Savoring Antiquity in Winter Shanxi · Jinzhong

冬天，或许是走进山西大地、触摸千年文明的最佳时节。当北风拂过青砖与灰瓦，夏日的喧嚣与秋日的繁茂悄然褪去，只留下黄土高原上最本真的轮廓。而在晋中这片辽阔而深沉的土地上，古城、大院与窑洞村落依然静静吐纳着人间烟火，仿佛时光从未走远。

Winter may be the best season to step into the ancient civilization of Shanxi. When the northern cold wind sweeps across the blue bricks and grey tiles, the historic architecture of Shanxi sheds its distractions, revealing its truest form. Across the vast land of Jinzhong, ancient walled towns, grand courtyards, and cave-dwelling villages still breathe with the warmth of everyday life.

平遥古城

Pingyao Ancient City

这座伫立于黄土高原、汾水之畔的城池，自明代便是商贾云集、金融汇通的重镇，与晋商共浮沉、同荣辱。四大街、八小巷、七十二道曲径幽深，织成一座方正如棋盘的古城格局。即便放眼全国，也难寻如此完整鲜活的历史肌理。

Having stood for millennia on the Loess Plateau by the Fen River, this ancient town flourished as a bustling commercial center during the Ming Dynasty, sharing the fortunes and trials of Shanxi’s merchant families. Its four main streets, eight smaller lanes, and seventy-two winding alleys create a cultural and historical texture unmatched anywhere in China.

待冬雪飘落，天地一白。往日的人潮渐渐散去，古城重归宁静。漫步在覆雪的街巷间，仿佛能听见青石板下隐约传来的驼铃与算盘声响。这一刻的平遥，萧瑟中带着庄重，寂静里透着温情——正是走进它内心的最好时分。

When winter snow falls, blanketing everything in white, the exceptionally well-preserved Pingyao reveals an even deeper charm. A winter walk here is a quiet, serene, and introspective experience—strolling through the chessboard-like grid of its ancient streets feels just right.

双林寺

Shuanglin Temple

冬日阳光温柔倾斜，悄然探入寺院的窗棂。这座被誉为“东方彩塑艺术宝库”的千年古刹，在光影交错间仿佛被唤醒。千佛殿、菩萨殿内，数千尊明代彩塑静立如初，其中最负盛名的“天下第一韦陀”仍持金刚杵，目光如电，威仪凛然。少了旺季的拥挤，你可以从容驻足，细看菩萨衣袂的流转、天王肌肉的张力、供养人眉宇间的虔敬。那些曾被时光蒙尘的色彩与线条，在冬日的清朗中重新舒展，诉说着匠人手下“以泥为骨、以彩为魂”的信仰与艺术。

Winter is actually the ideal season to visit this “treasure trove of Eastern painted sculpture.” As the sunlight softens and slants lower, the millennia-old sculptures seem to awaken. Within halls like the Thousand-Buddha Hall and the Bodhisattva Hall, thousands of Ming Dynasty painted sculptures are preserved, with the “Foremost Skanda of the World” being particularly renowned. Other side halls also hold distinctive sculptures, reflecting the diverse beliefs of the Pingyao region. Vividly shaped and expressively detailed, these figures invite quiet, prolonged contemplation in the winter calm, allowing visitors to fully appreciate the astonishing skill of the artisans.