10 Days in Shuozhou
Ten days at Shanxi's northern edge — the Jin halls of Chongfu, the 1056 pagoda, the Guangwu wall, two Youyu days at the pass and the north-flowing Cangtou, plus Datong and Xinzhou side days.
Quick Answer
Is 10 days enough for Shuozhou?
10 days lets you go beyond Shuozhou's core into neighborhoods, food markets, and one or two day trips at a relaxed pace.
Source: NihaoVisit Shuozhou guide
10-day Shuozhou itinerary at a glance
Use our full Shuozhou travel guide as the base and adapt it to 10 days. Keep the city's three signature attractions as the backbone; fill the rest with neighborhood walks, food markets, and an easy day trip.
Chongfu Temple & Mayi
The temple founded in 665 keeps its 1143 Amitabha Hall, among the largest Jin halls standing; then the Mayi district, named for the frontier town of the failed 133 BC Han ambush plot against the Xiongnu.
- shuozhou chongfu temple
- shuozhou mayi ancient city
Old Quarter & Riverside
An unhurried day in town — the old quarter's lanes and gate towers in the morning, then the riverside paths along the Qilihe; Shanxi noodle houses keep the afternoon honest.
- shuozhou old city quarter
- shuozhou qilihe riverside
Yingxian — The Wooden Pagoda
About 75 km east, the pagoda of 1056 stands 67.31 metres on 54 kinds of bracket joints and no nails, survivor of earthquakes and the 1926 shelling; sutras found inside the Buddha in 1974 fixed the founding date. Overnight in Yingxian town.
- shuozhou yingxian wooden pagoda
Jingtu Temple & Yingxian Morning
A second Yingxian morning for the Jin-dynasty temple of 1124, its coffered ceilings worth a slow look, and the county town's lanes; back to Shuozhou by the afternoon bus.
- shuozhou jingtu temple
Guangwu — Wall & Garrison Towns
South about 40 km into Shanyin county, the Ming wall of the 16th century runs over the hills above the old and new Guangwu garrison towns; the Moon Gate arch, partly collapsed in 2016, was later consolidated.
- shuozhou guangwu great wall
Youyu — Shahukou Pass
West to Youyu, about 80 km, where the Ming-era pass — renamed to its tiger form under the Qing — funnelled the "west exit" migration of Shanxi merchants toward Inner Mongolia; overnight in Youyu town.
- shuozhou shahukou pass
Planted Hills & the North-Flowing River
Nanshan forest park's terraces tell the planting story that lifted forest cover from about 0.3 percent in 1949 toward 57 percent; the Cangtou River corridor follows the stream that runs north out of Youyu into Inner Mongolia. Return to Shuozhou by evening.
- shuozhou nanshan forest park
- shuozhou cangtou river corridor
Datong — Yungang Side Day
An honest side day north — around 90 minutes by road to the cave complex begun in 460, some 45 major grottoes UNESCO-listed in 2001; back to Shuozhou by evening.
- datong yungang grottoes
Xinzhou — Old City Side Day
Another open side day, south-east to Xinzhou's rebuilt old city and its Xiurong Academy; the wall walk pairs well with an early dinner before the ride home.
- xinzhou ancient city
- xinzhou xiurong academy
Markets & Departure
Oat-noodle breakfast, a last lap of the old quarter, then the train from the county HSR stops opened in December 2019.
- shuozhou city markets
Budget for 10 days in Shuozhou
| Tier | Per day | 10 days total |
|---|---|---|
| Backpacker | USD $50–$80 | USD $500–$800 |
| Mid-range | USD $100–$200 | USD $1,000–$2,000 |
| Luxury | USD $300+ | USD $3,000+ |
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Frequently asked questions
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See also: Shuozhou travel guide, China visa 2026, China trip cost.