Pingyao travel and Pingyao tour
Pingyao is in central Shanxi province. It is about 715 km from Beijing and 80 km from the provincial capital, Taiyuan. Pingyao still retains its city layout from the Ming and Qing dynasties, conforming to a typical bagua pattern. More than 300 sites in or near the city have ancient ruins. Preserved Ming- and Qing-style residences number close to 4,000. The streets and storefronts still largely retain their historical appearance. Bicycles are the main mode of transportation, because cars are restricted.
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Pingyao was the financial center of China in the late Qing Dynasty. During those times, there were as many as 20 financial institutions within the city, comprising more than half of total in the whole country. Among these is "Rishengchang," considered the first bank in China.
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The 1992 movie Raise the Red Lantern was shot in the Qiao's Compound at about 30 km from Pingyao. Public bus goes hourly from Pingyao to Qiao's Compound.5 days Pingyao tour program
Pingyao Travel Day 1 (B)
Beijing / Datong
Transfer via: PM Train (about 5hrs)
Take afternoon Train to Datong.
Once upon you get to Datong,be met and transferred to your hotel in Datong.
Pingyao Travel Day 2 (B, L)
Datong
Have city tours to the Yungang Grottoes, the Nine-Dragon Screen, the Steam Locomotive Factory and the Huayan Temple.
The Yungang Grottoes: With their 252 caves and 51,000 statues, the grottoes represent the outstanding achievement of Buddhist cave art in China in the 5th and 6th centuries. The Five Caves created by Tan Yao, with their strict unity of layout and design, constitute a classical masterpiece of the first peak of Chinese Buddhist art.
The Nine-Dragon Screen: It was built in 1392 to conceal the palace of a Ming dynasty (1368-1644) prince.
The Steam Locomotive Factory: 2.5km southwest of the city, it was the last steam locomotive factory in the world until it switched from steam to diesel production in 1988.
The Huayan Temple: Named after the Huayan sect of Buddhism, was established in the 11th Century and was one of the eight most important temples in the Tang Dynasty.
Pingyao Travel Day 3 (B, L)
Datong / Taiyuan
Transfer via: AM Train (about 6hrs)
Take morning train wiht soft seats to Taiyuan. Arrive at Taiyuan. Be met & transferred to your hotel. Have tours to Jin Ancestral Temple and Double-Pagoda Temple.
The Jin Ancestral Temple: It was originally started in the Northern Wei Dynasty (386 - 532 AD) to commemorate the memory of Shu Yu (Zhou Wu), the founder of the state of Jin.
The Double-Pagoda Temple: It was originally called Yongzuo Temple, built in the 36th year of Wanli in the Ming Dynasty (1608). The two pagodas in the temple are considered the symbol of Taiyuan city.
Pingyao Travel Day 4 (B, L)
Taiyuan / Pingyao/train
Transfer via: PM Train (about 10hrs)
Full day trip to the Qiao's Grand Courtyard, the Shuanglin Temple, Pingyao ancient town, including the Ancient City Wall, the Rishengchang Draft Bank and the Mingqing Street.
The Qiao's Grand Courtyard: With the area of 8724 square meters, the courtyard was the house of the richest family Qiao in Qing Dynasty in China. Though 2 centuries have been passed, it still keeps its original splendor in architectural style.
The Shuanglin Temple: Standing for more than 1500 years, the temple is famous for more than 2,000 painted sculptures of precious value, representing Ming and Qing Dynasties' best. They are reputed as a "treasure reserve of the oriental painted sculptures".
Pingyao ancient town: In the middle of Shanxi Province, it is the best-preserved among the four ancient towns in China. It is the assembly place of folk houses in north China where rows upon rows of buildings in the Ming and Qing Dynasties stand in well-preserved conditions.
Pingyao Travel Day 5 (B)
Pingyao / Xian train
Transfer via: PM Train (about 10hrs)
Free day to explore Pingyao. Recommend you to visit the County House, Confucius Temple. Take evening train with soft sleepers to Xian.