Get to know Daning County
- Administrative area
- County · 县
- Part of
- Linfen
- Chinese name
- 大宁县
- Local areas
- County guide
Area & population
- Area in the source
- 962.00 km²
- Population · 2010
- 64,501
Source: cited geographic source, as of the dates shown.
Setting and landscape
The county government describes the terrain as a basin: high to the north, south and east, low in the middle and the west. Elevations run from 481 to 1,740 metres. The county credits this shape with a local climate that is warmer than neighbouring areas, with a long frost-free season and a day-night temperature difference averaging 12.9°C. The county seat is Xinshui (昕水镇).
History
From the Warring States period to the Sixteen Kingdoms the area belonged to Beiqu County (北屈县). Daning County itself was created in 561, the first year of the Baoding (保定) era of the Northern Zhou. The county gazetteer (《大宁县志》) records that the area once had a Thousand Buddha Cave (千佛洞), Qingquan Temple (清泉寺), the Palaeolithic site at Zhimatan (芝麻滩) and the Neolithic site on Cuiwei Mountain (翠微山).
What to see
The Yellow River Fairy Shrine (黄河仙子祠), Erlang Mountain (二郎山) and the Yellow River Canyon (黄河大峡谷) are among the surviving landscapes the county government names. Erlang Mountain is one of two national forest parks in Linfen prefecture, as Shanxi Erlang Mountain National Forest Park (山西二郎山国家森林公园), and the Madouguan (马斗关) scenic area is a national 3A scenic area.
Food and local products
The county is expanding its orchards of apples sold under the Ningcui (宁粹) brand. Farmers also raise Yellow River tan sheep (黄河滩羊) in pens and grow medicinal herbs such as Baikal skullcap, bupleurum and forsythia. The Linfen city government lists Daning, with Yonghe (永和) and Ji (吉县) counties, as where the prefecture's bentonite clay deposits lie.
Getting oriented
National Highway 209 crosses the county. The county government reports that the Xiji Expressway (隰吉高速) has opened and that the Yellow River No. 1 tourist road (黄河一号旅游公路) now runs its full length.
Highlights
- Shanxi Erlang Mountain National Forest Park 山西二郎山国家森林公园: One of two national forest parks in Linfen prefecture.
- Madouguan Scenic Area 马斗关景区: A national 3A scenic area listed by the Linfen city government.
- Yellow River Fairy Shrine 黄河仙子祠: Named by the county government among the surviving landscapes.
- Ningcui apples 宁粹苹果: The county's apple brand.
Explore Daning County
Core places to explore, with English and Chinese names.
Daning County 大宁县
Plan your visit
Getting there
Daning County is about 85 km in a straight line from central Linfen. Search for 大宁县 in a map app to find stations and your accommodation.
Where to stay →More in Linfen
Sources & geographic information
Administrative names and parent areas: Official geographic directory · Reference date 2026-09-06.
Some facts checked against 大宁县 — Wikipedia contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Pins mark approximate centres, not entrances or boundaries.