6 Days Essence of Shanxi Tour, Datong, Wutaishan & Pingyao Tour

Full Itinerary Day by day (Can Be Customized)

Day 1 Datong Arrival: Welcome to Datong! After arriving, your guide will meet you at the Railway Station and pick you up to your hotel. The rest of the day is free for you.

Day 2 Datong (B, L)

Today’s tour starts to visit the famous Yungang Grottoes, which hold 53 grottoes with 51,000 statues. The Grottoes are the highlight of your visit to Datong, for it is the treasure of traditional Chinese art that also influenced by Greek and Indian style.

After lunch, move on to Shanhua Monastery that consists of a set of well-proserved buildings of Liao Dynasty (905-1125). Later, continue to have a look at Nine Dragon Screen, the oldest and largest glazed screen in China. The dragons on the wall appear so vivid and marvelous that you can’t imagine they were built over 600 years ago.

Yungang Grottoes - The treasure of traditional Chinese art

Day 3 Datong - Wutaishan (B, L)

After breakfast, visiting the Hanging Temple, at the foot of Mt. Hengshan. Because the temple is on the west side of a hill at over 50 meters high above the ground, it is named as Hanging Monastery.

Then, moving on to the Wooden Pagoda, the oldest preserving wooden Buddhist pagoda in China, which is only 50 km away from the Hanging Temple.

(Please note: Since Yingxian Wooden Pagoda is under maintenance and protection at present, travelers cannot climb up to the pagoda. Instead, if you want to visit this site, you can have a good look at it from afar.)

After the tour, driving to Mount Wutai. Stay overnight in Wutaishan.

Day 4 Wutaishan - Taiyuan (B, L)

Today, you will have a full-day exploration in Wutaishan Scenic Area, one of the Four Holy Buddhist Mountains in China. It is said to be the dwelling place of Manjusri Bodhisattva, with about 40 ancient temples and glamorous natural beauty for you to appreciate. The highlights today will be your worship or visit in Xiantong Temple, Tayuan Temple, Wanfo Temple, Big White Buddha Pagoda, Pusa Ding, Dailuo Ding etc.

After the tour, drive to Taiyuan city.

Day 5 Taiyuan - Pingyao (B, L)

In the morning, taking a drive to Pingyao Ancient Town from Taiyuan. On the way, visit Jinci Temple, which combines the historic cultural relics and fabulous natural landscapes together.

Then, continue to Pingyao Ancient City, the well-preserved ancient town that listed in UNESCO World Heritage Site. After checking in at your hotel, you will start to explore Pingyao ancient city. Strolling on the Ancient City Wall of Pingyao, you can have a panorama view of the layout of this town. Then you will move on to the Rishengchang Former Bank, which shows you the original bank system in the past. Wandering through the Ming and Qing Street, you will be impressed by the ancient and peaceful atmosphere in this old town.

Day 6 Pingyao Departure (B, L)

Today, you will firstly head to Wang’s Family Compound, the complex for another rich family in Shanxi Province, near Pingyao. You will see the traditional layout and wooden construction and explore how the rich family lived in the ancient times.

Then go to visit the Zhangbi Ancient Castle, a series of tunnels dug to hide out in times of war in over 1380 years ago, to explore how the architecture mixed with engineering in ancient time.

After the tour, your local guide will send you to Airport / Railway Station to catch your flight / train to next destination. Service ends!

Free Quote for the Trip

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How Our Teams Serve you at China Discovery

"Highest Standards of Quality and Honesty" is the core value of each specialized team at China Discovery.

Eveyone in our company is working hard for only one goal, which is to ensure the highest level of service, luxury, and attention to detail from the minute you begin planning your trip, to the day you return home.

1-on-1 Travel Consultant

Our travel consultants are professional, experienced and responsible, helping you from the very beginning to the end of your China trip!

After sending us an inquiry, one of our travel consultants will get back to you within 0.5~23.5 hrs. In the next few days, he/she will be working closely with you to formulate a customized tour plan, as well as providing professional suggestions based on your travel interests, time, and budget.

Beside, he/she will keep in contact with you during your entire tour in China, continually checking if everything is going well as planned.

: We're working at Chengdu Bamboo International Tours, local based in Chengdu.

Local Tour Guides

Our local guide in every destination is not only very friendly, enthusiastic but also very informative and knowledgeable.

Once you arrive in the destination, the patient and punctual guides will pick you up and take you to get under skin of the city at your own pace. By in-depth discovery and explanation, they’ll show you more about the history, culture, customs and authentic local life. Throughout the journey, they're not only expert guides who take care of all the details but also fellow travelers who are dedicated to help you explore in comfort and style.

: Our guides are passionate about what they do, and it shows all the way!

Local Drivers & Vehicle

Using our private transfer service makes you comfortable, relaxed and worry free all the way!

Our private service includes licensed drivers with many years’ driving experience and air-conditioned, non-smoking, clean and well-maintained cars/vans. Drivers are local, polite, friendly and helpful, taking you to your tourist sites, hotels, airport/train stations in safety. All kinds of vehicle are offered, and yours depends on the size of your group. Usually, we offer sedan cars, SUVs, business vans (MPV) and different types of buses, all with extra space for your luggage.

: Our private transfer service guarantees you the highest comfort!

Comfortable & Homelike Hotels

In each destination, you’ll enjoy a comfortable stay in a great location!

The hotels we choose are based on star rating, great locations, well-equipped facilities, cozy bed, high quality service and guests’ feedbacks. Choices are a lot ranging from luxury 5 star, comfortable 4 star to budget 3 star. You could decide where to stay to best suit for your budget and likes. Generally, the hotels have both Western and Chinese breakfast with a wide choices.

If you have already got an ideal hotel, please feel free to tell our travel consultants and they'll book the hotel for you.

: Have good sleep in our well-selected hotels in all the destinations of China.

Meals & Dining

We can satisfy all the dietary requirements no matter you want Chinese local food, western food, vegetarian food or muslin food.

The restaurants we will take you for lunch or dinner are all designated tourist restaurants approved by local tourist administration bureau. They have very good sanitary conditions and the food is prepared fresh and clean.

There will be some meals excluded in your itinerary as you like, and your private guide will be delighted to give you some suggestions and take you to the local restaurants to taste like Beijing Roast Duck, Xian Dumpling Dinner, Sichuan Hotpot, etc., if you are interested in local food tasting.