Winter Tour in Shanxi: The Yellow River Route

In winter, Yuncheng Salt Lake stages a magical natural display. Nitrate crystals form across the lake surface, spreading like icy coral—translucent and shimmering in the sunlight, forming the wondrous scene of “a pool of snow beneath Zhongtiao Mountain.” This natural masterpiece is a unique gift from the Yellow River to this land.

解州关帝庙的朱红墙壁在雪景映衬下格外醒目。作为武圣关羽的故里，这里的一砖一瓦都散发着忠义精神的光芒。冬日祭拜，香火袅袅中更添几分肃穆与庄严。

The vermilion walls of Haizhouzhou Guan Yu Temple stand out vividly against the snowy backdrop. As the hometown of Guan Yu, the Martial Sage, every brick and tile here radiates the spirit of loyalty and righteousness. Winter worship here, with incense smoke curling upward, adds an extra layer of solemnity and reverence.

芮城圣天湖则是另一番生机盎然的景象。成千上万只越冬天鹅在此栖息，它们优雅的身姿在湖面划出涟漪，与远处的中条山、近处的芦苇荡构成一幅和谐生态画卷。这是黄河湿地给予冬日的温柔馈赠。

Ruicheng Shengtian Lake offers a contrasting scene of vibrant life. Thousands of wintering swans gather here, their graceful forms rippling the water’s surface, composing a harmonious ecological tableau with the distant Zhongtiao Mountains and nearby reed marshes—a gentle winter gift from the Yellow River wetlands.

永乐宫的元代壁画，在恒温保护的殿宇中静静绽放。朝元图里近三百位神仙人物衣袂飘飘，眼神如生，虽历经七百年岁月，色彩依然鲜艳如初。站在壁画前，仿佛能听见画中仙乐缭绕，看见那个时代的艺术辉煌。