Foreign guests explore heartland of China

When Aidana Mukhametgaliyeva saw a notice in China Daily offering writers and photographers the chance to visit Shanxi province, she had no hesitation in applying to go.

Taosi ruins offer glimpses of early Chinese civilization

Shanxi province nurtures an ancient civilization in the mid-section of the Yellow River.

History at close quarters

Pingyao is not as commercial as other ancient cities. Here, you can immerse yourself in its history. Xu Lin and Sun Ruisheng report.

A feast of culture and tradition

Tranquil natural wonders and architectural marvels highlight Shanxi's budding tourism industry.

The 'Way' to Shanxi

From Beijing to Shanxi province, the train cuts its way between terraced rice fields, open grasslands and imposing rock formations. Hills and mountains that reach heights of over 3,000 meters above sea level, with rivers running across them, cover around 80 percent of the province.

Spiritual Shanxi

Of all the colourful tourist attractions our group was taken to on our "Discover Shanxi" trip with China Daily, the one I remember most vividly is the Yungang Grottoes in Datong city.

Hidden treasure of rich culture, picturesque landscape

As a business reporter for China Daily, I confess that the only thing I knew about Shanxi prior to my visit was that the province was rich in coal resources and the mining and chemical industries were the key economic drivers of the region. Such information is unlikely to appeal to the average traveler, but undoubtedly, Shanxi is a hidden treasure waiting to be discovered.

A glimpse of traditional Chinese business blocks

Combined with modern business modes, traditional Chinese business blocks have a new look and creat a new promotional image of the city.

Journey to the Silk Road - Shanxi

48 World Heritage Sites in China

Tangya Tusi site, which is the remains of an ancient political system adopted by Chinese emperors to govern ethnic minority regions, was inscribed in the World Heritage List on July 5. So far, China has 48 items listed on the UNESCO's world heritage list, second only to Italy in the world. Here is a list of China's 48 world heritage sites.