6 Days Highlights, Close Touch of Shanxi Culture

Nihao! Welcome to Datong. Our guide will greet you at the airport arrival hall or train station exit. Just find your name sign upon arrival. Be transferred to the hotel in a private vehicle with an experienced driver.

Meals: No meal, advice freely available

• Hotels: Howard Johnson Jindi Plaza Datong, Yungang Meigao Hotel, Yunzhong Inn

datong tour

Constructed between the 5th Century and the 6th Century, Yungang Grottoes is one of the largest grottoes in China and a world-famous treasure house of Buddhist art, with 252 grottoes and over 51,000 Buddha statues. In the afternoon, visit the 11th Century Huayan Temple, a royal temple of the historical Liao Dynasty, destroyed in a war and reconstructed in the 12th Century. Then admire China’s earliest and best Nine-Dragon Screen Wall of a Ming Dynasty prince’s palace. It is 45.5m long and 8m high, with 9 dragons flying between the moon and sun and accompanied by various animals. At the end of the tour, you will have the chance to try Chinese knot making. It stands for unity, happiness and peace. Take your time and try to make it best so that you can bring home as a souvenir.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,

Yungang Grottoes

After a sound sleep, do some morning exercises by taking a Taichi lesson. The master will teach you some simple movements. After that, drive about 1.5 hours to Hanging Temple, which clings to the cliff. It’s the only existing temple which is dedicated to three religions: Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism. Continue your exploration to the tallest, oldest and only wooden pagoda in China, Yingxian Wooden Pagoda.

After lunch, you will take the bullet train to Pingyao.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
• Hotels: Pingyao Yunjincheng Hotel, Pingyao Yide Hotel, Jing's Residence

Yingxian Wooden Pagoda

After a night sleep, move to Wang’s Family Compound in Pingyao, which is reputed as an art museum of traditional Chinese architecture and “Forbidden City in Folk”. Step in the ancient building compound and get to know the real living of the ancient Chinese people.

Afterwards, head to a well-preserved pocket castle combining military, inhabitancy, production and religion, Zhangbi Ancient Village. Here you will learn to make cloth tiger – a kind of Chinese traditional handicraft, which can be used as toy, Interior decoration, gifts and personal collectibles.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,

Learn to make cloth tiger

Pingyao, a cultural ancient city of more than 2700 years of history, is the highlight of the day. It shows the way ancient people lived, as well as how Jin merchants did business in the past. The main attractions are as followed: Rishengchang, City Wall, Mingqing Street and Pingyao Ancient Government Office etc. No automobiles are allowed in the ancient city so it is very relaxing to stroll on streets. After lunch, you’ll go to Shuanglin Temple. There you’ll see the Buddhist temples and halls, particularly the colorfully painted clay sculptures.

Paper cutting and flour food making lesson are arranged for you to experience the Shanxi culture. The teacher will teach you cut some simple Chinese words, animals or flowers. The noodles or dumplings you made during the lesson will be served as part of your lunch.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,

paper cutting

Pack everything and ride about 1.5 hours to the airport in Taiyuan for your next destination or take a bullet train to exit Pingyao.

• Meals: Breakfast,

learn to make flour food