Lüliang
Western Shanxi prefecture between the Fen plain and the Yellow River — Fenjiu's distillery and painted village temples around Fenyang, then Qikou's river-trade town and Lijiashan's stacked cave dwellings.
Free Lanes, a Temple on the Hill: How to Spend Half a Day in Qikou on the Yellow River
Qikou's old trading street and river landing are free and open all day; give it three to five hours, climb to Heilong Temple for the bend in the Yellow River, and sleep over if you want Lijiashan at dawn.
Eleven Tiers of Caves: Is Lijiashan Worth the Climb from Qikou?
Lijiashan is a free, still-lived-in cave-dwelling village a few kilometres from Qikou; go early or late for the light, allow two to three hours, and expect steep stone lanes rather than a staged attraction.
Museum, Cellars, One Tasting: Is the Fenjiu Distillery at Xinghua Village Worth a Stop?
The Fenjiu Culture Scenic Area at Xinghuacun, about 15 km from Fenyang, is a working distillery tour — museum, fermentation halls, old cellars and a tasting — for a 42-yuan ticket; budget two to three hours and do not drive afterwards.
Hanging Sculpture and Yuan Walls: Which Fenyang Temples Are Worth the Detour?
Fenyang's three painted-temple stops are Taifu Temple for Ming hanging sculpture, Tiancun Houtu Temple for gilded Ming murals and Beiyuyuan Wuyue Temple for faded Yuan murals; go to Taifu first, check its midday closure, and treat the other two as caretaker-dependent.
Coach, Train Plus Bus, or Car: Getting to Qikou and Fenyang from Taiyuan
Qikou has no railway: take the Taiyuan–Qikou direct coach booked on the 'Shanxi Wenlüxing' WeChat mini-program, or an intercity train to Lüliang (Lishi) and a road connection; Fenyang is a short intercity hop from Taiyuan South.
Distillery, Painted Temples, Yellow River: A Three-Day Lüliang Loop from Taiyuan
Day one in Fenyang for the Fenjiu distillery and Taifu Temple, day two west to Qikou for the old street and Heilong Temple at dusk, day three Lijiashan at first light before the afternoon coach back to Taiyuan.