5-Day Taiyuan Discovery Tour from Taiyuan to Pingyao Ancient City

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
• Marvel at Pingyao, an exceptionally well-preserved example of a traditional Chinese city, founded in the 14th century
• Admire Shuanglin Temple with over 2,000 painted sculptures, reputed as an Oriental Art Gallery of Painted Sculptures
• Visit Zhenguo Temple, one of China’s earliest and most precious timber structure buildings in existence
• 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 Taiyuan, Airport or Train Stations Transfer
• Day 2 Taiyuan, Mengshan Mountain Buddha, Twin Padoda Temple, Jinci Temple, Drive to Pingyao
• Day 3 Pingyao, the Ancient City of Pingyao
• Day 4 Shuanglin Temple, Zhenguo Temple, Wang's Family Compound
• Day 5 Departure from Pingyao, Transfer to Pingyao Train Station

Hotels & Meals
• 1 night of accommodation at 4-star  Hotel Taiyuan or similar
• 3 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 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 Taiyuan, Mengshan Mountain Buddha, Twin Pagoda Temple, Jinci Temple, Drive to Pingyao
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. Drive to the ancient city of Pingyao.

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

Day 3 Pingyao, Ancient City of Pingyao
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 4 Pingyao, Shuanglin Temple, Zhenguo Temple, Wang Family Compound
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. Next, visit Zhenguo Temple, another UNESCO World Heritage site. The temple's oldest hall, the Ten Thousand Buddha Hall, was built in 963 during the Northern Han dynasty, and is notable for featuring very large brackets that hold up the roof and flying eaves. The sculptures inside the hall are among the only examples of 10th century Buddhist sculpture in China. Afterwards, visit the Wang's 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.

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

Day 5 Departure from Pingyao
Private transfer (without guide) to Pingyao railway stations 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.