????Shanxi is regarded as an important cradle of Chinese civilization and has been described by experts as the place of origin of ancient China.

????It boasts the magnificent Taihang Mountains, the Yellow River that nurtured the millennia-old Chinese civilization, Mount Wutai, which is regarded as one of the four holy mountains by Chinese Buddhists, the Yungang Grottoes that were carved about 1,600 years ago and the ancient town of Pingyao — one of the four best preserved old towns in the country.

????The scenery and history of Shanxi rarely fail to amaze visitors. People can witness the grandeur and luxury of the noble tombs of the ancient Jin Kingdom, which dates back 3,000 years. They can also marvel at a traditional Chinese town built about 600 years ago.

????This is Shanxi — a historically rich, mysterious and fascinating place and a province that is only 500 kilometers away from the capital Beijing.

????If you are interested in all that was mentioned above, we are offering you a rare opportunity —a free trip to Shanxi!

????All accommodation, food, transport and entry tickets for scenic spots will be paid for by China Daily. Travel insurance and all other incidental costs (such as extra nights, international telephone calls and faxes, business center services, room service, laundry and mini-bar charges of the hotel) will not be covered by China Daily.?

????2. Submitted photographs must not be digitally edited, but cropping is allowed. The photos you submit are ONLY for the selection process and will not be published in any form.

????We also encourage applicants to write briefly about their motivation for joining the trip and their expectations.

????We hope that those selected to join us will write articles and take as many photos as possible, as we would like to publish them. (China Daily will have first refusal on any work produced during the trip.)

????We hope that you will post the photographs or comments of your feelings about “beautiful Shanxi” on social network platforms.