5-Day Tour of Taiyuan - Mt. Wutai - Datong - Taiyuan - Pingyao - Taiyuan
 
Taiyuan

Yungang Grottoes, Datong

Arrive in Taiyuan and stay at a local hotel. As the capital city of Shanxi Province, Taiyuan is a famous city with profound culture and history. It has the history of over 2500 years. In this city, there is the old grotto and various kinds of temples for different religious beliefs.
 
Taiyuan - Mt. Wutai
Drive to Mt. Wutai which is the first among the four famous Buddhist Mountains in China. Mt. Tutai is about 260km from Taiyuan and takes about 4.5 hours drive. Visit the Xiantong Temple, which is the earliest, biggest, oldest Buddhist temple in China. The Pusading, which looks like the Potala Palace in Tibet, was one of the residence of the emperor in Qing Dynasty. The Puhua Temple is the treasure house of stone sculpture at Mt. Wutai. The Tayuan Temple is the landmark of Mt. Wutai and also the dagoba of Sakyamuni. Stay at a local hotel at Mt. Wutai.
 
Mt. Wutai - Datong
Worship the Wuye Temple (Wangfo Tower). It is the smallest temple at Mt. Wutai, but it has the most people who incense to the Buddha. It is also the most efficacious temple where the people make a vow to the Buddha. No matter the Buddhist or the normal tourist, as long as they go to Mt. Wutai, they will surely worship in the Wuye Temple. Then take bus for about 4 hours to Datong. On the way, visit the Hanging Temple. It is a tower in the air and is one of the most famous scenic spot at Mt. Hengshan. The Hanging Temple is the only existent unique temple where the Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism are combined together in China. Its construction character can be summarized by three words which are unique, hanging and ingenious. Stay at a local hotel in Datong.
 
Datong - Taiyuan - Pingyao

Hanging Monastery, Datong

Yungang Grottoes is the masterpiece in Northern Wei Dynasty and has the history of 15 centuries. It is also one of the World Cultural Heritage and the surprise of Buddhist art sculpture. There are 53 main large grottoes and last for about 1km from east to west. There are more than 50 thousand statues of Buddha and Bodhisattva in the grottoes. Take bus to Pingyao ancient town. It is regarded as one of the World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO. At present, Pingyao ancient town generally keep the original prototype of the town in Ming and Qing Dynasty. The streets and shops are all represent the their original appearance in the history, so it is called the live sample for researching the Chinese ancient cities. Pingyao ancient town assembles the constructions of Chinese ancient folk house and is also the prototype of Chinse ancient cities. Visit the Ri Sheng Chang Financial House which is the originator of China's banking. The Yamun (office) of the town is the best preserved office in Qing Dynasty. The Tongxinggong ancient bank bodyguard establishment can help people to know more about the development of bodyguard establishment in Qing Dynasty. Climb up the City Wall. Stay overnight at a local hostel of Ming and Qing style.
 
Pingyao - Taiyuan
Stroll along the Ming-Qing Street which is called the Chinese Wall Street about 200 years ago. Then drive to visit the Qiao Family's compound which is named 'the first folk custom museum of North China'. It is a scarce bright pearl on the construction history of northern folk house. Overlook the layout of the compound from the sky, it formed a Chinese characters, ?, which means the double happiness. Take bus back to Taiyuan. Leave Taiyuan by flight or train. Tour ends.