Taohua Island Jianghu Hot Spring Homestay Hotel (Xinzhou Ancient City Branch)

Good spot for an evening out, with plenty of local food, bars, and cultural events. Parking could be a problem, though.

Admission is free, by the way. Xinzhou Ancient City is about 70 kilometers from Taiyuan, the provincial capital, in Xinzhou city, Shanxi Province. It has a long history and really tasty local food that makes you want to linger. I had a perfect experience, and if you're going to Wutai Mountain, don't miss it.

A nice old city in Shanxi.

Tuesday, November 25, 2025 At 6 pm the bar street was empty. I had booked a Tang Dynasty-style iron flower show for 7. It cost 48 RMB for adults and half price for children at the door, or 39.9 RMB through platforms and the guesthouse. It seemed affordable, so I went. The outdoor half-hour show was fine to watch since there was no wind. The sparklers made me feel warm all over 😅, and there wasn’t a dull moment. The performance was shirtless, with several minutes of continuous sparks for the finale, then a group dance 💃🏻. Afterward I went up to the north city wall for a look at the night view. Earlier, I’d shared a ride from the North Gate of Yanmenguan Scenic Area to the North Gate of Xinzhou Ancient City. It took 1 hour and 20 minutes. The city is absolutely commercialized, though its buildings still have an old-time feel and make for a relaxed setting. There are lots of guesthouses. I’d picked this one on the platform early that morning, about a 20-minute walk from the North Gate. The owner suggested places to eat, drink, and have fun, and helped book me a bus to Wutai Mountain for the next day. I started at Taishan Temple Alley for food, where teahouses and cafes are everywhere, then climbed up to visit Xiurong Academy. By 5 pm the sun had gone down and it was getting cold, so I went back to the guesthouse for warmer clothes before heading out again.