Yulin is a mountain city in the north of Shanxi Province, northern China, which started out as a fort on the Great Wall of China. It is quite remote, being several hundred kilometers from Beijing, yet has its own small airport.
Yulin is often included as a side trip by those visiting the higher profile town of Yan’an, farther south. In some ways it is more appealing due to its slower pace and well-preserved buildings. There are several interesting temples worth seeing in the old town, including Bring Gladness Temple (Daixing Si) and Fragrant Cloud Temple (Xiangyun Si).
Nearby Red Stone Gorge (Hongshixia) is a few kilometers outside Yulin and is a striking area. The gorge is blood red in places with a green river running through it and ancient temples and caves nearby. Also in this region is Zhenbeitai Fort, one of the largest towers on the Ming-era Great Wall.
Getting There & Away
The best way in is to fly, and Yulin Airport receives flights from Beijing and Xi’an. Beijing is under an hour’s flight away, while Xi’an, the Shanxi capital, is even closer. Trains serve Yulin from Yan’an but not from Beijing. Buses serve the city from Xi’an in 4 hours, while Beijing is about 8 hours away.
Things to Do
Yulin Attractions
- Zhenbeitai Tower
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Not far out of town is this huge tower, which was an addition to the great wall during the ming dynasty.
- Ancient Town
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The old town is the most interesting part of yulin, containing many ancient structures including the fragrant cloud and bring gladness temples.
Side trips from Yulin
- Red Stone Gorge (Hongshixia)
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Yulin has stunning surroundings and this deep gorge is a part of them.