运城市

Why this place

Yuncheng sits beside the Yuncheng Salt Lake, one of China's oldest sources of salt — the resource that made this region rich for two thousand years. It is also the birthplace of Guan Yu, the general who became the god of loyalty, and it holds the Yongle Palace, with the finest surviving Yuan-dynasty murals in China.

What to see

• Yongle Palace at Ruicheng — Yuan-dynasty Taoist murals covering hundreds of square metres
• The Guandi Temple at Xiezhou, the largest temple to Guan Yu in China
• Yuncheng Salt Lake — pink and green in summer, and you can float in it
• Yongle Gong and Pujiu Temple, where the Romance of the Western Chamber is set

What to eat

• Yuncheng is known for its salt-cured foods and mutton dishes
• Shanxi vinegar and noodle culture in full force

Best time

April–June and September–October