4 Day Ancient City Tour

There is 4 hours driving or 1 hour flight or 3 hours fast train from Beijing to Taiyuan and 1 hour driving to Pingyao. 
After you arrive Taiyuan, you will be met and transferred to Pingyao. en route we will visit Jinci and the Qiao Family's Compound, then check into your hotel in Pingyao

- Jinci Temple: Located 25 kilometers Southwest of Taiyuan City at the base of Xuanweng you will find Jinci Temple.  The temple of Jin Emperor in ancient times; it was initially built during the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-535) as a memorial for Jivu, the second son of Emperor Zhouwu, and is regarded as one of China’s most unique historical relics.

- Qiao Family's compound: Built in 1755 during the Qing Dynasty, the Qiao Family compound has been exquisitely maintained throughout the centuries.  The mansion built for Qiao Zhiyong, a wealthy banker and businessman, contains over 300 rooms and has been preserved as a museum with traditional furniture displayed throughout the compound.

The Ancient City Wall: Rising 10 meters above the ground, the ancient city wall of Pingyao is a fascinating historical structure.  Originally constructed nearly 3,000 years ago, the wall is composed of rammed earth, brick, and stone and still maintains its original appearance.

- The Rishengchang Draft Bank: First established in 1823, the Rishengchang Draft Bank was the largest and most internationally connected draft bank of its time. 

- The Mingqing Street: Pingyao's main downtown thoroughfare, Mingging Street, is a perfect example of traditional Ming and Qing Dynasty style.

- Pingyao Ancient Town: Feel as if you have traveled through time when you step through the gates of the wall to the Ancient Town.  Located in the middle of Shanxi Province, Pingyao is the most intact and preserved ancient town in China. Inside the Ming Dynasty city wall this traditional town, whose buildings date from the Ming and Qing Dynasties, is exceptionally well-preserved, and functions just as it did centuries ago.

Yingxian Wooden Pagoda:  Located within the Fogong Temple complex of Yingxian County in Shanxi Province, the Yingxian Wooden Pagoda, also known's as Sakyamuni Pagoda is internationally revered in correlation with the Eiffel Tower in France and the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy. All three structures, known for their impressive stature and historical longevity, are considered amongst the world's greatest pagodas. 
 
Hanging Monastery:Resting along the west cliff of Jinxia Gorge more than 50m above the ground, the Hanging Monastery has been in existence for more than 1,400 years. It hovers at the foot of Mt. Hengshen 65k south of Datong. The monastery underwent extensive renovations during the Ming and Qing dynasties and continues.

Yungang Grottoes:  Known as one of China's three major cave clusters, the Yungang Grottoes embody the beauty of Buddhist cave art, representing the peak of Buddhist cave carving in China's history. The caves line the northern face of Wuzhou Mountain in Datong, spanning a 1k stretch from east to west. Preserved as a UNESCO World Heritage site, the 252 caves containing more than 51,000 statues and relics were first carved in 450 at the height of the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-584).