Pingyao County Trip Overview
Join this comprehensive 3-day private tour to discover the city highlights of Pingyao and Datong. Alongside an expert guide, explore three spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Sites – Ancient City of Pingyao, Yungang Grottoes and Hanging Temple. Besides, you will also visit the Nine Dragon Screen and Datong City Wall. Gain valuable insight into the rich history of the city. This private tour including English speaking tour guide, entrance fee, lunches, travel by private vehicle during the tour. You can choose to end your tour in Datong or return Pingyao. Please book your own hotel in Datong.
Additional Info
Duration: 3 days
Starts: Pingyao County, China
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Historical & Heritage Tours
Explore Pingyao County Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Pingyao County, Shanxi, China
Join this comprehensive 3-day private tour to discover the city highlights of Pingyao and Datong. Alongside an expert guide, explore three spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Sites – Ancient City of Pingyao, Yungang Grottoes and Hanging Temple. Besides, you will also visit the Nine Dragon Screen and Datong City Wall. Gain valuable insight into the rich history of the city. This private tour including English speaking tour guide, entrance fee, lunches, travel by private vehicle during the tour. You can choose to end your tour in Datong or return Pingyao. Please book your own hotel in Datong.
Itinerary
Day 1: Pingyao Ancient Town
Stop At: Ancient City of Pingyao, In Pingyao County, Pingyao County 031100 China
Your tour guide will pick you up in your hotels lobby at 9:00am and start a walking tour of Pinayao Old City.
Founded during the Western Zhou Dynasty (1046 – 771 BC) and rebuilt in 1370, the Pingyao old city is listed as the UNESCO site. 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 including lunch, just tell your tour guide when you want to stop for lunch.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: City Wall of Pingyao, Within Pingyao County, Pingyao County 031100 China
Typically you will start from the Pingyao Old City Wall.
The City Wall of Pingyao is one of the well-preserved walls in China. In 1997, the City Wall along with the Ancient Town was listed as one of the World Cultural Heritage. Follow your tour guide to stroll around the area.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Ming and Qing Dynasties Street,South Main Street, Pingyao County 031100 China
Next, discover the shops and restaurants along the Ancient Ming-Qing Street, feel the atmosphere of the flourishing businesses and admire the Ming and Qing style architecture. Here is the best place to shop for your souvenirs.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Ping Yao Temple of the City God, Chenghuang Temple Street, Pingyao County 031100 China
Continue to explore one of the best preserved temples in China- Tempe of the City God. Admire its wonderful woodcarvings, stone sculptures, painted sculptures and mural paintings which reflect excellent craftsmanship at that time.
Duration: 40 minutes
Stop At: Pingyao Confucian Temple, In Ancient City of Pingyao, Pingyao County 031100 China
Afterwards, heading to Pingyao Confucian Temple. Founded as early as in the Tang Dynasty (618 – 908 AD), Pingyao Confucian Temple is one of the oldest and currently the best-preserved of its kind in China. Stroll around the courtyards and halls with your guide, get to know Confucius (551 – 478 BC), who is a famous philosopher, educator and the founder of the Confucian school.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Pingyao Ancient Government Office, Center of the County, Pingyao County 030000 China
There are many places to visit in Pingyao Ancient Town, feel free to discuss with your tour guide.
After the tour finished, you will be transferred back to your hotel in Pingyao.
Duration: 30 minutes
Meals included:
• Lunch
No accommodation included on this day.
Day 2: Pingyao-Hanging Temple-Datong
Stop At: Hengshan Hanging Temple (Xuankong si), Hengshan, Datong China
Meet your tour guide in the early morning,then heading to Hengshan Hanging Temple which takes 3 hours, enjoy the countryside view along the way.
The hanging temple is the only existed temple hosting worship for the Taoists, Confucians and Buddhists. Built in 491 A.D, Hanging Temple is an architectural wonder because it hangs on the west cliff of Jinxia Gorge more than 50 meters above the ground. An unique mechanical theory was applied to building the framework. Crossbeams were half-inserted into the rock as the foundation, while the rock in back became its support. Seen from below, it appears to be a tumble-down castle in the air. Inside, it provides the same scene as other temples. Hanging Monastery is an architectural wonder. A unique mechanical theory was applied to building the framework. Crossbeams were half-inserted into the rock as the foundation, while the rock in back became its support. Seen from below, it appears to be a tumble-down castle in the air. Inside, it provides the same scene as other temples. The architecture embodies a great cultural achievement of Chinese people.
Follow your tour guide to experience the 1400 years architectural wonder, get to learn the history of three major religions in China and how these believes been used into the architecture.
Afterwards, enjoy lunch in the local restaurant, then you will be transferred back to your hotel in Datong( Please book your own hotel in Datong).
Duration: 2 hours
Meals included:
• Lunch
No accommodation included on this day.
Day 3: Datong-Yungang Grottoes-Nine Dragon Screen-City Wall
Stop At: Yungang Grottoes, Wuzhou Mountain, Urban Area, Datong 37000 China
Meet your tour guide in the lobby of your hotel, then start your tour from Yungang Grottoes.
Located at the southern foot of the Wuzhou Mountain, the Yungang Grottoes were built against the mountain and extend about one km (0.62 miles) from east to west. Comprising 252 caves and 51,000 statues within a carved area of 18,000 square meters.
Yungang Grottoes represent the outstanding achievement of Buddhist cave art in China during the 5th and 6th centuries. The Five Caves created by Tan Yao, with their strict unity of layout and design, constitute a classical masterpiece of the first peak of Chinese Buddhist art.
While influenced by Buddhist cave art from South and Central Asia, Yungang Grottoes have also interpreted the Buddhist cave art with distinctive Chinese character and local spirit. As a result, Yungang Grottoes have played a vitally important role among early Oriental Buddhist grottoes and had a far-reaching impact on Buddhist cave art in China and East Asia.
Yungang Grottoes were added to the World Cultural Heritage List in December 2001.
Walk with your tour guide to explore the grottoes and niches, get to know its history and culture. Since this is a private tour, feel free to ask questions during the tour.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Nine Dragon Screen, Yanghe Street, Cheng District, Datong 037000 China
Next, follow your tour guide to check out the oldest and largest glazed screen in China. Built over 600 years ago, Nine Dragon Screen in Datong presently the oldest and largest glazed screen in China today. Admire the massive screen and learn its history and background with your tour guide.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Datong City Walls, Centre of Datong, Urban Area, Datong 037000 China
Enjoy lunch in the local restaurant, after that, follow your tour guide to explore the city wall.
The Datong City Wall with a long history going back to the North Wei Dynasty (386～557), the City Wall is truly magnificent. Since ancient times, Datong has been a place of great strategic importance, especially when in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), it became the door of the country’s capital, through the protective screen of Shanxi province, and a safeguard of the Yellow River Plain.
After the tour finished, your can choose to end your tour in Datong or travel back to Pingyao.
Duration: 30 minutes
Meals included:
• Lunch
No accommodation included on this day.
