5-Day Private Tour to Datong, Mount Wutai and Pingyao

Day 1: Datong. O/N Datong.

1. Datong
   10m
   In the morning, our guide will meet you at 9am of your Datong hotel or train station then transfer to Yungang Grottoes, need 30 minutes driving, 16km.
2. Yungang Grottoes
   2h · Admission ticket included
   Upon arrival at the Yungang Grottoes, our guide will accompany you as you to go around viewing more than 59,000 solemn Buddha statues made during the Northern Wei Dynasty (386 - 534). Considered to be a treasure house of Buddhist arts, Yungang Grottoes took over 70 years to reach the present scale. The sculptures there integrate the superb artistry of Northern Wei and showcase the atmospheric and imperial style. You are sure to feel astonished by the magnificent scene there.
3. Huayan Temple of Datong
   1h · Admission ticket included
   After admiring the sculptural arts of the Northern Wei Dynasty, you will then be guided to Huayan Monastery to appreciate the architectural style created during the Liao Dynasty (907 - 1125). You will also see a statue of Bodhisattva with a grin on her face, which makes it stand out from the rest.
4. Shanhua Monastery
   1h · Admission ticket included
   After lunch, you will continue your Datong tour to the Shanhua Temple where you can admire not only buildings of the Liao Dynasty, but also statues of the Jin Dynasty (1115 - 1234) and murals of the Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911).
5. Nine Dragon Screen
   30m · Admission ticket included
   Then conclude today's itinerary with the gorgeous Nine-Dragon Wall built more than 600 years ago.
6. Datong City Walls
   20m · Admission ticket included
   At the end of the day, we will round off today's Datong tour with the Ancient City Wall and then take you back to your hotel

Day 2: Datong--Yingxian County--Mount Wutai. O/N Mount Wutai.

1. Datong
   10m
   In the morning at 9am, our guide will meet you at the hotel lobby and transfer to Hanging Monastery, need 90 minutes driving, 84km.
2. Hengshan Hanging Temple (Xuankong si)
   1h 30m · Admission ticket included
   The renowned Hanging Monastery, which looks like a grand relief inlaid on the steep cliff. It will be a thrilling experience to go along the hanging walkways to visit each hall of the temple. It is unique that the hierarchs of Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism are worshiped here together.
3. Pagoda of Fogong Temple
   1h · Admission ticket included
   Then we will take a car ride to Yingxian County to see the famous Wooden Pagoda. It is the oldest wooden tower in China, which has been around for nearly 1,000 years, and not a single nail was used during its construction.
4. 17h
   After the lunch, You will then continue your journey to Mt. Wutai Taihuai town by a 2.5 hour drive. The guide will take you to check in a local hotel upon arrival.

Day 3: Mount Wutai--Pingyao. O/N Pingyao.

1. Wutai Shan (Five Terrace Mountain)
   3h · Admission ticket included
   Today, you will enjoy a whole day's hike on Mt. Wutai, which is said to be the place where Bodhisattva Manjushri preached Buddhist doctrines. Our guide will take you to famous sites, including Bodhisattva Summit - the leading hall of the Tibetan Buddhism, Xiantong Temple - the largest and oldest temple in the area, Ten Thousand Buddha Pavilion - one of the most prosperous temple of Mt. Wutai, Tayuan Temple - housing the symbolic white stupa, Shuxiang Temple - enshrining the tallest statue of Masnjushri on the mountain, and Luohou Temple - famous for the special animation of four Buddhas appearing when a wooden lotus-shaped flower blooms.
2. Ancient City of Pingyao
   17h
   After lunch, you will continue the Datong Pingyao tour and start your 4.5 hours car ride to this historic city.

Day 4: Pingyao. O/N Pingyao.

1. Pingyao County
   10m
   Our guide will pick you up at the lobby of your hotel at 09:00 in the morning and today we will going to visit the Ancient City of Pingyao.
2. City Wall of Pingyao
   1h 30m · Admission ticket included
   Your Pingyao ancient town tour will begin with a visit to the City Wall of Pingyao, which has been well preserved. As a whole, the rectangular wall resembles a tortoise, which was considered as a symbol of longevity traditionally. Ascending the wall, you could overlook the ancient city of Pingyao.
3. Ming and Qing Dynasties Street
   1h
   Then, get down from the wall and have a stroll on the traditional Ming-Qing Street. On both sides of this not very wide street, there are many buildings in ancient Chinese architecture style, which used to be firms, exchange shops and different kinds of shops like teashop, cloth shop and salt shop. Nowadays, some of them have been turned to hotels, restaurants or shops selling souvenirs while some have been preserved as attraction sites and museums.
4. Pingyao Ancient Government Office
   1h · Admission ticket included
   Then, pay a visit to Pingyao Ancient Government Office, which is located in the middle of the ancient city for more than 600 years. Covering about 26,000 square meters (31,095 square yards), it includes many majestic courtyards and buildings. The Security Guard Company is also worth seeing for it is a museum which introduces the development of the ancient Chinese security guards.
5. Rishengchang Former Bank
   1h · Admission ticket included
   After lunch, you will proceed to Ri Sheng Chang Exchange Shop and Tong Xing Gong. Ri Sheng Chang Exchange Shop is the first money exchange shop in China as well as the founder of Chinese modern banks, which has played an important role in Chinese financial business for about one century. Tong Xing Gong was an establishment which provided private escort service for the exchange shops to guard their safety during transportation.
6. Pingyao County
   18h
   At the end, your guide will escort you to your Pingyao hotel.

Day 5: Pingyao. The tour end.

1. Pingyao County
   10m
   Our guide will pick you up at the lobby of your Pingyao hotel at around 09:00 in the morning. You will be escorted to the well-known Wang Family's Compound in around 1.5 hours' ride.
2. Wang's Family Compound (Wang Jia Dayuan)
   2h · Admission ticket included
   It is a large and magnificent architectural complex originally built around 250 years ago and Located in Lingshi County in Shanxi Province, the Wang Family's Compound is 35 kilometers (22 miles) away from Pingyao Ancient City. This luxurious residence was originally built during 1762-1811 by the descendants of the Wang Family. What makes this compound so impressive are the sheer size and gorgeous ornamental structures. It is like a mini walled city with more than 200 courtyards, each of them has its own distinctive features. The intricately carved wood doors, window casings, stairways, stone carvings, etc. could be found everywhere in the courtyards.
3. Shuanglin Temple
   1h · Admission ticket included
   Next,you will pay a visit to Shuanglin Temple, which is different from many other temples for it still maintains its very old character.
   
   Shuanglin Temple is a peaceful, quiet and beautiful old temple. It is one of the three treasures of Pingyao, having been included in the World Heritage List by UNESCO in 1997. Praised as the 'ancient painted sculptures museum', this temple houses as many as 2056 colorful sculptures of Chinese Buddhism reflecting the exquisite skills of the artisans of the Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties. The sculpture of One-thousand Hand Kwan-yin is definitely the most mesmerizing.
4. 1h
   After the lunch,we drive you back to your hotel or see you off at Pingyao Railway Station. End of the 5 days tour serives.

Pickup details

We pick up any hotels of Datong city central or Datong train station at Day one

• Specialized infant seats are available
• Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Not recommended for pregnant travelers
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels