5 Days in Linfen

Start at the temple of sage-king Yao — tradition makes Linfen his capital Pingyang — then the 50-m Huamen monument across the street and an evening loop of the Fenhe park.

1. linfen yao temple
2. linfen huamen gate
3. linfen fenhe park

Thirty km north, the tree under which the Ming staged 18 waves of migration in 1370-1417, Susan's prison and Guangsheng Temple with its 47-m glazed Feihong Pagoda, former keeper of the Jin-dynasty Zhaocheng Tripitaka.

1. linfen hongtong big locust tree
2. linfen susan prison
3. linfen guangsheng temple

About 170 km west in Jixian County, roughly 2.5 hours by road — the river narrows from around 300 m to 20-30 m and falls through the gorge; go early, as mid-day tour buses pile up from April to October.

1. linfen hukou waterfall

A 100-km drive northwest to the Xixian hillside monastery begun in 1629, its Mahavira Hall hung with nearly 2,000 painted suspended figures; crowds grew after the site appeared in the 2024 game Black Myth - Wukong, so arrive at opening.

1. linfen xiaoxitian

Ninety km southwest, the national 5A mountain area with Taperpo village, said to be 2,500 years old, and a glaciation-era ice cave; a slow afternoon return to Linfen West for the train home.

1. linfen yunqiu mountain