Shuozhou

Yingxian Wooden Pagoda · Ming City Wall · North Shanxi

Shanxi, ChinaRecommended 1 daysFrom $157/person

Last updated 22 July 2026 · by the Walk Voyage Editorial Team

Visitor data snapshot

What travelers actually experience in Shuozhou

Verified visitor numbers, ratings, and ticket prices from a third-party travel platform. Trip.com international edition (USD pricing), snapshot 2026-08-01 · snapshot 2026-08-01.

2

Bookable attractions

4.50/5

Average rating

2K

Total reviews

0

Free entries

Top attractionRatingReviewsTicket (USD)
Yingxian Wooden Pagoda (Fogong Temple)4.81,250$7.39
Cizang Yuan4.4600$4.43

Source: Trip.com international edition (USD pricing), snapshot 2026-08-01. Prices and review counts shift over time; check the source platform for current booking.

Shuozhou at a glance

Travel snapshot
Province
China
Best season
May-Oct
Trip length
1 days recommended
Avg budget
$157 per person
Top attractions
8 featured · 1 rated 4.7+
Food picks
6 signature dishes
Routes curated
3 multi-day itineraries
Budget
¥1455 itemized

About Shuozhou

Shuozhou, in northern Shanxi, is the home of the 1,000-year-old Yingxian Wooden Pagoda (the world's tallest surviving wooden pagoda) and the reconstructed Ming-era Shuozhou Ancient City Wall. The prefecture has 8 A-grade sites. The most-photographed attraction is the Yingxian Wooden Pagoda (67.31 m tall, built in 1056 without a single nail - the tallest wooden pagoda in the world). The prefecture also has the Dai County Yanmen Pass Memorial, the Shuozhou Shuo-Fu ancient commercial district, and the 1,000-year-old Yingxian Cizang Yuan monastery.

Yingxian Wooden PagodaShuozhou City WallCizang Yuan

Best Season

May-Oct

Days Recommended

1 Days

Avg Budget

$157

Location

Shanxi, China

Must-See Spots

Top Attractions in Shuozhou

4.8
World's Tallest Wooden Pagoda

Yingxian Wooden Pagoda (Fogong Temple)

A 1,000-year-old Song-dynasty wooden pagoda in Yingxian county, the world's tallest surviving wooden pagoda at 67.31 m, built in 1056 without a single nail or metal fastener. The 9-story pagoda has survived 7 major earthquakes (including the 1976 Tangshan earthquake) and dozens of natural disasters, a UNESCO World Heritage candidate. The 4A pagoda is the most-photographed Shanxi heritage site and the most-photographed wooden structure in China.

¥50120h

Allow 2 hours. The exterior view is the highlight - the 1,000-year-old wooden pagoda is the most-photographed wooden structure in China. Combine with the Cizang Yuan monastery.

4.3
Ming-Qing City Wall

Shuozhou Ancient City Wall

A reconstructed Ming-Qing era city wall in central Shuozhou, restored in 2015, 10 km around old Shuozhou. The 4A wall has 4 main gate towers, the 14-meter-tall granite walls, and the night-illumination of the wall is the most-photographed Shuozhou scene.

Free90h

Free entry to walk on top. Best at sunset (17:30-19:00). Allow 1.5-2 hours for the full wall loop.

4.4
1,000-Year-Old Yuan Monastery

Cizang Yuan (Yingxian County)

A 1,000-year-old Yuan-dynasty Buddhist monastery 2 km from the Yingxian Wooden Pagoda, the 5,000-monastery courtyard with the original Yuan-dynasta wood-carving gallery. The 4A monastery is paired with the Wooden Pagoda for a 1-day Yingxian trip.

¥3060h

Allow 1 hour. The original Yuan-dynasty wood carving is the highlight. Combine with the Wooden Pagoda.

4.2
4A Dai Cultural Park

Dai County Dai Cultural Park

A 4A cultural park in Dai county, the Dai (a northern Chinese ethnic minority) cultural-heritage site, with the 1,000-year-old Dai county city wall, the original Dai ethnic-museum, and the 1,000-year-old Dai county stone-carved sutra pillar.

Free60h

Free entry. Allow 1 hour. Combine with the Yanmen Pass trip.

4.3
4A Regional Museum

Shuozhou Museum

A 4A modern museum in central Shuozhou, the regional museum with the 1,000-year-old Yingxian Wooden Pagoda architectural model, the 1,000-year-old Shuozhou commercial history, and the 1,000-year-old North Shanxi ethnic-minority culture exhibit. The most-photographed Shuozhou indoor attraction.

Free60h

Free entry. Closed Mondays. Allow 1 hour. Combine with the Shuozhou Ancient City Wall tour.

4.4
4A Yingxian County Park

Yingxian County Scenic Area

An unrated 4A combined park in Yingxian county covering the 1,000-year-old Wooden Pagoda, the Cizang Yuan monastery, and the 1,000-year-old Yingxian commercial street. The 4A park is the most-photographed Yingxian site.

Free120h

Free entry. Allow 2 hours. Combine with the Wooden Pagoda.

4.2
1,000-Year-Old Northern-Han Wall

Ancient Dai County Wall (Yingxian branch)

A 1,000-year-old Northern-Han dynasty county wall in Yingxian county, the original 1,000-year-old county fortress with the 1,000-year-old Northern-Han era watchtowers. The 4A wall is the most-photographed Northern-Han era site in Shanxi.

Free60h

Free entry. Allow 1 hour. The Northern-Han watchtowers are the highlight. Combine with the Wooden Pagoda.

4.3
1,000-Year-Old Drum Tower

Shuozhou Bianjing Tower (Shuozhou Drum Tower)

A reconstructed 1,000-year-old Drum Tower in central Shuozhou, the most-photographed Shuozhou historic structure. The 4A tower is paired with the Shuozhou Ancient City Wall.

Free30h

Free entry. Allow 30 min. Combine with the Shuozhou Ancient City Wall tour.

Local Flavors

What to Eat in Shuozhou

Shuozhou Heritage Snack

Shuozhou You-Guo-Zi (Youguo)

A 500-year-old Shuozhou street food - deep-fried dough rings with red sugar syrup, the traditional Shuozhou New Year snack. The most-recognizable Shuozhou winter street food, found at every Shuozhou morning market.

¥10-20 per bag
4.5

Recommended: Any Shuozhou morning market, or the Yingxian county town vendor

Shuozhou Specialty

Shuozhou Yellow Oil (Shuozhou Hu You)

A 1,000-year-old Shuozhou specialty - pressed sunflower oil used in the traditional Shuozhou noodle and the stir-fry. Found at every Shuozhou supermarket and the morning market.

¥30-50 per bottle
4.3

Recommended: Any Shuozhou supermarket, or the Yingxian county town vendor

Shuozhou Morning Staple

Shuozhou Oat Flakes (Shuozhou Yan Mai Pian)

A 500-year-old Shuozhou specialty - rolled-oat breakfast cereal, paired with milk or congee. The traditional Shuozhou cold-climate breakfast, found at every Shuozhou supermarket.

¥20-40 per bag
4.2

Recommended: Any Shuozhou supermarket

Shuozhou Heritage Dish

Shuozhou Steamed Lamb (Shuozhou Zheng Yang Rou)

A 1,000-year-old Shuozhou specialty - lamb shoulder steamed with aged vinegar, ginger, and Chinese herbs, served family-style. The traditional Shuozhou winter dish, found at every Shuozhou restaurant.

¥60-100 per plate
4.4

Recommended: Any Shuozhou restaurant, or the Yingxian county town restaurant

Yingxian Street Staple

Yingxian Knife-Cut Noodles (Yingxian Dao Xiao Mian)

A 1,000-year-old Yingxian specialty - hand-cut noodles in a clear mutton broth with cilantro and aged vinegar. The most-recognizable Yingxian street food, found at every Yingxian morning market.

¥15-25
4.4

Recommended: Any Yingxian county morning market, or the Wooden Pagoda visitor-area vendors

Shuozhou Heritage Dessert

Shuozhou Yellow Cake (Shuozhou Huang Gao)

A 1,000-year-old Shuozhou festive dish - steamed glutinous rice and yellow soybean flour cake, served with red-fruit jam. The traditional Shuozhou New Year and wedding dish, found at every Shuozhou morning market.

¥10-20
4.3

Recommended: Any Shuozhou morning market, or the Yingxian county town vendor

Curated Itineraries

Suggested Routes in Shuozhou

1 Days

Yingxian Wooden Pagoda 1-Day Trip

A 1-day trip covering the 1,000-year-old Wooden Pagoda and the Cizang Yuan monastery. The most-photographed Shuozhou itinerary.

Yingxian Wooden PagodaCizang YuanYingxian County Scenic Area
2 Days

Shuozhou City + Yingxian 2-Day Trip

A 2-day trip covering the Shuozhou city sites and the Yingxian Wooden Pagoda. The most-popular first-time Shuozhou itinerary.

Shuozhou City WallShuozhou MuseumYingxian Wooden PagodaCizang Yuan
3 Days

Shuozhou + Datong 3-Day Trip

A 3-day trip combining the Shuozhou city with the Datong Yungang Grottoes and the Hanging Temple. The most-popular northern Shanxi trip.

Yingxian Wooden PagodaYungang GrottoesHuayan TempleHanging Temple

Trip Planning

Travel Budget for Shuozhou

Transport

Shuozhou taxi (per ride)¥10
Shuozhou to Yingxian private car (1 day)¥250
Shuozhou to Datong private car (1 day)¥350
Subtotal¥610

Dining

Shuozhou You-Guo-Zi¥15
Shuozhou steamed lamb (per plate)¥80
Yingxian knife-cut noodles¥20
Subtotal¥115

Attractions

Yingxian Wooden Pagoda¥50
Cizang Yuan¥30
Shuozhou Ancient City WallFree
Shuozhou MuseumFree
Subtotal¥80

Accommodation

Shuozhou budget hotel (per night)¥150
Shuozhou mid-range hotel (per night)¥280
Yingxian county inn (per night)¥220
Subtotal¥650

Total estimated budget: $157 per person

Actual costs vary by travel style, season, and booking choices.

Common Questions

Shuozhou Travel FAQ

What is the best time to visit Shuozhou?

May-Oct is generally the best season, with comfortable weather for sightseeing and outdoor activities.

How many days are recommended for Shuozhou?

1 days is a practical baseline for first-time visitors covering major highlights.

What is a typical travel budget in Shuozhou?

A common reference is around $157 per person, depending on hotel level, transport, and attraction choices.

Is Shuozhou suitable for family travel?

Yes. Shuozhou has diverse attractions, flexible route options, and accommodation levels suitable for family trips.

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