Datong & Pingyao Break (Standard)

Arrive in Datong. The best way to get to Datong is by high-speed train. Please ensure you arrive by 10:00 this morning. On arrival, meet your guide and driver.

Your first stop is the Yungang Grottoes, located on the southern cliffs of Wuzhou Mountain near Datong. This remarkable UNESCO-listed site is one of the three greatest ancient Buddhist sculptural complexes in China, alongside the Mogao Caves and the Longmen Grottoes. The grottoes feature thousands of stone carvings dating back to the 5th and 6th centuries, reflecting the early spread of Buddhism in northern China.

You then continue to the Huayan Monastery, one of the most important and best-preserved temple complexes from the Liao and Jin Dynasties. The monastery is a fine example of Chinese Buddhist temple architecture from this period, known for its grand halls, intricate wooden structures, and well-preserved Buddhist artwork.

Next, visit the Nine-Dragon Wall. The Datong Nine-Dragon Wall is the largest and oldest glazed-tile screen wall of its kind in China, admired for its vivid colours and detailed craftsmanship dating back to the Ming Dynasty.

Lunch is served at a local restaurant, after which you are transferred to the hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure, giving you time to relax or explore the surroundings at your own pace.

This morning, visit the Hanging Temple, also known as the Hanging Monastery or Xuankong Temple. Dramatically built into a cliff face around 75 metres above the ground near Mount Heng in Hunyuan County, this extraordinary temple dates back more than 1,500 years. It is renowned not only for its striking location but also as the only surviving temple in China that combines Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism under one roof. The structure is supported by oak crossbeams fitted into holes carved into the cliff, with the main supporting framework hidden within the bedrock. Sheltered beneath the overhanging cliff, the temple has been protected from rain and strong sunlight, helping to preserve its architectural details and interior artwork through successive dynastic restorations.

Lunch is served at a local restaurant before you visit the Yingxian Wooden Pagoda, the main structure of Fogong Temple in Ying County. Originally built in 1056 during the Liao Dynasty and later restored in the Jin Dynasty, this remarkable pagoda is the oldest and tallest surviving all-timber pavilion-style structure in China. Constructed entirely without nails, it is often cited alongside the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the Eiffel Tower as one of the world’s great architectural wonders.

After a day of exploring, you head back to Datong city centre and transfer to the hotel.

Datong - Pingyao. Depending on this morning's train schedule, breakfast is served at the hotel, or a a packaged breakfast box is provided. Transfer to the train station and take a second-class high-speed train from Datong to Pingyao. On arrival, you are met by the local guide.

You then drive to visit Shuanglin Temple, a small but highly significant Buddhist temple that was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site together with the Ancient City of Pingyao in 1997. The temple is particularly renowned for its collection of well-preserved painted clay sculptures, which offer valuable insight into Buddhist art from the Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties.

Lunch is served at a local restaurant before you head to your hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure.

Breakfast is at the hotel, followed by check-out before 12:00. Today, you explore the Ancient City of Pingyao, a remarkably well-preserved walled city that offers insight into the wealthy merchant families who pioneered China’s earliest banking system during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. As you walk through the historic streets, you can gain a sense of Pingyao’s former prosperity and its importance as a financial centre. The city walls, originally built in 1370 during the Hongwu period of the Ming Dynasty, are among the best-preserved large-scale ancient fortifications in China and form an essential part of the ancient city’s layout.

After the visit, you transfer to the airport or railway station for departure. It is recommended to book a train departing after 16:00 and a flight after 18:00.