Route in Search of Roots and Ancestry

Returning to Southern Shanxi to Search for the Root of China

“If you ask me where my ancestors were from, I'd say the big locust tree in Shanxi's Hongtong.” The folk song has aroused so many overseas Chinese of their homesickness. Linfen and Yuncheng, located in the southernmost part of Shanxi Province, are precisely the land they miss so much. Yuncheng is the cradle of Chinese civilization, and Linfen carries forward and develops it into a new height. They are the birthplace of the Chinese nation and the source of Yellow River culture. Various old stories originated from this ancient land. Creation of the first Chinese character, harvest of the first grain and implementation of the first calendar all originated in this time-honored place. Ancestors of the Chinese nation thrived here, from cave dwelling to tribe and from barbarism to civilization; life habits lasting for thousands of years were deeply rooted in the hearts of the people who grew up there. Though during the Ming Dynasty, they were forced to migrate on a large scale time and again and as a result they had no longer any chance to look at the big locust tree in their hometown, their attachment to their homeland was deeply rooted and still handed down from generation to generation. As the main tourist attraction of root-seeking and ancestor-sacrificing, Yao Temple, the big locust tree, Hukou Waterfall of the Yellow River, Temple of Guan Yu, Guanque Tower, Yellow Iron Bull and relics of the capital city found by Emperor Yao, Emperor Shun and Emperor Yu in the pre-history of China attract countless Chinese descendants to yearn for them and travel a long way just to touch this dear land that nurtured their ancestors.

Classic Route:
The Big Locust Tree in Hongtong (4A) - Guangsheng Temple in Hongtong - Yao Temple in Linfen (4A) - Huamen in Linfen - Hukou Waterfall (4A) - Mausoleum of Emperor Shun in Yuncheng - Temple of Guan Yu in Haizhou (4A) - Yuncheng Salt Lake (Yuncheng)