There are some notable attractions in the flat countryside around Taiyuan. Definitely worth a diversion are the little town of Pingyao , a relic from the Qing dynasty, and the Shuanglin Si nearby, full of breathtaking sculpture, which together make a more interesting day-trip than the better-known, but very touristy, Jinci Si . To the west, Tianlong Shan 's Buddhist grottoes deserve investigation if you're not heading to the caves near Datong or the Longmen site at Luoyang.