Yuci Old Town in Jinzhong

The Old City of Yuci (榆次老城), located in Yuci District (榆次区), Jinzhong City (晋中市), Shanxi Province (山西省), was rebuilt in the 2nd year of the Kaihuang era of the Sui Dynasty (隋开皇二年, 582 AD) on the foundations of the ancient city. With a history of more than 1,400 years, it represents the wisdom and perseverance of ancient Chinese people. Built according to traditional Chinese urban planning and architectural principles, it is now a National AAAA Tourist Attraction.

The Old City of Yuci (榆次老城) covers 1 million square meters, of which 600,000 square meters are occupied by ancient buildings and gardens. Its architectural style is grand and elegant, with brilliant colors and exquisite craftsmanship, serving as a gathering place of Chinese urban culture, political culture, religious culture, commercial culture, and residential culture. Its strategic location makes it the starting point of the Jin Merchant (晋商) tourism route.

Major landmarks include Yuci County Government Office (榆次县衙), Yuci City God Temple (榆次城隍庙), along with vibrant folk performances and over 50 film and TV productions that have turned it into the largest film city in North China.

• Chinese Name: 榆次老城
• Foreign Name: The Old City of Yuci
• Location: Yujia Street (俞家街), Yuci District (榆次区), Jinzhong City (晋中市), Shanxi Province (山西省)
• Climate: Temperate monsoon climate
• Opening Hours: 08:00–17:30 (entry stops at 17:00, data since Oct 1)
• Tourism Rating: National AAAA Tourist Attraction
• Ticket Price: 75 RMB
• Famous Attractions: Yuci County Government Office (榆次县衙), Yuci City God Temple (榆次城隍庙)
• Country: China (中国)
• City: Jinzhong (晋中市)
• Recommended Visit Duration: 3–4 hours
• Best Season: May–October
• Official Phone: 0354-8500003

Introduction

The Old City of Yuci (榆次老城) consists of 1 million square meters, with 600,000 square meters of ancient buildings and gardens. Inside are many historic sites, such as City God Temple (城隍庙), County Government Office (县衙), Confucian Temple (文庙), Fengming Academy (凤鸣书院), South and North Streets (南北大街), City Tower (市楼), Sifeng Tower (思凤楼), Qingxu Pavilion (清虚阁), Daceng Temple (大乘寺), and West Garden (西花园). The architectural style, with interlaced dougong brackets and flying eaves, showcases the grandeur of Ming and Qing urban aesthetics.

On September 29, 2003, the China Folk Culture and Art Museum (中国民间文化艺术博物馆) was inaugurated in the Old City of Yuci (榆次老城), integrating museum and scenic area.

The city is divided into six zones: folk culture exhibition area, traditional folk performance area, residential culture area, marketplace and commercial culture area, religious culture area, and cultural relics and antiques area. It has also become a major filming base for well-known TV dramas such as Qiao’s Grand Courtyard (乔家大院), The Road West (走西口), and White Silver Valley (白银谷).

Cultural Significance

Historical Culture

Yuci (榆次) is one of the oldest cities in Shanxi (山西省), often called the “Southern Gateway of Taiyuan” (太原南大门). Records of Yuci City date back to the Warring States period. The Old City was rebuilt in 582 AD and preserved largely intact until the 1940s, when urbanization led to its decline. Restoration efforts began in the early 21st century, reviving its grand layout, bustling streets, and historic sites.

Architectural Culture

The Old City of Yuci (榆次老城) is a jewel among Shanxi’s architectural heritage, incorporating styles from the Song, Yuan, Ming, Qing, and Republic eras. Buildings such as Qingxu Pavilion (清虚阁) and Xuanjian Tower (玄鉴楼) are notable examples, with the latter recognized by the World Monuments Fund as one of the world’s 100 most valuable buildings. The city also features exquisite brick carvings, wood carvings, stone carvings, and murals, often depicting auspicious folk stories.

Jin Merchant Culture

As a cradle of the Jin Merchants (晋商), the Old City of Yuci (榆次老城) became a commercial hub, with its North and South Streets filled with old shops and bustling trade. Famous establishments included tobacco shops, pawnshops, tea houses, and banks, many tied to wealthy merchant families such as the Chang (常), Wang (王), and Kong (孔) clans. The City Tower (市楼), inscribed with “The First Tower Under Heaven” (天下第一楼), symbolized the city’s commercial prosperity.

Market Culture

Yuci (榆次) has long been a center of trade, with markets recorded since the Tang and Song dynasties. By the Ming and Qing periods, the city had thriving bazaars selling food, textiles, ironware, fruits, and more. Today, the streets remain lively with tea houses, restaurants, shops, and traditional folk performances such as stilt walking and yangko dance.

Folk Culture

As part of the Yellow River cultural heartland, Shanxi (山西省) nurtured distinctive folk traditions. The Old City of Yuci (榆次老城) integrates these elements, with exhibitions on festivals, rituals, costumes, crafts, and beliefs. The China Folk Culture and Art Museum houses thousands of artifacts, including ceramics, coins, paintings, calligraphy, furniture, costumes, and folk crafts, providing an invaluable resource for cultural research.

Official System Culture

The Yuci County Government Office (榆次县衙) stands as a testament to feudal officialdom, featuring the large-scale Qing Dynasty Official System Exhibition (清代官制文化展). The exhibition covers imperial examinations, Qing bureaucracy, official life, model honest officials, and the succession of Yuci county magistrates, offering deep insights into governance and social history.

Old Shops and Commerce

Along the North and South Streets of the Old City of Yuci (榆次老城) are many long-established shops dating back to the Ming and Qing dynasties, blending Chinese and Western architectural styles. These include:

• Dexincheng (得新成): general goods store founded in the Ming Dynasty.
• Deshengyuan (德盛园): restaurant famous for traditional dishes, founded in the Qing Dynasty.
• Beiqianheng (北谦亨): tobacco shop from the Qianlong reign.
• Zhongxinghe (中兴和): financial house influential in the Qing Dynasty.
• Ruilongyu (瑞隆裕): iron and hemp store by the Chang family (常家).
• Juxingshun (聚兴顺): tea shop founded in the Qing Dynasty.
• Xiehexin (协和信): traditional draft bank founded in 1853.
• Tianyi (天一): clothing shop established in 1918.
  These old shops showcase the commercial brilliance of the Jin Merchants (晋商).

Main Attractions

Key landmarks include:

• City God Temple (城隍庙): one of the best-preserved City God temples in China.
• County Government Office (县衙): the largest surviving ancient county office in China.
• Confucian Temple (文庙) and Fengming Academy (凤鸣书院): cultural and educational centers.
• City Tower (市楼) and Sifeng Tower (思凤楼): iconic urban landmarks.
• Qingxu Pavilion (清虚阁): central structure tied to local legends.
• Daceng Temple (大乘寺) and surrounding gardens: religious and scenic highlights.