The Royal Residence of the Prime Minister.[Photo by Li Mengyuan/China Daily]

Discover a spectacular meeting point of mountain forests, cliff roads and legends in Northern China.

What kind of mansion was worth a personal visit by Emperor Kangxi three centuries ago and the chancellor of Germany in modern times? The Royal Residence of the Prime Minister, well-deserving of its 5-A tourism designation in China.

Together with Mount Taihang and the Old Town of Pingyao the residence is among the most impressive places I had the opportunity to visit during a tour of Shanxi province organized by China Daily and the Shanxi Tourism Bureau for a group of foreigners.

Most Westerners seeking to discover more of China are world travelers with global attitudes, yet they are looking for immersive experiences filled with heritage, richness and authenticity. These are definitely things you can find in Shanxi.