Shanxi is a landlocked province on the Loess Plateau of north China, west of the Taihang Mountains and east of the Yellow River. It holds more surviving pre-modern timber buildings than any other Chinese province, three UNESCO World Heritage Sites (the Yungang Grottoes, the Ancient City of Pingyao and Mount Wutai), the cliff-clinging Hanging Monastery, the 1056 wooden pagoda of Ying County, the Qing-era merchant mansions of the Jin traders and the thundering Hukou Waterfall on the Yellow River.
Best souvenirs
Authentic items worth bringing home.
Shanxi aged vinegar (山西老陈醋)
Dark, mellow vinegar from sorghum and grains, aged for years; premium bottles are compared to good balsamic
Price: ¥30-60 per bottle (about $4-9 USD)
Where: Donghu Vinegar Park in Taiyuan, vinegar shops on West Street and South Street in Pingyao
Pingyao beef (平遥牛肉)
Salt-cured, slow-cooked beef sold vacuum-packed, ready to eat
Price: about ¥40 per package (about $6 USD)
Where: Guan Sheng Yuan on West Street and beef shops on South Street, Pingyao
Pingyao polished lacquerware (平遥推光漆器)
Hand-polished lacquer boxes, screens and furniture decorated with painted or inlaid scenes, a craft traced to the early Tang dynasty
Where: Yonglonghao on South Street and lacquer shops along South Street, Pingyao
Fenjiu baijiu (汾酒)
Light-aroma sorghum liquor from Xinghua Village, Fenyang, one of China's oldest baijiu brands
Where: Fenjiu shop at Xinghua Village, supermarkets and department stores in Taiyuan
Datong copperware (大同铜器)
Hand-made copper and brass ware, a craft dating to the Spring and Autumn Period; the copper hotpot is the classic piece, with miniatures sold as souvenirs
Where: Craft shops in Datong Ancient City, including Huayan Temple Pedestrian Street
Traditional markets
Where locals shop and travellers find treasures.
Liuxiang Pedestrian Street (柳巷)
Taiyuan's 300-year-old commercial walking street with clothing, local food brands such as Liuweizhai and a large night market
Where: Taiyuan
Hours: Shops generally 10:00-22:00; night market stalls from about 18:00
Bell Tower Street and Food Street (钟楼街 / 食品街)
Restored old-town lanes with heritage brands, Shanxi snacks, vinegar and pastries in Republican-era buildings
Where: Taiyuan
Hours: Most shops 08:00-22:30
Pingyao South Street and Ming-Qing Street (平遥南大街 明清街)
The ancient city's main shopping street for polished lacquerware, Pingyao beef, aged vinegar, paper-cuts and handicrafts
Where: Pingyao
Hours: Most shops 08:00-22:00
Pingyao West Street (平遥西大街)
Street of old banking houses including the Rishengchang site, lined with Pingyao beef shops such as Guan Sheng Yuan and vinegar sellers offering free tastings
Where: Pingyao
Hours: Most shops 08:00-22:00
Huayan Temple Pedestrian Street (下寺坡华严寺仿古街)
Replica-style old street by Huayan Temple with souvenir shops, Datong copperware and snack stalls
Where: Datong
Hours: Shops generally 09:00-21:00
Gulou Ming-Qing Pedestrian Street (鼓楼明清古韵商业步行街)
Ming-Qing style commercial street around the Drum Tower with heritage food brands and copper hotpot souvenirs
Where: Datong
Hours: Shops generally 09:00-21:30
Shopping districts
Neighbourhoods known for retail.
Liuxiang and Bell Tower Street, Taiyuan
Historic pedestrian core with local brands, snacks and the night market
Best for: Food gifts, vinegar and everyday shopping
Changxing Road and Qinxian North Street, Taiyuan
Modern mall belt with Taiyuan MixC, Wangfujing and Maoye Tiandi
Best for: Brands, cosmetics and department stores
Pingyao Ancient City
South Street, West Street and East Street packed with craft and food shops inside the UNESCO-listed walls
Best for: Lacquerware, Pingyao beef and vinegar
Malls & modern shopping
Air-conditioned, international brands, and food courts.
Taiyuan MixC (太原万象城)
Hours: 10:00-22:00
Taiyuan Wangfujing Department Store (太原王府井百货)
Hours: 10:00-22:00
Maoye Tiandi (茂业天地)
Hours: 10:00-22:00 (bars later)
Parkson Shopping Center, CapitaLand Plaza Datong (百盛 凯德广场)
Hours: 10:00-22:00
Bargaining tips
Negotiate like a local.
Bargaining is expected at souvenir and craft stalls in Pingyao and Datong's old streets; start at about half the first price for non-food items.
Malls, department stores and branded food shops (vinegar, beef, Fenjiu) have fixed prices.
For lacquerware, buy from workshops that show the craft process; cheaper pieces sold on the street may be machine-sprayed rather than hand-polished.
Check that vacuum-packed beef and bottled vinegar are sealed and dated before buying.
Customs & restrictions
What you can and can't take home.
Mall shops typically open at 10:00 and close at 22:00; old-town shops open earlier., Alipay and WeChat Pay dominate; foreign cards work at larger malls only, so carry some cash for small shops., Liquid vinegar and baijiu must go in checked luggage on flights; wrap bottles well.