The city of Changzhi is in the southeastern part of Shanxi province, with Hebei and Henan provinces next door to the east. It was given the name in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) because it means long-term peace and stability.

It is considered the cradle of the nation and, as such, has nurtured the culture of the Central Plain, along the Yellow River, for a long time. It inspired the myth about Yu Gong, who tried to move mountains so as to make the transportation more convenient for villagers as well as some popular fairy tales collected in the classical Shanhaiching, among which, the story of Houyi, an archer who shot down pernicious suns. All these stories have their origins in Changzhi.

The city gained fame as an important base for the Communist Party during the war against Japanese aggression (1937-1945) and it is where the outstanding leaders, such as Zhu De, Peng Dehuai, Zuo Quan, Liu Bocheng, and Deng Xiaoping stayed and led the battle against the Japanese invaders.

Attractions

Taihang Mountain Gorge

You can’t miss the Taihang Mountain Gorge, a national AAAA scenic spot and one of the country’s Top 10 gorges. It is a spectacular place full of steep cliffs, lofty peaks, roaring waterfalls, gurgling streams, towering trees, and fragrant flowers and truly merits the designation of National Forest Park.

The marvel of its natural scenery will fascinate you, but you’ll also be impressed by its cultural heritage. Walking along the narrow, winding footpath that Cao Cao, a hero in the Sanguo Dynasty trod with his army, you will empathize with the great man, who lamented the weariness of his journey in a popular poem; If you visit Tianjingguan village, you will smile when you hear how a naughty boy named Xiang Tuo challenged Confucius to walk around his city model . And, rambling around the Zhenze Palace, built in the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907), you will marvel at the meticulous design of the courtyard and the exquisite murals.

Laodingshan Forest Park

Surely you don’t want to miss Laodingshan Forest Park, the natural wonder, which, like Taihang, is full of cliffs, peaks, waterfalls, streams, trees and fragrant flowers and also merits AAAA rating. Here, you’ll marvel at the spring water running through the dense forest and jumble of rocks, each with its own mysterious tale. But the most splendid sight of all has to be Tianjilong Waterfall, the highest in China. Some people think that Tianji, in northern China, rivals the Huangguoshu Waterfall in Southwest China’s Guizhou province. When you look up and see the water dropping from the sky through a misty veil, you see a shy beauty behind it and will know how true the claim is.

Taihang Eighth Route Army Memorial Hall

This hall sits against Phoenix Hill, facing the Zhanghe River, and is a place of beauty, with convenient access as well. It covers a 180,000-square-meter area and contains a main exhibition area with a large amount of historical materials from the Chinese Eighth Route Army, and a sightseeing area. You can relive the glories of the Chinese Army in its fight against the Japanese in the various themed exhibits and get a taste of what it’s like to command an army in the tactical demonstration room, and honor the prestigious generals in front of the memorial.

Other scenic spots: Tianji Mountain Scenic Area and Taihang Mountain Shuixiang Scenic Area

Getting there:

Changzhi Airport is 7.5 kilometers (4.7 miles) north of downtown Changzhi, with access to Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Taiyuan, which can be reached in 30 minutes. There is a long-distance bus from Taiyuan to Changzhi every 15-30 minutes. The journey takes about three hours.

Weather: average annual temperature is around 5℃ to 11℃ Colorful souvenirs: Shangdang donkey meat, ginseng

Useful phone numbers: Tourist complaints: 0355-2035096

Weather forecast: 121

Zip code inquiry: 184

Bank of China: 0355-2085360