees. Well known structures at Jinci include the Hall of Offerings ç®æ®¿; Xià nâdià n, The Flying Bridge Across the Fish Pond 鱼沼é£æ¢; YúâzhÇoâ FÄiâliángâ, and the Hall of the Holy Mother å£æ¯æ®¿; ShèngâmÇâdià nâ, the most famous building at Jinci. Completed in 1032 and with carved wooden dragons coiled around the eight pillars that support its upward-curving double-eave roof, this impressive structure contains some of the finest Song Dynasty clay sculptures in China, each with a different facial expression.
Temple of the Twin Pagodas
This temple is noted for its pair of 13-story octagonal pagodas, dating back some 400 years. These twin pagodas, which can easily be seen from much of Taiyuan, are often used as a symbol of Shanxi's largest city. The two towers, made of brick and stone, are 53 meters in height. Visitors can climb a spiral staircase to the top of the western pagoda to enjoy a panoramic view over the city.
Chongshan Temple
Originally built in the Tang Dynasty 618-907. In 1381, the temple was extended. In the 19th century, most of the temple was destroyed. The temple is home to the Buddhist Association of Shanxi Province and includes the Bell Tower, the Dabei Hall, and the east and west wing rooms. The main hall has 3 magnificent statues, one of Guanyin, Goddess of Mercy, with 1000 hands and eyes.
Duofu Temple
Longquan Temple