Ancient City of Pingyao

Your guide will pick you up at the lobby of your hotel at 09:00 in the morning or Pingyao train station and today you will going to visit the Ancient City of Pingyao. As one of the four best preserved old cities in China, the 2,700-year-old Ancient City of Pingyao is famous for containing the most complete dwellings complex and shops with architectural style of Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368 – 1911), which are arranged at both sides of the 400-meter-long Ancient Ming-Qing Street. Situated in the center of the city, Ancient Government Office is built with a symmetrical layout. In Security Guard Company, you will know the history about the security industry through the cases, vehicles and weapons used at that time. From our guide's explanation, you will know the cultural background of Rishengchang Exchange Shop, the first private financial institution in China.

City Wall of Pingyao

Your Pingyao ancient town tour will begin with a visit to the City Wall of Pingyao, which has been well preserved. As a whole, the rectangular wall resembles a tortoise, which was considered as a symbol of longevity traditionally. Ascending the wall, you could overlook the ancient city of Pingyao.

Ming and Qing Dynasties Street

Then, get down from the wall and have a stroll on the traditional Ming-Qing Street. On both sides of this not very wide street, there are many buildings in ancient Chinese architecture style, which used to be firms, exchange shops and different kinds of shops like teashop, cloth shop and salt shop. Nowadays, some of them have been turned to hotels, restaurants or shops selling souvenirs while some have been preserved as attraction sites and museums.

Pingyao Ancient Government Office

Then, pay a visit to Pingyao Ancient Government Office, which is located in the middle of the ancient city for more than 600 years. Covering about 26,000 square meters (31,095 square yards), it includes many majestic courtyards and buildings. The Security Guard Company is also worth seeing for it is a museum which introduces the development of the ancient Chinese security guards.

Rishengchang Former Bank

After lunch, you will proceed to Ri Sheng Chang Exchange Shop and Tong Xing Gong. Ri Sheng Chang Exchange Shop is the first money exchange shop in China as well as the founder of Chinese modern banks, which has played an important role in Chinese financial business for about one century. Tong Xing Gong was an establishment which provided private escort service for the exchange shops to guard their safety during transportation.

Ancient City of Pingyao

After breakfast, you will have a one hour Paper Cutting class is arranged for you to learn about the traditional skill of Chinese folk arts.

Shuanglin Temple

Next,you will proceed to Shuanglin Temple. This scenic area mainly consists of Buddhist halls in all sizes, such as the Mahavira Hall (Da Xiong Bao Dian) and the Sakyamuni Hall. Within the halls, there are a lot of vividly painted sculptures of Heavenly Kings, Bodhisattvas, and arhats. In addition, you will marvel at the exquisite frescos created in the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644).

Qiao's Family Compound (Qiao Jia Dayuan)

Next you will be escorted to the well-known Qiao Family's Compound in around one hour's drive. As a typical residence with architectural style of the Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911) in northern China, it is elegant and superbly decorated.

Taiyuan East Railway Station

After lunch, will drive to Taiyuan Railway Station, where a train to Datong is waiting for you. The train takes around 3 hours. Upon arrival at Datong, you will be picked up on time and transferred to the hotel. Note: Datong pick up, just the driver only, no guide.

Datong

In the morning at 9am, your guide will meet you at the hotel lobby and transfer to Hanging Monastery, need 90 minutes driving, 84km.

Hengshan Hanging Temple (Xuankong si)

The renowned Hanging Monastery, which looks like a grand relief inlaid on the steep cliff. It will be a thrilling experience to go along the hanging walkways to visit each hall of the temple. It is unique that the hierarchs of Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism are worshiped here together.

Pagoda of Fogong Temple

Then you will take a car ride to Yingxian County to see the famous Wooden Pagoda. It is the oldest wooden tower in China, which has been around for nearly 1,000 years, and not a single nail was used during its construction.

The often-hostile nomadic tribes to the north meant that some regions of Shanxi Province used to be vital battlefields in the past. After lunch, you will continue your journey to the military fortresses in rural areas. Firstly, you will stop at the Guangwu Fort with tall walls surrounding the present Guangwu Village. After that, the guide will accompany you to take a one-hour hike on the wild Baicaokou Great Wall which has experienced the great vicissitudes of history and retains its original appearance. At this time, your today Datong day tour will draw a perfect ending. You will take a 2-hour car ride back to your hotel in Datong.

Datong

In the morning, your guide will meet you at 9am of your Datong hotel then transfer to Yungang Grottoes, need 30 minutes driving, 16km.

Yungang Grottoes

Upon arrival at the Yungang Grottoes, your guide will accompany you as you to go around viewing more than 59,000 solemn Buddha statues made during the Northern Wei Dynasty (386 - 534). Considered to be a treasure house of Buddhist arts, Yungang Grottoes took over 70 years to reach the present scale. The sculptures there integrate the superb artistry of Northern Wei and showcase the atmospheric and imperial style. You are sure to feel astonished by the magnificent scene there.

Huayan Temple of Datong

After admiring the sculptural arts of the Northern Wei Dynasty, you will then be guided to Huayan Monastery to appreciate the architectural style created during the Liao Dynasty (907 - 1125). You will also see a statue of Bodhisattva with a grin on her face, which makes it stand out from the rest.

Nine Dragon Screen

After lunch, you will head for the Nine-Dragon Wall which used to be a giant screen in front of a prince's mansion 600 years ago.

Datong City Walls

At the end of the day, you will round off today's Datong tour with the Ancient City Wall and then take you back to your hotel or Datong train station.