7 Days in Jinzhong

The 582-founded old town grid first, then the Chang manor's restored courtyards and study gardens across more than ten hectares southwest of town.

1. jinzhong yuci old town
2. jinzhong chang family manor

The Qiao's six courts and 313 rooms from 1756, then the Qu mansion's deep pass-through courtyards in Qi county's old town.

1. jinzhong qiao family compound
2. jinzhong qu family compound

UNESCO since 1997 — the 1370 walls with six gates and 72 watchtowers, the 1823 Rishengchang draft bank and the county yamen's Ming courts.

1. jinzhong pingyao city
2. jinzhong rishengchang

Over 2,000 painted clay figures at Shuanglin southwest of town; the 963 timber hall of Zhenguo to the northeast.

1. jinzhong shuanglin temple
2. jinzhong zhenguo temple

A full day for the two main clusters — 123 courtyards and 1,118 rooms stacked over the hillside, with the viewing bridge across the valley between them.

1. jinzhong wang family compound

The mountain where the cold-food festival story of Jie Zitui is set — the multi-storey Daluo Palace complex hangs on the cliff, and Yunfeng's temple row sits inside a great concave rock overhang.

1. jinzhong mianshan

A second, lower day in the park — boardwalks up the Shuitao Gorge's chained pools and cascades — then trains from Jiexiu back toward Taiyuan or Pingyao.

1. jinzhong mianshan