Get to know Xinzhou
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- Administrative area
- Prefecture-level city · 地级市
- Part of
- Shanxi
- Chinese name
- 忻州市
- Local areas
- 14 local areas
Area & population
- Area in the source
- 25,180.00 km²
- Population · 2010
- 3,067,501
- Administrative seat
- Xinfu
Source: cited geographic source, as of the dates shown.
Tourism
Dai County is home to the AAAAA-rated Yanmen Pass, a mountain pass hosting a major fortification along the Great Wall. Mount Wutai is also one of four sacred mountains of Buddhism (中国佛教四圣山).
Transportation
China National Highway 108 China National Highway 208 G1812 Cangyu Expressway G55 Erenhot–Guangzhou Expressway Xinzhou Wutaishan Airport
Explore Xinzhou
Core places to explore, with English and Chinese names.
Mount Wutai: Taihuai 五台山台怀镇
Foguang Temple 佛光寺
Nanchan Temple 南禅寺
Yanmen Pass 雁门关
Mount Luya 芦芽山
Mount Wutai 五台山
Bianjing Tower 边靖楼
Laoniuwan Yellow River Bend 老牛湾
Wannian Ice Cave 万年冰洞
Xinzhou Ancient City 忻州古城
Xinfu District 忻府区
Dingxiang County 定襄县
Wutai County 五台县
Daixian 代县
Fanshi County 繁峙县
Ningwu County 宁武县
Jingle County 静乐县
Shenchi County 神池县
Wuzhai County 五寨县
Kelan County 岢岚县
Hequ County 河曲县
Baode County 保德县
Pianguan County 偏关县
Yuanping 原平市
Places to explore around Xinzhou
Wutai Shan (Five Terrace Mountain) · 五台山Mount Wutai: Taihuai五台山台怀镇
Taihuai is the temple town at the heart of the Mount Wutai pilgrimage landscape, beside the Qingshui River. A compact first visit can link Pusading on its hill with Xiantong Temple and Tayuan Temple below. The white stupa at…
Read the place guide →
The East Great Hall of Foguang Temple, Wutai, Shanxi, viewed from its left side.Foguang Temple佛光寺
Foguang Temple's East Great Hall preserves an extraordinary combination of Tang timber construction, sculpture, painting and inscriptions. Its broad seven-bay front stands above a hillside courtyard, giving the hall a commanding…
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The main hall of Nanchan Temple in Wutai, Shanxi.Nanchan Temple南禅寺
Nanchan Temple's Great Buddha Hall is modest in size but unusually revealing about Tang timber building. The square, three-bay hall has no interior column forest, allowing the roof structure and sculptural platform to be read…
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Yanmen Pass from the southern slope · 雁门关Yanmen Pass雁门关
Yanmen Pass guards a mountain crossing north of Dai County. Its walls and gatehouses explain how a pass worked as a defended settlement, with a trading street below the military buildings. The Dili and Tianxian gates give the…
Read the place guide →A rocky pinnacle of Mount Luya seen through conifers, May 2012.Mount Luya芦芽山
Mount Luya rises above the forests around Dongzhai in Ningwu County. The Malun approach combines woodland steps, an open upland meadow and a rocky final ascent towards Taizi Hall. This change from forest to grassland to exposed…
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A monastery complex nestled in the forested slopes of Mount Wutai, Shanxi · 山西五台山山林间的寺院建筑群 Source-recorded photograph date: Taken on 17 June 2016.Mount Wutai五台山
Mount Wutai is a Buddhist cultural landscape in northeastern Shanxi, centred on five broad, flat summits and the temple settlements below them.
Read the place guide →
Bianjing Tower, the historic drum tower of Dai County, rising above the old city wall at dusk · 代县边靖楼（鼓楼）矗立于古城墙之上，黄昏景色 Source-recorded photograph date: 2013-03-10 17:59:15.Bianjing Tower边靖楼
Daixian's 40-metre Ming drum tower, first built in 1374 and described by China Daily as China's largest wooden drum tower.
Read the place guide →
The horseshoe bend of the Yellow River at Laoniuwan, Pianguan County, Xinzhou · 忻州市偏关县黄河老牛湾河曲风光 Source-recorded photograph date: before 10 April 2016, 12:19:55 (UTC).Laoniuwan Yellow River Bend老牛湾
Laoniuwan Yellow River Bend (老牛湾) in Pianguan marks the Yellow River's entry into Shanxi, where a frontier fort and Great Wall remains overlook the river bend.
Read the place guide →
Wannian Ice Cave · 万年冰洞Wannian Ice Cave万年冰洞
Wannian Ice Cave (万年冰洞), also known as Ningwu Ice Cave, contains perennial ice inside a rock cavity on the northern slope of Guancen Mountain.
Read the place guide →
AI illustration · AI 示意图（仅供参考，非该地点实拍）Xinzhou Ancient City忻州古城
Xinzhou Ancient City (忻州古城) is the historic Xiurong old-city quarter in Xinfu District, whose restored streets now combine heritage buildings with northern Shanxi food, crafts and county-themed courtyards.
Read the place guide →Local life & food
Xinzhou local specialties
忻州市特色美食 · 11 specialties to discover
Yuanping oat-dough fish noodles 原平莜面鱼鱼AI dish illustration / AI 菜品示意图
Oat dough has a firm, slightly coarse bite and a pronounced grain flavour. A moist sauce helps separate and coat the pieces.
Source ↗Read the dish guide →
Dingxiang steamed pork-and-potato cake 定襄蒸肉AI illustration · AI 示意图
Potato gives the slices a soft, cohesive texture, while pork supplies fat and savory depth throughout. This is denser than a simple plate of steamed meat.
Source ↗Read the dish guide →
Shenchi Mooncakes 神池月饼AI illustration · AI 示意图（仅供参考，非实拍）
Shenchi Mooncakes (神池月饼) use local flaxseed oil and water in a traditional baking craft associated with Shenchi County (神池县). The finished cakes have a golden-brown, crumbly crust and sweet filling.
Read the dish guide →
Baode Wantuo Starch Jelly 保德碗托
Baode Wantuo Starch Jelly (保德碗托) is listed among the local specialties of Xinzhou, Shanxi. It is grouped here with street food & snacks; retain the complete Chinese name when comparing local menus.
Read the dish guide →Photo adjustments
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Yuanping Oven-Baked Pocket Bread 原平锅魁
Yuanping Oven-Baked Pocket Bread (原平锅魁) is a sweet, crisp bread with an orange-yellow surface. In Yuanping (原平), unfilled versions are called hollow guokui, while the filled versions sold locally are often sweet.
Read the dish guide →Photo adjustments
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Xinzhou Tile-Shaped Sweet Crisps 忻州瓦酥AI illustration · AI 示意图（仅供参考，非实拍）
Xinzhou Tile-Shaped Sweet Crisps (忻州瓦酥) is listed among the local specialties of Xinzhou, Shanxi. The term 酥 points to flaky pastry or crisp preparation.
Read the dish guide →
Wuzhai Pork and Vegetable Stew 五寨黑肉烩菜AI illustration · AI 示意图（仅供参考，非实拍）
Wuzhai Pork and Vegetable Stew (五寨黑肉烩菜) is listed among the local specialties of Xinzhou, Shanxi. It is grouped here with meat & poultry dishes; retain the complete Chinese name when comparing local menus.
Read the dish guide →
Ningwu Naked-Oat Noodles 宁武莜面AI illustration · AI 示意图（仅供参考，非实拍）
Ningwu Naked-Oat Noodles (宁武莜面) are dishes made from youmian (莜面), the flour of naked oats, in Ningwu County (宁武县), Xinzhou (忻州).
Read the dish guide →All dish names · 全部菜名 (11)
- Yuanping oat-dough fish noodles · 原平莜面鱼鱼
- Dingxiang steamed pork-and-potato cake · 定襄蒸肉
- Shenchi Mooncakes · 神池月饼
- Baode Wantuo Starch Jelly · 保德碗托
- Yuanping Oven-Baked Pocket Bread · 原平锅魁
- Xinzhou Tile-Shaped Sweet Crisps · 忻州瓦酥
- Wuzhai Pork and Vegetable Stew · 五寨黑肉烩菜
- Ningwu Naked-Oat Noodles · 宁武莜面
- Fanshi Dimpled Flatbread · 繁峙疤饼
- Hequ fermented millet porridge · 河曲酸粥
- Pianguan Sheep Offal Bowl · 偏关羊杂
More dishes from across Shanxi are in the Shanxi food guide.
Counties & districts in Xinzhou
14 areas belong directly to Xinzhou.
14 areas
Xinfu District忻府区
Xinfu, formerly Xin County (忻县) and then the county-level Xinzhou city (忻州市), is the only district and the seat of the city of Xinzhou, Shanxi province, China.
Explore the area →CountyDingxiang County定襄县
Dingxiang is a county in the north central part of Shanxi province, China. It is under the administration of Xinzhou city.
Explore the area →CountyWutai County五台县
Wutai County is a county under the administration of the prefecture-level city of Xinzhou, in the northeast of Shanxi Province, China, bordering Hebei province to the east.
Explore the area →CountyDaixian代县
Dai County, also known by its Chinese name Daixian, is a county in Xinzhou, Shanxi Province, China. Its county seat at Shangguan is also known as Daixian.
Explore the area →Show fewer areas
Fanshi County繁峙县
Fanshi County, is a county in Xinzhou City, in the northeast of Shanxi Province, China, bordering Hebei province to the southeast. It is the easternmost county-level division of Xinzhou.
Explore the area →CountyNingwu County宁武县
Ningwu County (simplified Chinese: 宁武县; traditional Chinese: 寧武縣; pinyin: Níngwǔ Xiàn) is a county under the administration of Xinzhou in Shanxi province, China.
Explore the area →CountyJingle County静乐县
Jingle County (simplified Chinese: 静乐县; traditional Chinese: 靜樂縣; pinyin: Jìnglè Xiàn) is a county of central Shanxi province, China. It is under the administration of Xinzhou city.
Explore the area →CountyShenchi County神池县
Shenchi County is a county in the northwest of Shanxi province, China. It is under the administration of Xinzhou city.
Explore the area →CountyWuzhai County五寨县
Wuzhai is a county of northwestern Shanxi province, China. It is under the administration of Xinzhou City.
Explore the area →CountyKelan County岢岚县
Kelan County (simplified Chinese: 岢岚县; traditional Chinese: 岢嵐縣; pinyin: Kělán Xiàn) is a county in Xinzhou Prefecture, in the northwest of Shanxi Province, China.
Explore the area →CountyHequ County河曲县
Hequ is a county in the northwest of Shanxi province, China, bordering Shaanxi province to the west and Inner Mongolia to the northwest. It is under the administration of Xinzhou city.
Explore the area →CountyBaode County保德县
Baode is a county in the northwest of Shanxi province, China, bordering Shaanxi province to the west. It is under the administration of Xinzhou city, and is its westernmost county-level division.
Explore the area →CountyPianguan County偏关县
Pianguan County (simplified Chinese: 偏关县; traditional Chinese: 偏關縣; pinyin: Piānguān Xiàn) is a county in the northwest of Shanxi province, China, bordering Inner Mongolia to the northwest.
Explore the area →County-level cityYuanping原平市
Yuanping is a county-level city under the administration of the prefecture-level city of Xinzhou, in north-central Shanxi Province, China.
Explore the area →No areas match this name.
Plan your visit
Getting there
Search for 忻州市 in a map app to find stations and your accommodation.
Where to stay →Build your route
Mount Wutai: Taihuai and Foguang Temple are about 25 km apart in a straight line. The linked place guides have entrance and visit details.
Continue with Shanxi →More in Shanxi
Sources & geographic information
Administrative names and parent areas: Official geographic directory · Reference date 2026-09-06.
Background text adapted from Xinzhou — Wikipedia contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Text has been shortened and reorganized; source revision 1347292640.
Photo: Mount Wutai: Taihuai · 螺钉 · CC BY-SA 4.0. Wikimedia thumbnail; fitted to the ranking-card frame.
Photo: Foguang Temple · Patrick20242023 · CC BY-SA 4.0. Proportionally resized and converted to WebP without cropping, retouching or changing the photographed subject.
Photo: Nanchan Temple · Patrick20242023 · CC BY-SA 4.0. Proportionally resized and converted to WebP without cropping, retouching or changing the photographed subject.
Photo: Yanmen Pass · N509FZ · CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized and WebP compressed; subject not altered.
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Photo: Mount Luya · 黄河山曲 · CC BY-SA 3.0. Proportionally resized and converted to WebP without cropping, retouching or changing the photographed subject.
Photo: Mount Wutai · lienyuan lee · CC BY 3.0. Full frame retained; proportionally resized and converted to WebP. No retouching or changes to the photographed subject. Card displays may crop the view.
Photo: Bianjing Tower · Redpipe · CC BY-SA 3.0. Full frame retained; proportionally resized and converted to WebP. No retouching or changes to the photographed subject. Card displays may crop the view.
Photo: Laoniuwan Yellow River Bend · Hongwei Dong · CC BY 3.0. Full frame retained; proportionally resized and converted to WebP. No retouching or changes to the photographed subject. Card displays may crop the view.
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Photo: Wannian Ice Cave · Source photographer · License not provided. EXIF orientation normalized; resized without changing aspect ratio; converted to WebP. No subject edits.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Pins mark approximate centres, not entrances or boundaries.