4-Day Taiyuan Highlights Tour

Tour Highlights
• Admire Mengshan Mountain Buddha, carved in 551AD, believed to be China's oldest stone sculpture of the Buddha
• Visit Twin Pagoda Temple, symbol of Taiyuan built between 1597 and 1602,
• Visit Jinci Temple, Shanxi's most prominent temple founded about 1,400 years ago
• Learn the history & culture of Shanxi at Shanxi Museum, home to about 400,000 cultural relics and 110,000 old books
• Visit Qiao Family Compound, a fine example of a traditional private residence in China built in the 18th-century
• Marvel at Pingyao, an exceptionally well-preserved example of a traditional Chinese city, founded in the 14th century

Tour Itinerary at a Glance
• Day 1 Arrival in Taiyuan, Airport or Train Stations Transfer
• Day 2 Mengshan Mountain Buddha, Twin Pagoda Temple, Jinci Temple, Shanxi Museum
• Day 3 Qiao Family Compound, the Ancient City of Pingyao
• Day 4 Departure from Taiyuan, Transfer to Taiyuan Airport or Train Stations

Hotels & Meals
• 3 nights of accommodations at 4-star Hotel Taiyuan 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 Taiyuan
Meet your guide at Tainyuan airport or train stations and transfer to your hotel in a comfortable private vehicle. After getting settled at the hotel, you may explore Taiyuan on your own. Taiyuan is an ancient city with more than 2500 years of history, dating back from 497 BC. It was the capital or secondary capital of Zhao, Former Qin, Eastern Wei, Northern Qi, Northern Jin, Later Tang, Later Jin, Later Han, Northern Han dynasties. Its strategic location and rich history make Taiyuan one of the economic, political, military, and cultural centers of Northern China.

Meals Included: No meals
Hotel: 4-star Hotel Taiyuan or similar

Day 2 Mengshan Mountain Buddha, Twin Pagoda Temple, Jinci Temple, Shanxi Museum (not available on Monday)
Morning visit to Mengshan Mountain Buddha. Carved on a cliff face on Mengshan Mountain in the year 551, Mengshan Mountain Buddha is believed to be the world's largest sitting stone sculpture of the Buddha. Next, visit the Twin Pagoda Temple containing two pagodas dating from the Ming dynasty. The East pagoda was built in 1597, and the West one in 1612. Afterwards, visit Jinci  Temple, the most prominent temple complex in Shanxi province. Jinci Temple was founded about 1,400 years ago and expanded during the following centuries, resulting in a diverse collection of more than 100 sculptures, buildings, terraces, and bridges. Continue with a visit to Shanxi Museum. There are more than 400,000 cultural relics in the collection, which represent the cultural essence of Shanxi province.

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

Day 3 Qiao Family Compound, Ancient City of Pingyao
Drive out of Taiyuan to visit the Qiao Family Compound in the morning.  Constructed in 1756 during the reign of the Qianlong Emperor in the Qing dynasty, Qiao Family Compound is considered one of the finest remaining examples of imposing private residences in northern China by architects. Continue with a visit to the Ancient City of Pingyao. 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. Upon arrival in Pingyao, visit Rishengchang Exchange House, Armed Escort Company Museum, County Government Office, Confucius Temple. Walk on the City Wall of Pingyao to get a birds' eye view of this ancient city.

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

Day 4 Departure from Taiyuan, Transfer to Taiyuan Airports or Train Stations
Private transfer (without guide) to Taiyuan airport or railway stations for your departure flight/train. Wish you a pleasant journey and thank you for traveling with GoGrandChina.

Meals Included: Breakfast at hotel

Friendly Tips
• Taiyuan can be reached by bullet train from Beijing (about 3 hours)
• You may travel from Taiyuan to Datong by bullet train (about 2 hours & 30 minutes)
• You may travel from Taiyuan to Xian by bullet train (about 3 hours & 30 minutes)
• Please feel free to contact your GGC service staff if you want to book discount flight & train tickets.