Xinzhou Ancient Town

Xinzhou Ancient Town, located in Xinzhou, a city in North China's Shanxi Province, was established in 215, during the East Han Dynasty (25-220). With a long history and a rich culture, Xinzhou has long been an important cultural and business center in the northern region of the province.

Xinzhou Ancient Town, also called Xiurong Ancient Town, is known for its rich cultural and historical heritage.

Xiurong Academy, covering 2.47 hectares, was built in 1775. The academy's Hexagonal Pavilion is the tallest building in the town, and its rooftop is the only place where people can have a bird's eye view of the whole town.

The academy became one of the province's key cultural-relic-protection units in 2004. It is a good place for people to experience Xinzhou's profound culture. Various cultural and educational activities, such as calligraphy and painting activities, are held at the academy.

A tourist takes photos at Xiurong Academy.

Yuan Haowen Ancestral Hall, on Nanbei Avenue, is a building in the typical architectural style of the Qing Dynasty (1616-1911). It was built during the reign of Emperor Daoguang (1821-1850), of the Qing Dynasty, to commemorate Yuan Haowen (1190-1257), a famous litterateur and historian. The ancestral hall became a municipal cultural-relic-protection unit in 2007.

It has been reported that Xinzhou received the most tourists, compared with other destinations in the province, during the Spring Festival holiday in February. The happy atmosphere of Chinese Lunar New Year, abundant folk cultural shows and activities and various local delicacies attracted approximately 500,000 people to the ancient town.

The various folk cultural shows and activities are also held during other holidays and traditional festivals, and such events help visitors gain a deeper understanding of the local customs and culture.

Xinzhou, referred to as the Hometown of Grains other than Rice and Wheat, is known for its wide variety of snacks and cuisines, such as steamed pork, rolled noodles and steamed buckwheat, all of which fully satisfy visitors' taste buds.

There are many tourist destinations worth visiting near Xinzhou. Yanmen Pass, one of the most important passes along the Great Wall, is a one-hour drive from the ancient town.

Mount Wutai, a renowned and sacred Buddhist site, is about an hour and a half away from the ancient town. The mountain, which is home to many important temples, became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2009.

Photos by Yao Xiangyang

(Women of China English Monthly May 2021 issue)