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General Introduction
Shanxi
Province, whose name means 'land west of the
Taihang Mountain', lies in the middle reaches
of the Yellow River and on the eastern edge
of the Loess Plateau. The Yellow, Haihe and
Fenhe rivers flow across Shanxi, whose splendid
landscape is graced by the celebrated Taihang
and Luliang ranges and Hengshan and Wutai mountains.
Most parts of the land are more than 1,000 meters
above sea level. Shanxi's long history is traced
back to the days when it was a major cradle
of Chinese civilization. In remote antiquity,
south Shanxi was the domain of three legendary
kings Yao (capital: Pingyang or present day
Linfen), Shen (capital: Puban or present-day
Yongji), and Yu (capital: Anyi or present-day
Xiaxian County). During the Spring and Autumn
Period (770-476 BC), Shanxi was enfoeffed to
the Duke of Jin. In the early Warring States
Period (475-221 BC), three families-the Hans,
Zhaos and Weis-partitioned up the dukedom of
Jin. Hence Shanxi's another name, Sanjin, or
Tripartite Jin. A rich cultural heritage mingles
with natural wonders to form Shanxi's bustling
tourist scene, but visitors tend to be more
in favour with the province's many folklore-rich
travel programs. Datong, Pingyao, Daixian, Qixian
and Xinjiang are famous historical and cultural
cities. The ancient city of Pingyao is on the
UNESCO'S world cultural heritage list. Shanxi's
allure as a tourist paradise is also attributed
to its vibrant cultural scene, which includes
a variety of local operas and folk arts and
crafts, as well as local delicacies and wheaten
refreshments.
Climate
Shanxi is continental in climate. Because it
is higher than regions of the same latitude
in the North China Plain, it has a lower temperature
and a drier climate. It has cold winters but
mild summers. From north to south, its mean
annual temperature is from 5oC. to 15oC., and
its frost-free period lasts 4 to 7 months. The
greater part of the province has a mean annual
precipitation of 400-650 mm., increasing gradually
from northwest to southeast.
Topography
With mountains in the west and the sea in the
east, Hebei is high in the northwest and low
in the southeast. Of its total area, mountains
make up 35 per cent; highlands 12 per cent;
and plains, hills and basins 50 per cent. The
province is divided into, four topographical
zones. 1) Tile Zhangbei Plateau, the southeastern
extension of the Inner Mongolia Plateau, is
a fine natural pastureland. 2) The Northern
Hebei Mountain Area consists mainly of the Yanshan
Mountains which stretch from west to east, and
of peaks mostly 1,000 meters or more above sea
level. Of the many strategic passes in the mountains,
the best-known are Xifengkou, Gubeikou and Shanhaiguan.
The world-renowned Great Wall starts at Shanhaiguan,
popularly known as "the First Pass Under
Heaven". 3) The Western Hebei Mountain
Area, 1,000 meters or more above sea level,
includes the mountains of the Taihang range
that borders on Shanxi Province. The Lesser
Wutai Mountain on the northern rim, which rises
2,870 meters above sea level, is the highest
peak in Hebei. 4) The Hebei Plain in the southeast,
formed of the silt deposits of the Huanghe,
Haihe and Luanhe rivers, is generally 50 meters
above sea level. It is an extension of the North
China Plain and the major grain and cotton grower
of the province.
The
catchment area and flow of the Haihe River,
the largest of Hebei's river systems, account
for more than two-thirds of the province's total
area. Because most of the precipitation occurs
in summer, the Haihe River is deep in summer
and shallow in winter.
SCENES
& SIGHTS
There
are a number of tourist zones in Shanxi Provinces.
These include Datong, Mount Wutai, Taiyuan,
Jinzhong, Linfen, Yuncheng, Changzhi, Jincheng
and Yangquan.
Datong
Tourist Zone
Major
attractions: Yungang Grottoes, Mount hengshan
(Northern Holy Mountain), Xuankong (Overhanging)
Monastery, and Wooden Pagoda in Yinxian County.
Huayan and Shanhua monasteries of the Liao and
Nine-Dragon Wall of the Ming are in Datong,
the provincial capital. On the outskirts: a
section of the Great Wall which served as the
boundary between two states in ancient times,
watch towers, volcanoes, and the ruins of an
ancient battlefield at Jinshatan.
Yungang
Grottoes
With
some 51,000 sculptures of varying sizes in 53
rock caves, the 1, 500-uear-old Yungang Grottoes
in west Datong is the largest cluster of grottoes
in China and a world-famous treasure house of
art.
Overhanging
Monastery
The
precipitous and picturesque Mount Hengshan is
one of the five holy mountains in China. Midway
up its slope is the Xuankong (Overhanging) Monastery,
a rare alpine complex built in the late Northern
Wei, with 40 or so halls and chambers hanging
on the rock face of a sheer cliff.
Wooden
Pagoda
At
a height of 67.3 metres, the Wooden Pagoda in
Yingxian County is China's tallest and oldest
multiple-floored Buddhist pagoda constructed
entirely of wood. It is also extolled as an
outstanding example of Chinese architecture,
interior decoration and sculpture.
Mount
Wutai
With
a vast assemblage of natural scenery, historical
and cultural heritage, classic architecture,
Buddhism, and peculiar folkways, Mount Wutai
Tourist Zone in the county of the same name
in northeast Shanxi is a welcome resort for
those who come for sightseeing, holidaymaking
and recuperation purposes. The center of the
zone, Taihuai Town, is nestled in the mountains.
Buddhism is thriving at Mount Wutai, which is
the domain of Bodhisattva Manjusri. Construction
of Buddhist temples began during the Eastern
Han, and today 48 of them are still there, with
several hundred monks and nuns. Mount Wutai
is a showcase of classical Chinese architecture,
sculpture and painting. Mount Wutai International
Tourist Month is a major tourist event, which
takes place annually from July 25 to August
25.
Taiyuan
Tourist Zone
The
zone consists of Taiyuan, Jiaocheng, Qixian
and Pingyao and 5 other counties and cities.
Major attractions: Jinci Temple, Tianlong Mountain,
Twin Pagoda Temple, Xuanzhong Monastery, the
ancient city wall of Pingyao, Shuanglin Temple,
Zhenguo Temple, Folklore Museum at Qiaojiabao,
and the liquor distilling center, Xinghua (Apricot
Blossom) Village. Taiyuan, known in earlier
days as Jinyang, is a famous historical city.
With 2.7 million residents, it is the capital
of Shanxi Province.
Jinci
Temple
Built
prior to the Northern Wei, Jinci Temple in the
southwest of Datong is noted for its "three
wonders": two trees (a cypress dating back
to the Zhou and a scholar tree planted in the
Sui), an ever gurgling spring, and Song-dynasty
statues of seven serving maids. The 42 painted
female figure sculptures enshrined in the temple,
looking lifelike in image and graphic in expression,
are acclaimed as paragons of classical Chinese
realism.
Ancient
City of Pingyao
Pingyao
is one of four Chinese ancient cities that have
remained largely intact to this day along with
Xi'an, Jingzhou and Xingcheng in Liaoning Province.
Qiao
Family's Courtyard House
The
house, which belonged to a rich and famous Shanxi
merchant family, is billed as an emblem of the
Shanxi culture that thrived as a result of Burgeoning
local commerce.
Linfen
Tourist Zone
Linfen
is a city with a long history and rich natural
resources by the Fenhe River. The Linfen Tourist
Zone embraces such tourist destinations as the
temple in honour of the legendary king Yao in
Linfen; the temple dedicated to the East Holy
Mountain in Puxian County; Guangsheng Temple,
a giant scholar tree, and the prison where Su
Shan, a famed opera heroine, was jailed in Hongdong
County; and Folklore Museum at Dingcun Village
in Xiangfen. Hukou Waterfall in Jixian County
is the most spectacular sight on the Yellow
River. The International Yellow River Hukou
Rafting Month, an annual event which takes place
September 19-October 18 in Jixian County, draws
many tourists from around the world.
Yuncheng
Tourist Zone
Situated
in the southernmost part of Shanxi and known
in old days as Hedong (meaning "east of
the Yellow River"), Yuncheng is part of
a "tourist golden delta" which also
includes Xi'an and Luoyang. Attractions: the
temple dedicated to Lord Guan and the family
temple of Changping in Xiezhou Town, hometown
of the legendary General Guanyu, and the Yuan-dynasty
murals in Yongle Palace in Ruicheng. The Lord
Guan Cultural Festival is an annual event which
takes place on October 18 in Lord Guan's Temple
in Xiezhou Town. Lord Guan Worship is a salient
feature of tourist festivals in Shanxi.
SOUVENIRS
Folk
Arts and Crafts: Shanxi's folk arts and crafts,
including embroidery and paper-cuts, are marked
for their variety and craftsmanship.
Glazed
Objects: Shanxi's glazed ornaments are unique
building materials and works of art that sell
briskly at home and abroad.
Pingyao's Hond-polished Lacquer ware: The hand-polished
lacquer ware produced in Pingyao are known for
their elegant finish and graceful designs.
Shanxi
Fruits and nuts: These include grapes from Qingxu,
walnuts from Fenyang, pears from Tongchuan,
red persimmons, and chestnuts from Jishan. Herbal
Medicines: The root of membranous milk vetch
and dangshen (Codonopsis pilosula) are famous
herbal medicines native to Shanxi Province,
which is also known for such Chinese patent
drugs as Guilingji, a first-rate tonic, and
Dingkundan, a fine gynaecologic medicine.
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