2 Days Pingyao Tour from Xi'an by High-speed Train

We will book train tickets from Xian to Pingyao for you and send the booking confirmation number to you in advance. You only need to show your passport to board the train. Your local guide in Pingyao will pick you up at the railway station.

The ancient walled town covers about 2.25 square kilometers (555 acres). In the afternoon, we will visit main attractions within the town, the City Wall, Ming-Qing Street (South Street), Rishengchang Exchange Shop, Ancient Security Guard Company, Ancient Government Office and Temple of the City God.

The Ming-Qing Street is the busiest block in the town both in old times and nowadays. Along the streets there is anamazing array of colorful and interesting shops. They were all built in the style of Ming and Qing architecture. There are also lots of restaurants serving fabulous food. You shouldn't miss Pingyao beef, noodles and dumplings, the famous staple food in Shanxi Province. Along the less beaten track, it is aquiet life for the residents.

Rishengchang Exchange Shop is the first bank in China's history. Now it is a museum where you could learn the development of banks in China. The Ancient Security Guard Company was an earlier armed escort agency. Here you could know how the merchants deliver their money in ancient time. People saved their money in the bank and withdrew them when needed. Rishengchang had extensive banking operations and supported the withdrawal in another city, which brought convenience to people especially merchants travelling around the nation. Thus, the gold and silver in the bank needed to be transported among sites and even cities. They hollowed out big trees, and hid the gold and silver inside. After being sealed, the wood was transported by the special trained team, which perhaps was the earliest express company. Rishengchang was pretty close to a modern bank, and you may find more secrets here with our guide.

The well-preserved Ancient Government Office is a big complex, which gives one a very good view of how the government ruled in ancient times. All these museums were housed in charming antique courtyards.

Accommodation: Yide Guesthouse

Today you will visit Qiao Family Compound. It is 42 kilometers (25 mi) away from Ancient Pingyao Town.

The layout of Qiao Family Compound is like the double Chinese characters Xi standing together, meaning happiness and joy. The entrance ticket is CNY115. As the representative of Chinese northern folk residences, this huge complex includes 6 big courtyards, 20 small courtyards, 313 rooms. All the rooms and doorways were exquisitely decorated and each has its own features with wooden, brick and stone carvings, murals and wall sculptures. The furniture installations from the bedrooms to the kitchen are also terrific. There also houses over 2000 pieces of cultural relics.

After the sightseeing is completed, your guide will escort you to the railway station for you to head to your next destination. Please contact your travel consultant if you need any further service, such as train tickets booking or travel service in other cities.