Shanxi is one of the provinces with the greatest tourism resource. Ancient temples, grottos, pagodas, castles and towers can be found everywhere in the province, which has given it the reputation as the Museum of Ancient Chinese Architecture. It is renowned for its numerous and well preserved places of historic interest and wooden buildings and scenic beauty. Shanxi's preserved wooden buildings dating from before the Liao and Jin Dynasties account for 72 percent of the total in China. Moreover, numerous exquisite grottos, painted sculptures, frescoes and other art treasures are housed in these ancient structures and grottos. Shanxi has five well-known historic and cultural cities, 56 key cultural and historic relics preservation sites at state level, and its national treasures are countless. It has 3,400 km of the great Wall zigzagging along mountain crests, ancient castles, mountain passes, battlegrounds from both ancient and modern times, mansions and residences of rich and famous families are scattered all over Shanxi.
The magnificent and enchanting natural landscape in Shanxi is also outstanding. Mount Wutai is not only regarded as the principal of the four renowned-Buddhist mountains in China. The Hukou Water Falls, the turbulent rapids in Longcao and Longmen canyons and the beautiful landscapes on both sides of the Yellow River are full of power and grandeur.
The profound and prolonged historic culture and natural landscapes have made Shanxi famous at home and abroad. A visit to Shanxi is a journey through the rich Chinese culture of 5,000 years.