The best part of the trip for me was when we got out of the cities. I loved the courtyard of the Qiao family, which was more than 250 years old and opened onto more than 300 rooms. Wandering through the courtyard and reading stories about the different rooms made me feel I had stepped back in time and wondering what life would have been like in the 18th century? The stories our guide Li Jing told helped me go back in time. While listening to her, I made a mental note to watch the movie Raise the Red Lantern. It’s not a movie about Qiao Zhiyong, but I’m sure it will still give me a good idea of how life was here hundreds of years ago.

Another part of Shanxi I fell in love with was Wutai Mountain. The surrounding peaks made for amazing scenery and great views, of clouds suspended over the mountaintops and cows grazing near the forest. On the day we visited, it rained heavily, so unfortunately I didn't get the opportunity to go hiking and further enjoy the mountains and their great views. Instead, we visited a few of the temples, which partly made up for missing the hike. Although the temples were crowded with tourists, I managed to find some areas with less people, which gave me the chance to take in the atmosphere, listen to the chanting of the monks and enjoy the beauty of such things as the prayer wheels.

My opinion of Shanxi has changed, in a positive way. I now know Shanxi has a lot more to offer than just the Yungang Grottoes and Pingyao. I have to admit that I wouldn’t come just for Pingyao, which has become too touristy for me. It seems the shops and commercial areas are taking over from the city’s authentic feel and architecture, especially when I compare today’s Pingyao with the Pingyao I visited four years ago.

Personally, I would come back for the nature and outdoor activities. I would love to go hiking and camping in Shanxi one day and would recommend others do so also.