Winter Tour in Shanxi: Jin Merchants Route
冬日暖阳下，山西铺开一条时光的脉络——山西省文化和旅游厅精心推出5条“冬游山西”主题旅游线路，其中“晋商遗风·烟火暖冬之旅”以独特的文化视角，从晋祠的千年古木延伸到碛口古镇的黄河涛声，将凝固的建筑、流动的市井与温润的人间烟火融为一体，邀游人走进晋商文明的深处，触摸这片土地的温度与记忆。
Under the winter sun, Shanxi unfolds a timeline of history—the Shanxi Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism has meticulously launched five “Winter Tour in Shanxi” themed travel routes. Among them, the “Legacy of Shanxi Merchants · Hearthside Winter Tour” offers a unique cultural perspective, stretching from the ancient trees of the Jinci Temple to the roaring Yellow River at Qikou Ancient Town. It seamlessly blends solid architecture, vibrant streets, and the warmth of everyday life, inviting travelers to delve deep into the legacy of Shanxi’s merchant culture and experience the enduring spirit of this land.
晋商遗风·烟火暖冬之旅：晋祠-钟楼街-常家庄园-乔家大院-平遥古城-王家大院·崇宁堡-碛口古镇
Legacy of Shanxi Merchants · Hearthside Winter Tour: Jinci Temple - Zhonglou Street - Chang Family Compound - Qiao Family Compound - Pingyao Ancient City - Wang Family Compound · Chongning Castle - Qikou Ancient Town
这条线路的第一站，是太原的晋祠。周柏唐槐，静立千年，在冬日的清透光线里更显苍劲深沉。它们见证的不仅是岁月，更是这片土地上商贸精神的初萌。而后拐入钟楼街，热闹的市声与香气扑面而来——热腾腾的头脑、酥脆的油糕，在寒冷的空气中氤氲出第一缕暖意，那是属于山西人日常生活的真实底色。
The first stop on this route is the Jinci Temple in Taiyuan. Ancient cypresses and scholar trees, standing silently for a millennium, appear even more majestic and profound in the clear winter light. They bear witness not only to the passage of time but also to the early stirrings of a mercantile spirit on this land. Next, travelers turn onto Zhonglou Street, where the lively sounds and aromas of the city greet them—steaming tounao (a local soup) and crispy fried cakes waft warmth through the cold air, offering a genuine taste of everyday life in Shanxi.
车行向南，便进入晋商大院群落。常家庄园的园林，在雪后别具一番疏朗清雅的韵致，亭台、池沼、迴廊，无声述说着儒商并重的生活美学。乔家大院则以其恢宏的院落结构与高悬的灯笼，勾勒出晋商鼎盛时期的家族气象。穿行其间，仿佛仍能听见昔日算盘的清脆声响，看见商队出发时扬起的尘土。
Heading south, the journey leads into the heartland of Shanxi’s merchant mansions. The garden of the Chang Family Compound takes on a uniquely serene and elegant charm after a snowfall, with its pavilions, ponds, and winding corridors quietly narrating the aesthetics of a culture that valued both commerce and Confucian ideals. The Qiao Family Compound, with its grand courtyard architecture and hanging red lanterns, sketches the prosperity of Shanxi’s merchant families during their peak. Walking through these courtyards, one can almost hear the clinking of abacuses from the past and envision the dust stirred by departing trade caravans.
平遥古城是此行的重头戏。冬日游客稍疏，古城反而显露出更为本真的面目。穿行在明清街巷，票号、镖局的门楣静静立于两旁，晋商汇通天下的气魄与智慧，凝固在这一砖一瓦之中。待到日暮，街灯次第亮起，食肆里飘出平遥牛肉与碗托的香气，这座世界文化遗产之城，在冬日烟火中显得格外可亲可感。
Pingyao Ancient City is the highlight of this journey. With fewer winter visitors, the ancient city reveals its more authentic side. Strolling through its Ming and Qing dynasty streets, travelers encounter the storefronts of old banks and security bureaus standing quietly on either side—a testament to the ambition and ingenuity of Shanxi merchants who once connected the world through their financial networks. As dusk falls, street lamps flicker to life, and the aroma of Pingyao beef and wantuo (a local noodle dish) drifts from eateries, making this UNESCO World Heritage site feel especially welcoming amid the winter warmth.
夜宿灵石的王家大院·崇宁堡，是别样的体验。这座依托古堡打造的温泉酒店，让人在历史建筑的怀抱中，以温汤洗去一身寒意。古今在此奇妙交融，厚重的晋商文化以另一种方式慰藉着当代旅人。
An overnight stay at the Wang Family Compound · Chongning Castle in Lingshi offers a unique experience. This hot spring hotel, built within an ancient fortress, allows visitors to soak in warm waters while embraced by historical architecture. Here, the past and present converge in a remarkable way, offering modern travelers solace through the profound culture of Shanxi’s merchants.
旅程的终点，落在黄河岸边的碛口古镇。这里的窑洞民居依山而建，质朴粗粝，与晋中大院的精致形成鲜明对比。漫步古镇，黄河在远处奔流，当地居民备年货、贴窗花，浓郁的年俗气息扑面而来。在黄河边的一孔窑洞里，围着火炉，吃一碗热腾腾的臊子面，便是这趟“烟火暖冬之旅”最温暖、最真实的句点。
The journey concludes at Qikou Ancient Town on the banks of the Yellow River. Here, cave dwellings carved into the mountainside stand in stark contrast to the refined mansions of central Shanxi, exuding a rustic and rugged charm. Wandering through the ancient town, travelers can hear the distant roar of the Yellow River and witness locals preparing for the Lunar New Year—stocking up on goods and decorating with paper cuttings. The air is filled with the rich atmosphere of traditional festivities. In a cozy cave dwelling by the river, gathered around a stove and savoring a bowl of steaming noodle soup, travelers find the warmest and most authentic conclusion to this “Hearthside Winter Tour.”
这不仅仅是一次建筑观赏之旅，更是一场深入生活肌理的行走。它让游客在冬日的山西，得以走进热闹的古城与街区，在街头巷尾与当地人一起品尝特色美食，体验剪窗花、听晋剧等民俗风情，真正感受那份流淌在日常里的“烟火之光”。
This is more than just a tour of architectural marvels—it is a journey into the fabric of everyday life. It allows visitors to wander through bustling ancient towns and lively streets during winter in Shanxi, sharing local delicacies with residents in narrow alleys, experiencing customs like paper-cutting and Shanxi opera, and truly feeling the “glow of hearthside life” that flows through daily existence.
冬游山西，走这条晋商线，便是在建筑中阅读历史，在烟火中触摸生活，在暖意中读懂这片土地生生不息的温度与故事。
A winter tour of Shanxi along this merchant culture route is an opportunity to read history in its architecture, touch life in its everyday warmth, and understand the enduring vitality and stories of this land through its palpable spirit and traditions.
（图源网络侵删）
(The image source is from the internet. If infringement, it will be deleted.)
来源：中华网综合整理
Source: Comprehensive collation by sx.china.com
