Today we drove toward Mount Wutai, visiting several sites along the way.
Our first stop was the Dou Dafu Shrine.
Dou Chou, a high-ranking official of the Jin State during the Spring and Autumn period, was known for building canals and irrigation systems using water from the Fen River. His contributions greatly benefited agriculture, and he was later honored as a virtuous official.
The shrine dedicated to him dates back at least to the Tang Dynasty, though its exact founding time is unknown.
At the entrance hangs a plaque inscribed by Guo Moruo, who also composed a poem for the site.
Inside the main hall stands a statue of Dou Chou. During droughts, local people traditionally come here to pray for rain, a custom that has continued for centuries.
The shrine sits beside the Fen River. This section of the river is not wide but very scenic, with lush trees on both sides and a small island in the middle, creating a peaceful landscape.
Next, we headed to Xinzhou Ancient City.
On the way, we noticed the tire pressure dropping rapidly. We drove to a nearby repair shop and learned that the tire had been damaged by hitting a hard object and needed replacement.
Fortunately, although the tire was not in stock, it could be delivered from Taiyuan the same afternoon. Timing worked in our favor—just a bit later, and we would have missed the delivery.
Since the ancient city was nearby, we decided to explore while waiting.
Xinzhou Ancient City was first built during the Northern Wei Dynasty and later renovated in the Sui and Tang periods. Its current layout mainly dates from the Ming and Qing Dynasties.
Walking along the bustling streets, we saw shops selling food, daily goods, and souvenirs.
One interesting snack was “stone-baked bread,” made by heating small stones in a pot and pressing dough onto them. The result had small round indentations, giving it a unique texture and flavor.
We tried a red bean filling version, which tasted quite good.
Originally, we had planned to visit the former residence of Yan Xishan, but due to time constraints, we had to skip it.
At around 4:30 PM, the tire was replaced, and we continued driving toward Mount Wutai.
There is a vehicle restriction policy limiting daily entry to 3,000 cars. Fortunately, it was the off-season, so access was not an issue.
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