Folk life
Video 1:26Shanzhou Sunken Courtyards
陕州地坑院Houses dug down into the loess, not built up
4.42 h 30 min|¥60
Illustrative imageShanzhou陕州
Sunken courtyard villages cut into the loess, still warm in winter.
Suggested stay
1 day
Editorial guides
1
Arrive at
Sanmenxia South railway
Best season
Apr–Oct, Jan for folk fairs
The short version
Shanzhou (陕州) rewards 1 day, reached via Sanmenxia South railway. It suits travellers interested in folk life, heritage. The best window is Apr–Oct, Jan for folk fairs. The headline sights are Shanzhou Sunken Courtyards.
Three reasons to get off the train
- 01
Folk life
Temple fairs, kiln lanes and living craft
- 02
Heritage
Imperial capitals, grottoes and excavated cities
- 03
Bring these together
Shanzhou Sunken Courtyards
What to see in Shanzhou
1 editorial guidesWhat happened here
c. 1040 BCEZhou
Dividing the realm at Shanzhou
The dukes of Zhou and Shao split the new kingdom at a marker in Shanzhou — the origin of the phrase for dividing duties.
What to eat in Shanzhou
Food notes for this county are still being gathered. The provincial food index covers the wider region.
“From the field you see nothing. Twenty steps down and there is a whole household.”
Shanzhou Sunken Courtyards
Arrive, then move slowly
- Gateway
- Sanmenxia South railway
- Rail access
- Direct high-speed rail
- Time needed
- 1 days · 2.5 h of site time
Rail times below are planning estimates, not timetable data. Confirm departures before booking.
Nearby by rail
| City | Distance | Est. rail |
|---|---|---|
| Sanmenxia 三门峡 | 11 km | 0h 35m |
| Lingbao 灵宝 | 30 km | 0h 42m |
| Luoyang 洛阳 | 124 km | 1h 12m |
| Jiyuan 济源 | 143 km | 1h 18m |
Travelling to Shanzhou?
Tell us your dates and the pace you like. A person replies with rail times, a walking order and a cost estimate — usually within two hours.