Shanxi, Province in northern China
Shanxi is a Chinese territory in the northern part of the country, covering a large rectangular area. Multiple mountain ranges cross the territory, while the Loess Plateau occupies roughly two-thirds of the surface.
Between 722 and 403 BC, the territory formed the state of Jin during the Spring and Autumn period. This state later divided into three separate entities: Han, Zhao, and Wei.
The name means "west of the mountains", referring to its position west of the Taihang mountain range. Local markets still sell aged vinegar from Qingxu, a condiment that has been produced in the same way for centuries and appears on almost every table.
Taiyuan has an airport and extensive train connections that make travel to Beijing, Xian, and other destinations easier. Highways link the larger cities and provide good access to the main sites across the territory.
More than 70 percent of the buildings in China that survive from before the Song dynasty stand here, including Buddhist temples, old city walls, and traditional homes. The three major coalfields at Datong, Ningwu, and Xishan contain roughly one-third of the country's coal deposits.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
