Laoniuwan

Overview

  • One of the most beautiful valleys in China.Laoniuwan is located in the northwest corner of Shanxi province. It is where the Yellow River meets the Great Wall for the first time.

    Highlights

    * one of the most beautiful valleys in China in between the vast Yellow River and Great Wall.
    * hike on the beautiful rammed earth Great Wall on the Shanxi Plateu.
    * picturesque charm of the ancient China - cave houses and light brown (Loess) Plateau, etc.
    * home stay overnight in the village on top of Yellow River Valley

How to get there?

  • Plane:
    Beijing to Datong  CA1119(07:30-08:20)
    Datong to Beijing  CA1120(09:05-10:00)
    There is only one flight to Datong per  day and it is only available on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays .
    Shanghai Hongqiao to Datong  MU5247(18:25-21:10)
    Datong to Shanghai Hongqiao  MU5248 (22:00-23:55)
    There is only one flight to Datong and it is only avaialble on Tuesdays , Thursdays and Saturdays .

    Train:
    Beijing Xi to Datong K605 (23:36-06:21) 6 hours and 45 minutes
    Datong to Beijing K614 (12:48-18:42)   5 hours and 54 minutes for Datong tour
    Datong to Beijing K606 (22:59-05:10)   6 hours and 11 minutes for Laoniuwan Tour

    Shanghai to Datong  K256 (12:52-15:20)   26 hours and 28 minutes
    Datong  to Shanghai K258 (18:37-18:50)   24 hours and 13 minutes

What to see?

  • Yanmenguan Pass
    Yanmenguan on Yanmen Mountain, northwest of Dai County is the last of three outer Great Wall passes. Originally built in the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907), it was moved several kilometers north and rebuilt under the Ming Dynasty. A six-meter-tall wall guards the entrance to a castle at this once-impenetrable site, guarding over an undulating landscape of thick forest. A pair of carved stone lions, flag posts and pillars remain as testament to the arched gates that once stood to the east, west and north.

    Pianguan Pass
    The Pianguan Pass is the place where the Great Wall meets the Yellow River for the first time. Together with Ningwuguan Pass and Yanmenguan Pass, it is one of the three outer passes of the Great Wall, and has been a most contended place for military strategists and for stationing troops since the ancient times. The Wall we see today was built during the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644) after repeated repairs and extensions. Pianguan Pass or Piantou guan Pass gains its portrays the profile of a man’s head.

    Laoniu wan Village
    Perched on a hill high above the river is what is dubbed one of the most beautiful valleys in China, this place is like a secret garden in children's storybooks. Small boats are moored by the riverbanks and these carry you to this secluded valley as the road is quite precarious. The water of the Yellow River here is green, not the usual Yellow. The Wanjiazhai irrigation system located up river slows down the water flow thus releasing the yellow sediment in the water from the normally fast flowing river.