Pingyao

Tours

Pingyao, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and one of the best preserved ancient cities in the known world. Walking in the ancient city is the perfect way to quickly absorb its historic vibes. Your English-speaking guide will pick you up from your Pingyao hotel, and you will soon be on your way through the streets. You will admire the ancient city wall that was built with bricks and stones. Walking sections of the walls allows excellent views across the city’s many tiled rooftops and down into domestic courtyards, as most buildings within historic Pingyao are mainly low-rise. Then approach the Rishengchang Bank, the first exchange bank of China, and marvel at the old government buildings. Visit the Ancient Security Guard Company,is the only private organization of armed escort in Pingyao's history and one of two most famous during the Ming and Qing dynasty. A country government office was known as a Yamen and that in Pingyao dates from1346 during the Yuan Dynasty. They formerly housed the office and home of the magistrate sent to act as mayor, judge and senior official for Pingyao. Entered through a ceremonial gate, this yamen had over 300 rooms including not only offices but also a court, meeting rooms, residential areas, a garden and even a prison. Ming&Qing Street , the traditional shops and houses are still well preserved. They were all built with bricks and stones completely using the style of Ming and Qing architecture. As such they are representatives of most ancient buildings in China that still survive and offer a stark contrast to the architecture employed today. Pingyao Confucian Temple is with the sophisticated layout, if you'd like to feel what the place meant to ancient Chinese intellectuals, simply step along the path those No. 1 scholars of annual imperial examinations (called Zhuangyuan) once marched past. Every year there was a gentleman who had been raised up here and made himself well-known after gaining the No.1 position in imperial examinations. The city would watch him swagger from Eastern City Wall all the way across Cloud Road ( indicating that one's career takes off like rapidly rising-up cloud), Kuixing (the holy guard of Chinese students ) Hall, Wenchang (God of Literature) Hall, Rainbow Bridge, Lingxing (in charge of Harvest of the country) Hall, Pan Bridge (also called Zhuangyuan Bridge) and the last stop Dacheng Hall (where the statue of Confucius is worshiped and his great achievements are displayed). As you walk through Pingyao, the courtyard houses, narrow streets, and small shops in the city provide a complete picture of China’s cultural and social lifestyle during that period of time. There are too many scenic spots in Pingyao Ancient City to list one by one here. If you have any special visiting preferences, please leave us a message and we will definitely arrange it.

Discover Shuanglin Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and explore the Oriental Treasure House of Painted Sculptures. Admire over 2,000 ancient painted sculptures and beautifully preserved frescoes from the Yuan to Ming Dynasty. Explore the Shuanglin Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and discover the Oriental Treasure House of Painted Sculptures. Admire over 2,000 ancient painted sculptures and beautifully preserved frescoes from the Yuan to Ming Dynasty. Marvel at the masterpieces of art and the entire architectural complex, which are ancient cultural splendors, infrequent folk art estates, and a great window to learn about Buddhist culture in China.

DAY 1 Datong Arrival, Datong features The Datong Nine-Dragon Screen Wall is the oldest and largest glazed screen in China. A screen wall is a traditional Chinese architectural feature, used for block the view from the front gate. Huayan Temple is not far from the Nine-Dragon Screen Wall. It has the world's second largest wooden pagoda. Under the pagoda there is an underground Thousand Buddha Palace, which is made of pure copper. It is all copper from the ceiling to the floor. Lunch will be arranged in a local social restaurant, and your tour guide will assist you to make the order, so you can taste the most authentic local food. In the afternoon you will visit one of the biggest Buddhist grottoes in China - the Yungang Grottoes . After the day trip, have a good rest in your hotel, and prepare for the adventures of the next day. DAY 2 Datong to Pingyao, Hanging Monastery, Yingxian Wooden Pagoda It takes about 5½ hours by car from Datong to Pingyao, but don't worry: you won't feel bored on the way! After breakfast in your hotel, drive 1½ hours to the Hanging Temple. True to its name, the Hanging Temple is hanging on a cliff. Ancient people built this temple to store food and water for people who passed by, and accepted three major Chinese religions, so that travelers of those religions could stay there. Lunch will be arranged near the Hanging Temple, and then you will head to the Yingxian Wooden Pagoda. As a UNESCO site, the Yingxian Wooden Pagoda is the oldest and tallest surviving wooden structure in China. After the pagoda travel by highway directly to Pingyao, and check in at your hotel in Pingyao Ancient Town. DAY 3 Pingyao, experience Pingyao's charm Wake up in your traditional-Chinese-style room. It's better to start the day with the Ancient City Wall. The core history of Pingyao Ancient Town is the history of Chinese banking system. Rishengchang Former Bank was the first draft bank in China. Lunch will be arranged in a local restaurant. Mingqing Street area, which is the most prosperous area in the ancient town. The lanterns are all on at night, and it is very lively there in the evening. DAY 4 Pingyao Departure, Shuanglin Temple, Wang Family Compound After breakfast in your hotel, You will explore the rich culture outside of the ancient city wall. Driving for 10 minutes, you will visit the Shuanglin Temple first. The Shuanglin Temple is considered to be the "unrestored glory" of Pingyao. Then you will drive in a southerly direction for one hour to the Wang Family Courtyard. Lunch will be arranged in a local restaurant on the way. The Wang Family Compound is about 1½ hours from the ancient town. It is the former residence of the Wang family - a reputable official's family that lived there for over 300 years. Its total area is about 25 ha. (62 ac.), with 123 courtyards and 1,118 rooms. After your trip, your guide and driver will drive you to the train station and say goodbye.

Take a day trip from Xi'an to Pingyao Ancient Town by high-speed train. Explore the city with a local guide, and enjoy a delicious lunch. Begin your day with pickup from your hotel in Xi'an and transfer to the train station by our driver. Board the train and enjoy a 3-hour journey to Pingyao Ancient Town. Upon arrival, meet your local guide at the exit of the arrival hall and transfer to the old town. Start a walking tour of the Pinayao Old City. Founded during the Western Zhou Dynasty (1046 – 771 BC) and rebuilt in 1370, the Pingyao old city is nowadays one of China's four best-preserved old cities. Step into the city, the old past comes alive. The Ming Qing Street is flanked with shops of local handicraft. Rishengchang shows us the glory of the first Chinese exchange shops. The ancient government office tells everything about the bureaucracy of the feudal society. If time allows, you shouldn’t miss the Temple of City God, Confucius Temple, and museums in different themes. Immerse yourself in the atmosphere of old times lifestyle and appreciate the charms of old China. Feel free to discuss with your tour guide on where you want to go in the old city. Your tour also includes a delicious lunch, just tell your guide when you want to fill your stomach. Move on to the UNESCO site of Shuanglin Temple. Shuanglin Temple is reputed to be the 'ancient painted sculptures museum'. It houses more than 2,000 colorful sculptures reflecting the exquisite skills of the artisans of the Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties. Stroll around the halls and courtyards with your tour guide, admire the 1,400 years paintings and sculptures. Get to know the history, stories behind and learn the history about the Buddhism in China. Feel free to ask your tour guide if you have any questions. After the tour, you will be transferred to railway station to heading back to Xi'an. Your driver will meet you at the railway station and take you to your hotel in Xi'an.