Susan Prison
Susan Prison (Susan jianyu), located close to Hongdong County's Hongdong village, is a Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD) construction, and is the earliest surviving prison still in China. The prison is not, at present, in use, but basically maintains its structure, despite the fact that it was heavily restored in 1984. The prison is one of those Chinese sights that, although not overly exciting, is worth visiting if you have time on your hands.

Encompassed in these tall walls are spacious cells, water wells and various kinds of torturing tools, replicas of the original tools of terror that were used on Ming felons. Towards the back of the prison, in a small courtyard, is a stele which, if you can read Chinese, displays a list of the inmates that were originally jailed here. The most famous story from this jail tells of a woman who was wrongly accused of poisoning her husband and imprisoned.

How to get there: The prison lies about 1km west of the bus station in the village of Hongdong. Hongdong is located 20km northeast of Linfen, and can be reached by bus in around 1hr. From Linfen, you may also take a bus heading for Guangsheng Temple and get off in Hongdong.

Opening hours: 08:00-17:00.

Cost: RMB13.