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. 

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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. 

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 Pingyao Old Town in the late afternoon.  

Transfer to Datong after breakfast. En route, visit Yingxian Wooden Pagoda, the tallest and oldest wooden pogoda in the world. Together with the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy, the Eiffel Tower in Paris, it is known as one of "the world's three magnificent tower". There are two Buddha tooth relics in Yingxian Wooden Pagoda.

Later visit Hanging temple, which was built in the Northern Wei Dynasty, with a history of more than 1,500 years. The Hanging Temple is characterized by its special location on the sheer cliff of Mt.Heng and its combination of Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism. Take the cable car to have a great view of Heng Mountain. 

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Arrive in Datong in the late afternoon. Check into hotel for rest.

Pingyao Ancient City - 340 km - Yingxian - 65 km - Mt.Hengshan - 80 km - Datong

Today you will have a full day in Datong to see its treasure - the Yungang Grottoes. It is the oldest one of the Three Major Buddhist Grottoes of China. With their 252 caves and 51,000 statues, Yungang 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. Absorbing Indian Gandhara Buddhist art, Yungang Grottoes melds traditional Chinese art and social features of that time, which make it a masterpiece of early Chinese cave art and Buddhist culture.

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Have lunch and short rest in a local restaurant. 

In the afternoon you will have a look at the Nine-Dragon-Wall ,the largest dragon wall in China. And then visit upper and down Huayan Temple, which was built in Liao Dynasty and famous for its ancient wooden structure.

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After sightseeing, you will be sent to Datong airport/railway station/your hotel in Datong for following arrangements.

Datong