3-Day Pingyao Gateway Tour

Tour Highlights
• Marvel at Pingyao, an exceptionally well-preserved example of a traditional Chinese city, founded in the 14th century
• Visit Rishengchang Exchange House, China's first draft bank
• Learn ancient Chinese escort stories at Armed Escort Company Museum
• Check out how an ancient Chinese local government looks like at Pingyao County Government Office
• Marvel at the Temple of City God, divine protector of the ancient city of Pingyao
• Learn ancient Chinese Imperial Examination System at Pingyao Confucius Temple
• Stroll along Pingyao's ancient city wall, one of the best-preserved city walls in China
• Admire Shuanglin Temple with over 2,000 painted sculptures, reputed as an Oriental Art Gallery of Painted Sculptures
• Visit Wang Family Mansion, the largest of Shanxi Courtyard Houses which rivals Beijing's Forbidden City in its magnitude

Tour Itinerary at a Glance
• Day 1 Arrival in Pingyao, Taiyuan Airport or Pingyao Train Station Transfer
• Day 2 Rishengchang Exchange House, Armed Escort Company Museum, County Government Office, Confucius Temple, City God Temple, City Wall
• Day 3 Shuanglin Temple, Wang's Family Compound, Transfer to Taiyuan Airport or Pingyao Train Station

Hotels & Meals
• 2 nights of accommodations at 4-star Chengruihan Hotel Pingyao or similar
• Daily hotel breakfast included, lunch & dinner on your own

Price Remarks
• Prices are not valid during National Day (Oct 1-7), Chinese New Year, and Labor Day (May 1-5).
• Prices are based on double/twin/triple occupancy at the suggested hotels.
• A single supplement is charged for single room occupancy.

Price Inclusions
• Hotel accommodation with daily breakfast.
• Professional English language speaking tour guide.
• Air-conditioned vehicle with an experienced driver.
• Admission tickets to sightseeing places.
• All government taxes.

Price Exclusions
• Your personal expenses.
• Tour guide for departure transfer.
• Lunches & dinners are excluded allowing you flexibility on menu.
• Travel insurance is not included. Please purchase before your trip to provide for any unforeseen circumstances.
• Gratuities to guide & driver. They are customary and would be of great encouragement and reward for quality service.

Additional Information
• Confirmation will be received at the time of booking.
• Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately.
• The itinerary is subject to change due to traffic conditions or bad weather.
• The itinerary is flexible; changes can be made upon written request from travelers.
• Advice on Meals: Please feel free to ask your guide for recommendations on authentic local food.
• IMPORTANT: It is required by the government regulations that all travellers must provide their name, gender, nationality, passport number and date of birth to their tour operator upon booking a tour. Failure to do so could result in being denied access or admittance to sites and attractions during sightseeing. When you book this tour, please complete all required fields at checkout. Please bring your passport with you on the tour.

Cancellation Policy
• Cancellations made 31 days or more before departure will receive a 100% refund.
• Cancellations made 22-30 days before departure will incur a 10% fee.
• Cancellations made 15-21 days before departure will incur a 30% fee.
• Cancellations made 8-14 days before departure will incur a 50% fee.
• Cancellations made 0-7 days before departure are non-refundable.
• Once the tour commences, there are no refunds for unused services or missed days.
• Cancellation request will be confirmed within 2-5 business days, with refunds issued within 14 working days.

Tailor This Tour to Meet Your Needs
• If you've booked your own hotel, prefer a different stay, or wish to modify this itinerary, contact us via WhatsApp (+86 139 1083 0737) or email (info@GrandChinaTravel.com), and we'll craft a personalized tour just for you.

Know Before You Go
• Keep your passport with you throughout the tour; it may be needed to buy entrance tickets.
• Meals are not included; please feel free to ask your guide for recommendations.
• Tour guide's name and contact information will be confirmed via WhatsApp or email.
• Your guide will greet you in the airport/train station arrival hall with a GGC pickup sign displaying your name.

Day 1 Arrival in Pingyao
Meet your guide at Tainyuan airport or Pingyao train station and transfer to your hotel in a comfortable private vehicle. After getting settled at the hotel, you may explore Pingyao on your own. Pingyao is an exceptionally well-preserved example of a traditional Chinese city, founded in the 14th century. Its urban fabric shows the evolution of architectural styles and town planning in Imperial China over five centuries. It retains all the Chinese city features, provides a complete picture of the cultural, social, economic and religious development in Chinese history, and it is of great value for studying the social form, economic structure, military defense, religious belief, traditional thinking, traditional ethics and dwelling form.

Meals Included: No meals
Hotel: 4-star Chengruihan Hotel Pingyao or similar

Day 2 Rishengchang Exchange House, Armed Escort Company Museum, County Government Office, Confucius Temple, City God Temple, City Wall
Explore the Ancient City of Pingyao from Rishengchang Exchange House. This establishment, which was founded in 1823, was the first draft bank to be set up in China. In a compound with three courtyards, Rishengchang Exchange House offers visitors a glimpse into the history of the early financial system and its operations. Next, visit the Armed Escort Museum to try out all the martial arts training setups and exotic weapons you've seen in Chinese movies. Continue with a visit to County Government Office which contains such facilities as a prison, a courtroom, meeting rooms, a garden, as well as residential quarters and offices for governmental officials. You may experience an court case reenactments of the late Qing dynasty here. Next, visit Pingyao’s oldest surviving building, the Confucius Temple which is where bureaucrats-to-be came to take the imperial exams in ancient China. Afterwards, visit the Temple of City God, divine protector of the ancient city of Pingyao. Finally, visit Pingyao City Wall. Built in 1370, the city wall of Pingyao stretches over a distance of about 6 km (3.73 miles). Climb up the stairs by the South Gate, where you'll get a panoramic view with the City Tower, the Confucius Temple and the City God Temple as backdrop.

Meals Included: Breakfast at hotel
Hotel: 4-star Chengruihan Hotel Pingyao or similar

Day 3 Shuanglin Temple,  Wang Family Compound, Transfer to Pingyao Train Stations
Morning visit to Shuanglin Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site inscribed in 1997. Founded in the 6th century, this temple is notable for its collection of colourful sculptures, lifelike in form, which were patterned on the design of the artistic traditions of the Song, Jin and Yuan periods. Thousands of extravagant figurines and relief sculptures that seem almost organically woven into the temple’s interior structures. They are considered among the finest examples of Chinese coloured sculptures. Afterwards, visit the Wang Family Compound, another UNESCO World Heritage Site. First constructed in the mid-17th century, the expansion of Wang's Family Compound continued for over a century. It is one of the largest of Ming Dynasties era architectural masterpieces. Transfer to Pingyao train station for your departure train. Wish you a pleasant journey and thank you for traveling with GoGrandChina.

Meals Included: Breakfast at hotel

Friendly Tips
• You may travel from Pingyao to Xian by bullet train (about 3 hours)
• You may travel from Pingyao to Beijing by bullet train (about 4 hours)
• Please feel free to contact your GGC service staff if you want to book discount flight & train tickets.