Is Shanxi suitable for my 80 year old parents? Is it too hilly or roads winding?

I plan to hire a driver to travel around Shanxi Province (Datong, Mt Wutai, Taiyuan and Pinyao) for one week, and bring my 80 years old parents along. Is this wise? My parents are generally healthy but like most 80 year-old, can feel worn out on long or winding road journeys. Are the roads too hilly and winding for my elderly parents? Do the roads reach the door step of all or most of the sights/attractions? Is substantial uphill walking expected? Is this the case for the whole province, especially Mt Wutai? I may have to exclude Mt Wutai from the itinerary if this is so. Thank you.

There is still a fair amount of walking even if you hire a driver. For example, the many temples on Mt Wutai is built around 5 mountains. The Hanging Temple is built along a mountain side and you have to walk up to it.

Not that much of a climb really to the Hanging Temple.

The roads to Wutai Shan are indeed winding and as said, the sights are quite spread out.

Datong, Taiyuan, and Pingyao will noto pose problems.
The hanging monastery is a little ways up a hill, but it isnt that far and you can go at a very slow pace if you like. The entrance gate where a driver will let you off is within sight of the temple.

Wutai, I have not been

It not wise to bring your 80 year old parents to SHANXI, the landscape of Shanxi is full of hills and Mts, i suggest you not to choose this route.

Th worst point of OP's idea is OP bring your 80's old parants to the unknown places where you have never been to.

You know the real phisical condoition of your 80's year old parants the most but we know nothing about it!! but you are asking "whether traveling with you by a hired car is hard" to us---it's quite unreasonable and unbalanced thing and may be very unkind to us!!

So my strong suggestion is "You should take your old parants to only the places where you have been to before and arrange your traveling with your parants adjusting to their real-time condition without asking such an unreasonable & unbalanced question.

Thanks for the many comments. A few people have told me the roads in Central and Southern Shanxi are ok and flat enough, but are tough in the Wutai region. My question is: I understand the heart and "base camp" of Wutai is the small town of Taihuai, and there are a few temples within Taihuai, such as Tayuan and Xuantong. Are the roads winding and tedious to reach Taihuai by road, and then visit Tayuan and Xuantong (since they are within downtown)? Are there steep climbs to reach Tayuan and Xuantong? Thank you.

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