The Ancient City of Pingyao (UNESCO), a well-preserved ancient Chinese city of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, is an must-see attraction for you. Today you will have an in-depth sightseeing in this 2,700-year-old historic and cultural town for a whole day. Your tour guide will pick you up at your hotel in Pingyao, and then firstly admire the Ancient City Wall built with bricks and stones. You can also find that there are more than 100 streets still looking exactly as they were hundreds of years ago in this old city. Approach to Rishengchang Bank - the first bank of China, and get impressed by the Old Government Buildings. In 19th century, Pingyao was the most financially flourishing place, most notably being the founding of the exchange shop named Rishengchang, a milestone in China’s history of finance business. The courtyard houses, narrow streets and small shops in the city provide a complete picture of China’s cultural and social lifestyle during that period of time. 

​

In the afternoon, experience Pingyao Paper-cutting under the conduct of a craftsman. In the world of paper-cut art, folk workers can use their imagination to depict the ideal of all, to convey the spirit in the form, express the meaning of beauty and innovation. After the paper-cutting class, you can take away your own "masterpiece" as souvenir. 

​

In the evening you are free on own to explore Pingyao Ancient City.

Pingyao Ancient City

Wang's Mansion, Shuanglin Temple

After breakfast, pay a visit to Shuanglin Temple. It is not only a Buddhist temple, but can be said as a treasure house of Chinese folk painting art. Inside this temple there are acacia trees planted in Tang Dynasty, steles carved in Song Dynasty, and bells from Ming Dynasty, but what makes it most famous is the more than 2,000 painted clay figurines, which are of high artistic value and have been well preserved to today. You will be amazed at the great blessing in the history of Chinese art.

In the afternoon drive to Lingshi County. The Wang Family Compound is a witness to the past glory of Wang Family, a well-known Shanxi businessman in the Ming and Qing Dynasty. The complex boasts remarkable architecture and artworks of brick and stone sculptures. 

Transfer back to your hotel in Pingyao Old Town in the late afternoon.  

Pingyao - Linfen - Hukou - Linfen

In the morning, take the bullet train from Pingyao Ancient City to Linfen. In about one hour you will arrive in Linfen City, and then drive to Ji County in 40 minutes to pay a visit to the Hukou Waterfall. The Hukou Waterfall is the only magnificent yellow waterfall in the world and the second biggest waterfall in China after the Huangguoshu Waterfall in Guizhou Province. The Yellow River, the second-largest river in China, surges from Qinghai province to the borders of Shanxi and Shaanxi, where the waters pass through a narrow valley blocked by mountains on both sides. Besides the natural pleasures in Yellow River Basin, you can also experience donkey-riding with a local costume of Shanxi villagers.

​

After sightseeing, you will be transfer back to Linfen Railway Station. There you can take high-speed train to Xi'an/Taiyuan or other destinations.