Shanxi - a passionate journey to the Yellow River

In my earlier days there were also preconceptions of Shanxi being quite far away, across a mountain range, indeed more part of northwestern China? However the country's investment in high-speed rail results in Taiyuan now being under three hours from Beijing. Particularly the section between Hebei's Shijiazhuang and Taiyuan there some amazing engineering achievements with lengthy tunnels piercing upland areas allowing high-speeds to be maintained. Catering mainly for the new train system Taiyuan South Station is modern, spacious, efficient and an now an excellent gateway to the city.

Unfortunately I did not spend much time in Taiyuan. But it was enough to experience its distinctive noodle-based cuisine, which comes in a variety of sizes, shapes and flavors along with exploring landscaped stretches of the Fen River that bisects the city.