The area around the Hukou Waterfall on the Yellow River was historically the boundary line between the State of Jin and the Di ethnic group, as well as the dividing line between the two states. Although the Yellow River valley in the Shanxi-Shaanxi Gorge has steep, towering cliffs on both sides, making travel difficult, ancient ferry crossings were available. The riverbed here is stable and narrow, easy to cross, and in winter the ice becomes solid enough to support horses and carts. As a result, authorities throughout various dynasties often established passes and fortifications here...
Located 30 kilometers northwest of Ji County, on the eastern bank of Yuantou in the Jin-Shaan Gorge of the middle reaches of the Yellow River, east of the Hukou Waterfall, Kannaipo borders the Yellow River to the west, connects to Guxian Gully to the north, reaches Makuzhang to the south, and links to Nancun Plateau to the east. Stretching about one kilometer from east to west and about 0.5 kilometers from north to south, it is a gourd-shaped, independent mountain ridge surrounded by ravines and rivers on three sides and connected to the plateau on one side, truly a strategic pass where a single brave guard could hold off thousands...
Looking down from the Yellow River Bridge at the border, the river surges out of the Longchuan Gorge and suddenly widens. Where the water becomes broader, a huge rock stands firmly in the middle of the river. Viewed from above, it looks like a gate; from the side, like a boat; and from below, like a mountain. In reality, it is a small island in the Yellow River. Majestically located in the middle of the current, it splits the river’s flow — this is the legendary Mengmen Mountain, said to be “carved through the rock by Yu the Great.” Legend has it that when Yu was taming the floods…
East of the Hukou Gorge, about 20 kilometers from the riverbank, lies an ancient and majestic mountain. Here, endless millennia-old trees stretch as far as the eye can see, their lush canopies shielding the sunlight and creating pleasant scenery. Coupled with numerous legends, this is the renowned Renzu Mountain, located at the southwestern edge of the Loess Plateau in southern Shanxi. The earliest historical record of it appears in “Records of the Grand Historian” (Shiji), which describes it as a desolate place called…
As the mountains near Hukou to Mengmen recede quietly, the vast horizon transforms into the silhouettes of peaks. On the light brown stone slabs along both sides of the Dragon Trough, numerous ancient fossil patterns such as leaves, birds, and insects become visible. Among them are also cavities filled with clear water that reflect the surrounding mountain and river scenery — some as small as cups, others as large as jars...
On the eastern bank of the Hukou Waterfall, behind the Dragon King Temple, there stands a solitary peak that looks like a hat drifting down from the sky and landing on the riverbank. Under the glow of the setting sun, viewed from afar, it seems to sway gently in the wind. As the light fades, it appears as if it might float down, creating a serene and mystical atmosphere. This solitary peak is Shimaoshan Mountain, also known as...
Jinxian Mountain is located about 0.5 kilometers south of Ji County Town. This mountain is lush with trees, fragrant with flowers in spring and summer, dotted with mountain fruits in autumn, and stands tall with pine and cypress in winter, resembling a splendid painted screen—hence the name Jinxian (literally "Brocade Screen") Mountain. Legend has it that the Tang Dynasty general Yu Chijingde once passed through this area and hung his armor on the mountain, which is why it is also known as Guajia (Hanging Armor) Mountain. The mountain has three main scenic spots: the first is the cliff stone carvings from various dynasties dating back to the first year of the Taihe era of the Northern Wei Dynasty (477 AD)…
The Shizitan Site dates back 20,000 to 10,000 years ago, spans approximately 10 kilometers from east to west, and covers an area of about 60,000 square meters. It is an important Late Paleolithic site. Discovered and test-excavated in 1980, between 2000 and 2001, 25 new Paleolithic sites and a central site area were newly discovered within a 15-kilometer radius,…
Caijiachuan Forest Park was approved for establishment in 2004 under Document No. 114 [2004] issued by the People’s Government of Shanxi Province, with a total area of 4,000 hectares. Caijiachuan Forest Park is located in the northeastern part of Ji County, within the territory of Tunli Town, adjacent to the intersection of National Highways 209 and 309. It is 110 kilometers east of the Tongpu Railway...
Damaoyuan Cemetery Damaoyuan Cemetery (Third Batch of Provincial-Level Protected Sites) Era: Western Zhou to Tang Dynasty Location: Between Shangdong Village and Hongbeigou, west of Jixian County The cemetery is located along the edge of a loess ridge between Guantou Mountain to the south and the Qingshui River Valley. It covers a total area of approximately 3 square kilometers. Discovered in 1982, the site has yielded bronze artifacts such as gui (food vessels) and ding (tripod cauldrons), which are typical of the Western Zhou period...
Remains of Di City (Classified as a Provincial-Level Cultural Relic under Batch 3) Era: Eastern Zhou Dynasty Location: Xitong Village, Wangjiayuan Township, Jixian County The site is situated on an isolated terrace bounded by gullies to the north and south, overlooking the Yellow River to the west, and adjacent to an earthen rampart to the east. It is divided into two periods: the Yangshao and the Eastern Zhou. Artifacts from the Yangshao period include pottery items such as red clay basins with grid patterns, double-lipped pointed-bottom bottles, and bowls...
(Including Xiesikunru Holy Mother Temple) The cliff carvings on Guajia Mountain (including Xiesikunru Holy Mother Temple) date back to the Sui, Tang, and Yuan dynasties. Address: 0.5 km south of Ji County, on Guajia Mountain. The carving work began in the second year of the Kaihuang era of the Sui Dynasty (582 AD), with additional carvings made during the Tang, Song, and Jin periods. The surviving cliff engravings predominantly feature Sui and Tang styles, with some niches...
Located by the Fen River near Ding Village, about 4 kilometers from Xiangfen County and 35 kilometers from Linfen City, the Dingcun Site stretches approximately eleven kilometers from Shicun in the north to Caizhuang in the south. It is internationally renowned for the discovery of fossils from China’s Paleolithic Age. The Dingcun Site consists of gravel fields within fragmented cliffs and gullies, where relics from China’s Old Stone…
Xiangyan Chan Temple is located on the beautiful banks of the Fen River in Shanxi Province. It lies just above the famous Hukou Waterfall and below the Dayun Expressway, offering convenient and well-connected transportation. Originally built during the 11th year of the Yuandade era (1308 AD) and renovated in the 12th year of the Ming Hongzhi era, it is a renowned Buddhist site in the Pingyang region. The original temple structures were resplendent in gold and color...
Longshuyu in Xiangfen County is located in the Gushan Mountain Range, a branch of the Lüliang Mountains to the northwest of Xiangfen County’s urban area. Covering an area of about 30 square kilometers, it lies 23 kilometers from the county seat. The area boasts breathtaking natural scenery, ancient architecture of diverse styles, captivating legends, and a wealth of cultural landmarks. Among its natural wonders, Dragon Dueling Twin Arches is the most renowned. There are over 100...
Yan Village Ecological Park in Xiangfen County is located within Dengzhuang Town in the northern part of the county. The Fen River, the mother river of Shanxi, flows from north to south along the western side of Yan Village. The riverbank features relatively open Fen River floodplains with fairly flat terrain. The vast expanse of lush alfalfa at Yanshui Beach forms a ten-thousand-mu alfalfa base and picturesque pastoral scenery. In the alfalfa base…
The archaeological excavation of the Taosi site in Xiangfen County, Shanxi Province, is a significant part of the "Chinese Civilization Exploration Project" and holds global importance. After three years of investigation, major findings have been made (see the People's Daily report on January 30, 2004). These discoveries not only confirm the existence of a 5,000-year-old Chinese civilization and its continuous development...
The vast and fertile southern Shanxi region, located in the middle reaches of the Yellow River, is bounded by the rugged Zhongtiao Mountains to the east, the steep Lüliang Mountains to the west, and the sheer cliffs of the Yellow River to the south. The Fen River runs through it, nurturing a long history and rich, diverse culture dating back to the Paleolithic-era Dingcun Man, along with legends such as “Yao’s Capital at Pingyang,” “Ruins of the Xia Dynasty,” and “Yu’s Brother Enfeoffed at Tang.”
Fencheng Town is located 16 kilometers southwest of Xiangfen County. In the early Tang Dynasty, it was the fiefdom of Yu Chijingong, known as Egong Fort. In the seventh year of the Zhenguan era (633 AD), the county seat was moved here from the ancient city and renamed Taiping County. Thanks to construction efforts across successive dynasties, Fencheng has retained a large number of ancient buildings and is hailed as one of the top ten ancient architectural complexes in Shanxi Province. The total area is approximately 20,000 square meters (centered around the Drum Tower and extending from north to south in sequence: the Temple of the City God, Confucius Temple, Minglun Temple, Drum Tower, Pre-School Brick Pagoda, County Government Hall, Guan Di Temple, Sheji Temple, Hongji Bridge, city walls, etc.).
The Shan Women Site (Second Batch of Provincial-level Protected Sites) Era: Paleolithic Location: 1.5 km east of Shan Nügou Village, Chengguan Town, Xiangfen County, on the western range of the Tail Mountain Excavated in October 1984. Within an area of approximately seven to eight square kilometers including Li Gou, Qingyangling, and Liujiazui, stone tools have been discovered successively, with the densest findings on the southern slope of Dagushan…