Shanxi (山西) · 17 places · 8 cities
17 places in Shanxi, grouped by city. Under each one are two figures from the survey: how much daily life still goes on there, out of 100, and how far it has been turned over to visitors, out of 6.
Most common here: Old town (9), Walled city (8). See all provinces, or the background on old towns.
6 places
Jinzhong (晋中)
| Place | Kind | Reads as |
|---|---|---|
| Pingyao Ancient City (平遥古城)UNESCOA complete Ming-Qing walled city where old merchant houses, city walls and everyday local life still share the same urban space, listed as China’s best-preserved ancient county seat.Lived-in 88/100 · Commercialised 4/6 · well known abroad · easy to reach | Walled city | Lived-in, busy |
| Qixian Zhaoyu Ancient City (祁县昭馀古城)The real Jin merchant city without Pingyao’s crowds, a 1,500-year-old “official hat” shaped city with 1km of Ming-Qing tea merchant street and everyday local life.Lived-in 84/100 · Commercialised 2/6 · rarely visited from abroad · some effort to reach | Walled city | Lived-in, quiet |
| Taigu Old City (太谷老城)“Golden Taigu”, once called China’s Wall Street with 700 merchant houses, now a living old city where locals still eat, shop and live among Qing dynasty bank buildings.Lived-in 83/100 · Commercialised 2/6 · rarely visited from abroad · some effort to reach | Walled city | Lived-in, quiet |
| Zhangbi Ancient Fort (张壁古堡)A 1,600-year-old star-map fort village with 10,000m of underground military tunnels, where 400 villagers still live, old people chat at alley corners, and smoke rises from ancient chimneys.Lived-in 82/100 · Commercialised 2/6 · rarely visited from abroad · some effort to reach | Old town | Lived-in, quiet |
| Jingsheng Ancient Town (静升古镇)The town surrounding the Wang Family Compound, described as China’s largest folk mansion with 54 courtyards and 1,000+ rooms, where the town itself still has locals living and shopping.Lived-in 75/100 · Commercialised 3/6 · little known abroad · some effort to reach | Old town | Lived-in, quiet |
| Yuci Old City (榆次老城)A 1,400-year-old Sui dynasty county seat with a 65m city god temple, Ming-Qing streets, and the Chang Family Compound nearby, less crowded than Pingyao.Lived-in 72/100 · Commercialised 3/6 · rarely visited from abroad · easy to reach | Walled city | Lived-in, quiet |
3 places
Lvliang (吕梁)
| Place | Kind | Reads as |
|---|---|---|
| Qikou Ancient Town (碛口古镇)A living Yellow River merchant port where cave-dwelling locals, old stone streets and the mighty Yellow River still coexist, Pingyao without the crowds.Lived-in 87/100 · Commercialised 2/6 · rarely visited from abroad · some effort to reach | Old town | Lived-in, quiet |
| Lijiashan Village (李家山)A village where cave dwellings (yaodong) are stacked in 8 layers up a 70-degree slope, shaped like a phoenix with wings, praised by painter Wu Guanzhong as a “Peach Blossom Spring isolated from the world.”Lived-in 80/100 · Commercialised 1/6 · rarely visited from abroad · hard to reach | Old town | Lived-in, quiet |
| Xiwan Village (西湾村)A castle-style village built by the Chen merchant family, 40 courtyards connected by 3 streets and 5 alleys (named after the Five Elements), where every courtyard connects to every other, a “village that is one courtyard.”Lived-in 78/100 · Commercialised 1/6 · rarely visited from abroad · hard to reach | Old town | Lived-in, quiet |
2 places
Jincheng (晋城)
| Place | Kind | Reads as |
|---|---|---|
| Dayang Ancient Town (大阳古镇)A 2,600-year-old “needle capital” where 1,500 villagers still live in 72 alleys of Ming-Qing courtyards, no crowds, no ticket, just real northern Chinese town life.Lived-in 85/100 · Commercialised 2/6 · rarely visited from abroad · some effort to reach | Old town | Lived-in, quiet |
| Guoyu Ancient Fort (郭峪古城)A 600-year-old “honeycomb fort” village next to the famous Huangcheng Xiangfu, with 1,400m of Ming walls, 80+ courtyards, and locals still living in century-old houses, far fewer crowds.Lived-in 82/100 · Commercialised 2/6 · rarely visited from abroad · some effort to reach | Old town | Lived-in, quiet |
2 places
Xinzhou (忻州)
| Place | Kind | Reads as |
|---|---|---|
| Daixian Ancient City (代县古城)A genuine frontier city at the Yanmen Pass, with 72 alleys, original Ming-Qing courtyards (no fake reconstruction), a 5am morning market selling goat soup, and the famous Ashoka-style white pagoda.Lived-in 84/100 · Commercialised 1/6 · rarely visited from abroad · hard to reach | Walled city | Lived-in, quiet |
| Xinzhou Ancient City (忻州古城)A restored Ming dynasty city on the way to Wutai Mountain, with city walls, the famous Xiurong Academy, and local food streets where Xinzhou’s famous steamed pork (rou) is still made by locals.Lived-in 70/100 · Commercialised 3/6 · rarely visited from abroad · easy to reach | Walled city | Lived-in, quiet |
1 place
Changzhi (长治)
| Place | Kind | Reads as |
|---|---|---|
| Yincheng Ancient Town (荫城古镇)“Ten Thousand Li Yincheng”, a 2,000-year-old iron-making town where the last fifth-generation blacksmith still fires his forge to make hoes and sickles for local farmers, no tourism crowds.Lived-in 86/100 · Commercialised 1/6 · rarely visited from abroad · hard to reach | Old town | Lived-in, quiet |
1 place
Datong (大同)
| Place | Kind | Reads as |
|---|---|---|
| Datong Ancient City (大同古城)A restored Ming dynasty walled city with real Liao-Jin temple treasures (Huayan Temple) and local life, square dancing, tea houses, and everyday markets inside ancient walls.Lived-in 78/100 · Commercialised 3/6 · little known abroad · easy to reach | Walled city | Lived-in, quiet |
1 place
Linfen (临汾)
| Place | Kind | Reads as |
|---|---|---|
| Fencheng Ancient Town (汾城古镇)A “living Ming-Qing small county seat”, the drum tower connects four ancient streets, locals sell home appliances and repair bikes beside 700-year-old buildings, completely untouched by tourism.Lived-in 86/100 · Commercialised 1/6 · rarely visited from abroad · hard to reach | Old town | Lived-in, quiet |
1 place
Yuncheng (运城)
| Place | Kind | Reads as |
|---|---|---|
| Xinjiang Ancient City (新绛古城)A 1,400-year-old “Jiangzhou” city with three historic districts, 42 heritage buildings, and the famous Chengni inkstone, where locals still shop at old grocery stores and barbershops, no entrance gate.Lived-in 85/100 · Commercialised 1/6 · rarely visited from abroad · some effort to reach | Walled city | Lived-in, quiet |
Which of These Is Still a Town
The two scores narrow the list, and the last step is local: which lanes are worth the walk, which day of the week the place is itself, and where to stay inside the walls. Tell our local team the provinces you will be in and they will say which of these hold up.