Taiyuan (pop: 4 million) is the capital city of Shanxi Province and accounts for more than half the national coal mining output (more haze). There isn’t much to do in Taiyuan and the city functions primarily as transfer point for onward journeys to Xian and Pingyao. Regardless, the Longcheng International Hotel was gorgeous and they had the best breakfast buffet we’d eaten to date. (Wonderful bacon, our weakness…)

Wutai Shan Mountain (Five-Terrace Mountain) was definitely a “no-go.” According to the morning internet, Wutai was -5c/22F at 8 am with a wind chill of -12/c/9F. The road was a sheet of ice and trails covered with snow. There was nothing else that could be changed or arranged on short notice (the May Day holiday was coming up). Conversation with Cindy (over possibilities and/or options) at Shanghai Far East and off we drove towards Pingyao with stops on the way. First stop, Jinci Temple complex. Today was sunny and beautiful with fruit trees and flowers blooming everywhere. …View image…what a difference a lower altitude makes…

Jinci Si serene pondscape, Taiyun, China

steps leading through another garden at Jinci Si Temple, Taiyun, China 

guide map for Jinci Si grounds, Taiyun, China
Jinci Si is world famous because it is an ancient ancestral temple … View image…with some of the finest Song-dynasty buildings in China. It had historical cultural relics and beautiful landscaped gardens, a 3,000 year old Cypress tree (called “Dragon Tree” because it looks like a dragon) and other sights.

dragons on the wooden columns at Jinci Si Temple, Taiyuan, China
The most interesting (other than the Chinese opera stage) was the Goddess Mother Hall. ..View image… Inside were 42 Song dynasty clay figures of maid servants standing around a seated statue of a lady (said to be Prince Shyu’s mother). There were also other deities including one resposible for fertility. She was the one you came to if pregnancy was the goal.

Goddess Mother inside Jinci Si Temple, Taiyuan, China 

sad maidservant at Jinci Si Temple, Taiyun, China
On the way in and out of the complex were people selling fruit, souvenirs…View image…, ice cream, etc….many, many tourists…everyone enjoying the wonderful buildings and gardens.

Part of the tourist fun at Jinci Si was to pose for photographs in various Chinese garb. After watching one other woman dress up and pose,..

an “old” Chinese bride at Jinci Si Temple, Taiyun, China 

Sheila, another “old” Chinese bride in Taiyuan, China
…I decided to do the same (for $1.50 U.S.). I also picked the “Chinese Bride” outfit but in red. There were different costumes, colors and headdresses. (Watch video below…)