Taiyuan Highlights Day Trip: Mengshan Mountain Buddha, Twin Pagoda Temple, Jinci Temple & Shanxi Museum

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.

About This Tour
• Departure: Daily departing from Taiyuan
• Tour Duration: Approximately 8 hours.
• Guide Languages: Chinese & English.
• Pickup Time: Between 07:00 and 10:00, choose a departure time most suitable for you.
• Pickup & Drop-off Place: Your accommodation in Taiyuan
• Advice on Meals: Lunch is not included in this tour. We recommend having a substantial breakfast and bringing snacks in case you get hungry while sightseeing. If you'd like to experience authentic local cuisine for lunch, feel free to inform your guide, who will be happy to assist.

Tour Itinerary at a Glance
• Pick up from your accommodation in Taiyuan
• Drive to Menshan Mountain Buddha (about 20km)
• Visit Mengshan Mountain Buddha
• Visit Twin Pagoda Temple
• Lunch on your own
• Visit Jinci Temple
• Visit Shanxi Museum (not available on Monday)
• Transfer back to your accommodation in Taiyuan

Price Remark
• Prices are not valid during National Day (Oct 1-7), Chinese New Year, and Labor Day (May 1-5).

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

Price Exclusions
• Hotel accommodation.
• Meals are excluded allowing you flexibility on menu.
• Your personal expenses.
• 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.
• IMPORTANT: It is required by the government regulations that travelers 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 24 hours prior to the scheduled departure time will receive a 100% refund.
• Cancellations made within 24 hours of the tour's start time or after the tour begins are non-refundable.
• 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 want to customize this itinerary, contact us via WhatsApp (+86 139 1083 0737) or email (info@GrandChinaTravel.com). We'll create a tailor-made tour package just for you.

Know Before You Go
• Keep your passport with you throughout the tour; it may be needed to buy entrance tickets.
• Pickup time, guide's name, and contact information will be confirmed via WhatsApp or email.
• Your guide will be at the meeting point, holding a GGC pickup sign with your name.
• Meals are not included; please feel free to ask your guide for recommendations.
• If you book an Airbnb, please note that door-to-door pickup and drop-off might not be provided.
• There's a 20-minute grace period for waiting. Failure to show up will result in tour cancellation & no refund.

Hotel Pickup, Transfer to Mengshan Mountain Buddha
Your private guide will be holding GoGrandChina pick-up sign and waiting for you in your hotel lobby (or other appointed meeting place) at the appointed time. You will be transferred to Mengshan Mountain Buddha (about 20km) in a comfortable private vehicle.

Visit Mengshan Mountain Buddha
The Mengshan Mountain Buddha was carved on a cliff face on Mengshan Mountain in the year 551, during China's Northern and Southern Dynasties. It is believed to be 162 years older than the world's largest sitting stone sculpture of the Buddha in Leshan, Sichuan Province. The Mengshan Buddha, 63 meters tall, was discovered in the 1980s with parts of it lost or buried in silt and rubbles. Continuous mining in the area led to geological disasters including landslides, ground collapses and fissures, leaving the giant statue in danger of collapse. In 2012 China's Ministry of Land Resources gave 10.8 million Yuan (£6.6million) towards restoring the remarkable statue. It was opened to tourists in 2008 after repair.

Visit Twin Pagoda Temple
The Twin Pagoda Temple, officially known as Yongzuo Temple is a temple containing two pagodas dating from the Ming dynasty. The East pagoda was built in 1597, and the West one in 1612. In charge of the pagoda’s construction was a high ranking monk, named Fodeng. By the 20th century, deterioration since construction had caused the East pagoda to slant from its center of gravity by 2.87 meters. In 1995, experts set about trying to correct the slant. They removed earth from underneath the pagoda and successfully corrected the pagoda's tilt. The pagodas are the tallest set of twin pagodas in China. They are both eight-cornered, with the lowest floor being comparatively taller than the rest, the size of the upper floors progressively decreasing. The West Pagoda is 54.78 meters tall, with the lowest floor’s circumference being 4.16 meters. The pagoda’s eaves are painted with emerald green glaze. The East Pagoda is 53.3 meters high, and the lowest floor’s circumference is 4.36 meters. On top of the East pagoda are three magic gourds, with the upper two parts being made of copper.

Lunch at Your Own Expense
Please feel free to ask your guide for suggestions and recommendations

Visit Jinci Temple
The Jinci  Temple is the most prominent temple complex in Shanxi province. It 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. The best known structure at Jinci Temple is the Hall of the Holy Mother, which was constructed from 1023 to 1032 during the Song dynasty. It has carved wooden dragons coiled around the eight pillars that support its upward-curving double-eave roof. The complex includes a classical garden with a 3,000-year-old cypress dating from the Zhou Dynasty.

Visit Shanxi Museum
Shanxi is the important birthplace of Chinese civilization and a major historical staging post of ethnic integration and development. Shanxi museum, founded in 1919, is one of the oldest museums in China. There are more than 400,000 cultural relics in the collection, which represent the cultural essence of the province. Therefore it is the biggest centre for collecting, preserving, studying and exhibiting cultural relics in Shanxi province. The permanent exhibition, themed as Jin Spirits, consists of 12 exhibition halls: the Cradle of Civilization, the Traces of Xia and Shang, the Accomplishments of the Jin Vassal State, the Melting pot of Different Nationalities, the Relics of Buddhism, the Hometown of Chinese Operas, Shanxi Merchants in 14-16th century, Chinese Ancient Architecture, Jade wares, Ceramics, Ancient Money and Paintings. These are displayed chronologically and local culture and art are highlighted and comprehensively illustrated.

Notice: Shanxi Museum is closed on Monday. This museum visit will be canceled if your tour happens to be on Monday.

Transfer Back to Your Hotel
Your guide and driver will transfer you back to your hotel in Taiyuan