All A-Level Scenic Spots in Shanxi Are Free on Weekdays—How to Make a Reservation? A Complete Guide with Practical Tips

From July 15th to December 31st, 2020, the main entrance tickets to all A-level scenic spots in Shanxi Province are free for the public on weekdays.

In early August, I went to Taiyuan for a 4-day, 3-night trip. Although it was a group tour, the tickets were still free. However, free admission does not mean no reservation is needed. Let me introduce the reservation methods for several major scenic spots in Shanxi.

To travel in Shanxi, first search for a mini-program called "游山西" (Travel Shanxi). It includes major scenic spots in Shanxi, such as Wang Family Courtyard, Taihang Mountain, Jinci Temple, Qiao Family Courtyard, Yingxian Wooden Pagoda, and Imperial Prime Minister's Residence.

You can log into this mini-program to check if the desired scenic spot is listed. Many scenic spots have their own official WeChat accounts, but when you click to reserve a visit, you are eventually redirected to this mini-program.

Some scenic spots are not on the "游山西" mini-program and require separate reservations. Let me explain them one by one.

Pingyao Ancient City requires reservations through its official WeChat account. (Note: There is a fake account here. The official account is "平遥古城景区官方服务平台" (Pingyao Ancient City Scenic Area Official Service Platform), not "平遥古城" (Pingyao Ancient City).)

Here’s a reminder: When I first made a reservation on the platform, I selected "ticket reservation." Later, when I arrived at the scenic spot, the staff asked me to show a blue purchase code. I couldn't find it anywhere. Eventually, I realized that Pingyao Ancient City requires selecting "古城购票" (Ancient City Ticket Purchase) instead of reservation.

The ticket channel shows different prices based on travel dates: 0 RMB on weekdays and 125 RMB on weekends. It is divided into morning entry and afternoon entry, and ID information must be added.

Shuanglin Temple and Zhenguo Temple are also free on weekdays but require separate reservations. They are not included in the Pingyao Ancient City combo ticket. The reservation method is the same as Pingyao Ancient City—via its official WeChat account.

Mount Wutai also uses its official WeChat account, "五台山游客服务中心" (Mount Wutai Visitor Service Center). Select "门票预约" (Ticket Reservation), then it redirects to the scenic spot ticket page, where you can make a reservation in advance.

A reminder: Mount Wutai tickets are only available for reservation about one week in advance. Mount Wutai is a major Buddhist site, originally bustling with pilgrims. Now that the scenic spot is free and visitor numbers are limited, the daily reservation quota is very tight.

I started checking the official account for reservation availability a week in advance. As soon as they opened reservations, I immediately booked according to my itinerary.

So, friends who want to visit Mount Wutai must be aware and plan ahead to make reservations in line with their schedule. Last-minute or same-day reservations are basically impossible.

Originally, for the group tour, the guide arranged reservations for Yungang Grottoes. But on the day of departure, the guide informed us that we needed to make individual reservations, so we reserved tickets for Yungang Grottoes on the bus.

The path is also through the official WeChat account and requires real-name registration. However, here it is divided into tickets for local adults and non-local adults, local children and non-local children, as well as morning tickets and afternoon tickets.

Each time slot seems to have only 2,000 tickets, which is quite tight. If you try to reserve on the same day, you will probably miss out. As always: "Once your itinerary is confirmed, reserve in advance!"

Hukou Waterfall also uses an official WeChat account, but when you click on it now, it says: "You need to scan the QR code at the scenic spot to make a reservation for entry. After a successful reservation, scan the QR code or use your ID card to enter."

If you scan the QR code at home, a message pops up saying "Too far from the scenic spot." Hukou Waterfall requires that you be within 3 kilometers to make a reservation.

This reservation method is deliberate. Currently, it is the flood season, with high water volume upstream of the Yellow River. The scenic spot may close at any time. If people reserve in advance and the scenic spot closes upon arrival, complaints would be unavoidable.

By informing everyone in advance via the official account whether Hukou Waterfall is open today, it prevents wasted trips. Basically, if you are within 3 kilometers of the scenic spot and can successfully reserve, you will be allowed in.

Let me share some issues I encountered during the reservation process.

1. How far in advance can you make a reservation?

Different scenic spots have different rules. Generally, the "游山西" mini-program opens reservations about 7–15 days in advance. So as soon as you confirm your schedule, make a reservation early.

Some special cases: For example, Mount Wutai opens reservations one week in advance, and Hukou Waterfall opens reservations when you are 3 kilometers away. You can check the official website in advance for these special cases to avoid affecting your trip.

2. Are tickets scarce? Can you reserve on the same day?

Currently, due to the pandemic, daily visitor numbers are limited to 50% of capacity. This is a strict rule. If the limit is exceeded, the scenic spot closes reservations.

A 50% capacity might be sufficient on normal days, but with the weekday free admission policy, even the off-season becomes peak season. The guide for our group tour had one group after another, and the scenic spots were crowded.

Therefore, I think tickets are quite tight.

Yesterday, I received a notice from Jinci Temple that all 12,000 reservation tickets for the day were fully booked. Friends who didn't get a reservation shouldn't come.

Now, if I search for tickets to Qiao Family Courtyard for next Monday (the 24th), all are fully booked as well. As for popular spots like Mount Wutai, there's no need to mention them.

So, my friends, to ensure a smooth trip, plan and reserve as early as possible.

Some might say, "I don't want the free ticket; can I just buy a ticket?"

The answer is no. If traveling on a weekday without a reservation, even paying won't work, because the visitor limit has been reached. During the pandemic, the rules are very strict.

If you really want to spend money, it's better to go on a weekend; there might be fewer people.