A portal to an ancient world

The Wangmangling scenic spot offers the full view of the awestriking cliffs. [Photo by Wang Zhuangfei/China Daily]

If you have the time, the Wangmangling scenic spot offers sightseeing experience that is completely different from the Grand Canyon's. It is located in Jincheng's Lingchuan county and is roughly an hour's drive away from the canyon.

You can see many mountain peaks standing right next to one another from afar.

Spiraling up and down along the one-bus-wide mountain road with precipitous cliffs right on the sides can set your nerve on edge. There are a few precarious viewing decks where those who are made of sterner stuff can stand on the edge and take in the full view of the awe-striking cliffs, with highest more than 1,500 meters above sea level.

Our last stop was the Royal Prime Minister's Palace in Jincheng. It's a castle-styled architectural complex. The owner Chen Tingjing was Emperor Kangxi's teacher and in charge of the classic works, Kangxi Dictionary.

The complex houses a building cluster featuring yellow bricks and tilted roofs as well as gardens. There are caves inside the walls for hiding soldiers and crenels for looking out for enemy attacks.

The highlight was a live re-enactment of the panoply when Emperor Kangxi came to visit. Roughly 100 crew members acting as the emperor and his wife and his entourage, as well as Chen and his family, gave a spectacular show of pomp.

In addition to the stops we made on this visit, Shanxi still has a lot to offer to tourists, such as Mount Wutai, Yungang Grottoes and Qiao's Courtyard. For those who want to take a breather away from Beijing, there are several high-speed trains available every day ro Shanxi.