12 DAYS SHANXI UNVEILED: HISTORIC ROOTS & SCENIC PEAKS

Car Transfer: Airport to Hotel

Arrive in Yuncheng, a historic city in southwest Shanxi. Yuncheng was formerly known as Hedong, one of the important birthplaces of Chinese civilisation. Be met by your guide and transfer to your hotel to rest for the evening.

Yuncheng Highlights

Discover underrated historic gems in Yuncheng, starting with Yongle Palace (永乐宫), renowned for stunning Yuan dynasty frescoes, some of best-preserved and most exquisite examples of ancient Chinese mural art.

Visit Guandi Temple (关帝庙), one of the largest temples dedicated to Guan Yu, a revered general from the Three Kingdoms period. Explore the Macun Brick Carving Tombs, (马村砖雕墓) for its intricate brick carving masterpieces from the Jin dynasty

Car Transfer: Yuncheng to Jincheng with Sightseeing

Start off earlier today for a 3.5hours drive to Jincheng, where we will tour the Yuhuang Temple（玉皇庙）, including the 28 Lunar Mansions showcasing ancient Chinese knowledge of astrology.

Taihang Mountain Grand Canyon

Be treated to stunning views of the Taihang Mountain Range from the Wangmangling （王莽岭）Scenic Spot. Take a scenic drive along the Hanging Cliff Road, a remarkable engineering feat carved into the Taihang mountain cliffs to explore the rest of the Taihang Mountain Grand Canyon.

Car Transfer: Jingcheng to Changzhi

Drive to Changzhi (101km / 2hrs).

Guanyin Temple & Baquan (Eight Springs) Gorge

Visit the Guan Yin Temple（观音寺）, known for its suspended ancient Chinese sculpture masterpieces such as the Eight Immortals and Guan Gong.

Explore the picturesque Baquan Gorge （八泉峡）, a National 5A Scenic Area named after the eight springs that emerge from a single spot within the gorge. Enjoy a scenic boat ride through towering cliffs and crystal-clear streams.

Car Transfer: Changzhi to Linfen with Sightseeing

Drive to Changzhi (175km / 2hrs40mins) to visit Guangsheng Temple, followed by another 2 hours’ drive to Hukou Waterfall, before transferring to your accommodation in Linfen.

Guangsheng Temple

Guangsheng Temple (广胜寺). Here, you will find the Flying Rainbow Glass Pagoda, renowned for its exquisite and exceptionally preserved Yuan Dynasty murals.

Hukou Waterfalls with Private Folk Dance Performance

Drive another 2 hours to tour Hukou Waterfalls (壶口瀑布), the biggest waterfall on the Yellow River and 2nd largest waterfall in China. Here, we arranged a private harvest-themed folk performance specially for our group – a uniquely Shanxi cultural dance with the dramatic waterfalls as the backdrop.

Car Transfer: Linfen to Pingyao via Jiexiu

Drive to Jiexiu (140km / 2hrs) to visit the Zhangbi Ancient Castle, followed by a drive to Pingyao (50km / 1hr).

Zhangbi Ancient Castle

Visit the Zhangbi Ancient Castle (张壁古堡), it is an ancient fortress-style village that integrates military, residential, productive, and religious functions. Its history can be traced back to the Sixteen Kingdoms period, dating back over 1,600 years.

Wang Grand Courtyard

Explore Wang Grand Courtyard（王家大院）, an outstanding representative of residential architecture from the Qing Dynasty, hailed as the “Foremost Residential Complex in China.” Constructed by the Wang family of Jingsheng over more than 300 years during the Ming and Qing dynasties, it is grand in scale and meticulously designed, standing as a model of traditional northern Chinese residential architecture.

Stories of Pingyao

The UNESCO-listed Pingyao Ancient city (平遥古城) is one of best-preserved ancient walled cities in China. Highlights include the Rishengchang Draft Bank and Ming & Qing architecture.

We will also visit Shuanglin Temple & Zhenguo Temple (双林寺和镇国寺), both renowned for their long history and unique artistic value.

Optional Activity

In the evening, experience the immersive Youjian Pingyao [又见平遥] performance (additional cost applies), set against Pingyao Ancient City as the backdrop.

Car Transfer: Pingyao to Taiyuan

Drive to Taiyuan (107km / 1.5 hours).

Taiyuan’s Historical Treasures

Visit Shanxi Museum (山西博物馆) with its extensive collection of more than 500,000 cultural artifacts, including valuable bronze ware, porcelain, stone carvings and Buddhist statues.

Head to Jin Memorial Hall (晋祠), a temple built in honor of Tang Shuyu, the founding feudal lord of the Jin State. It is one of the oldest existing royal sacrificial gardens in China, with a history of over 1,500 years.

Car Transfer: Taiyuan to Mount Wutai

Drive to Mount Wutai (200km / 3hrs)

Sacred Mount Wutai

Tour Mount Wutai (五台山), a revered destination for Buddhist pilgrims, named after its five majestic peaks. Explore the key sacred ancient temples here such as Xiantong (the oldest and largest temple on the mountain), Tayuan (known for its iconic white pagoda), as well as Bodhisattva Peak and Shuxiang.

Car Transfer: Mount Wutai to Datong with Sightseeing

Drive to Ying Country (277km / 3 hours) to visit Sakyamuni Wooden Pagoda. Continue another 1 hour to visit the Hanging Monastery. Thereafter, drive to Datong (70km / 1.5 hours).

Sakyamuni Wooden Pagoda (应县木塔)

This is one of the oldest and tallest wooden pagodas in China, first built over 1000 years ago during the Liao Dynasty. It has miraculously survived several major earthquakes!

Hanging Monastery (悬空寺)

Marvel at the Hanging Monastery, a spectacular Taoist temple and engineering feat built on a vertical cliff face.

Highlights of Datong

Visit Yungang Grottoes (云冈石窟), one of the top grotto sites in China, famous for its vast array of Buddhist statues carved into the cliffs.

Explore the Huayan Temple (华严寺), one of the largest and most well-preserved Buddhist temples from the Liao and Jin periods, as well as the ancient city wall (古城墙), which has a history of over 600 years and represents China’s finest ancient military defence.

Car Transfer: Accommodation to Airport

Enjoy leisure time before transferring to the airport for your onward journey.