2-Day Datong Pingyao Tour: Yungang, Hanging Temple
Tour Overview
While many tourists burn out in Datong and skip Pingyao, this 2-day Datong to Pingyao tour helps you see it all without any fatigue. Beginning with a private pickup, spend the day visiting the Yungang Grottoes and Hanging Temple comfortably.
Then, relax on a direct 4.5-hour drive to Pingyao Ancient City for the night — zero stress. Day two features a guided walk through the ancient city and China’s first bank, where you can skip the queues and maximize your time.
Travel destinations: Datong, Pingyao
Suitable for: Culture & History Enthusiasts, First-time Visitors
Tour type: Private
Tour at a Glance
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Day
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Destination
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What to See & Do
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1
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Datong
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Yungang Grottoes exploration, Hanging Temple walking
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2
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Pingyao
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Pingyao Ancient City, City Wall, Rishengchang Bank, Xietongqing Underground Vault, Ming-Qing Street
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Highlights of this tour
Look up at the majestic outdoor Buddha statue in the Yungang Grottoes, squat on the stone steps below the statues to take an overhead shot, and capture a scene full of sacredness called “The Buddha’s Light Illuminating Everything”.
Step onto the narrow suspension bridge that spans the air, climb up to the Hanging Temple, and observe the mechanical mystery of the “half-inserted beam” deeply embedded in the rock wall up close.
Walk along the cobblestone streets of the Pingyao Ancient City, pass through the towering old commercial sites and the deep and secluded courtyards, and learn about the historical stories of merchants from a hundred years ago.
Day-by-day Itinerary
- Day 1: Datong Arrival, Drive to PingyaoExplore highlight caves of the Yungang Grottoes
Welcome to Datong!Ā Your local private guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel in downtown Datong.
Head west to the Yungang Grottoes first. It features 254 caves and niches of varying sizes, housing over 59,000 Buddhist statues and stretching one kilometer from east to west. Your visit will focus on the following main caves:
Cave 12 (Music Cave): Decorated with celestial musicians playing a variety of Chinese and Western instruments ā a must-see for music and dance enthusiasts.
Graceful musicians holding instruments in the Music Cave Cave 19 (Treasure-Born Buddha Cave): The seated Buddha in the western hall has a unique hand gesture; many visitors enjoy taking photos here, as if āhigh-fivingā the giant Buddha in mid-air.
Cave 20 (White Buddha Cave): Due to the collapse of the front wall, this 13.7-meter-tall open-air Buddha statue is fully exposed, earning it the nickname āThe Smile of Yungang.ā With its well-defined facial features and deep, expressive eyes, itās an excellent spot for photos and the site's star attraction.
Next, head to the Hanging Temple, a marvel ingeniously embedded 60 meters high into the vertical cliffs of Mount Heng and supported by just a dozen slender wooden pillars. As the temple blending Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism, it features the unique Hall of the Three Teachings; you can walk along its narrow, suspended walkways to experience its breathtaking thrill and uncover the ancient secrets of its enduring stability.
Finally, drive about 4.5 hours to Pingyao for an overnight stay.
Tourists are exploring the ancient temple Warm Tip:
If you wish to visit the Hanging Temple, your tour guide will need to book admission tickets for you on-site (availability is limited daily; not included in the all-inclusive pass). Wait times can range from 1 to 3 hours.
Optional Activity:
Highly recommend you choose the immersive experience show "Youjian Pingyao." In the 90-minute 'walking' performance, you'll travel back to the late Qing Dynasty and experience a tragic epic about the morality and bloodline heritage of Shanxi merchants.
- Day 2: Pingyao HighlightsWander through Pingyao ancient city with its classic attractions
Today, embark on an in-depth exploration of theĀ Pingyao Ancient CityĀ with a history of over 2,700 years.
During the Ming and Qing dynasties, it became an important financial center, and more than half of the country's money shops ā ancient banks ā had their headquarters here. Even today, when strolling through the city, one can still feel the historical atmosphere of merchants gathering and the prosperity of finance.
Step onto theĀ Ancient City Wall of Pingyao to enjoy the traditional landscape of the city with its grey bricks and dark tile roofs.
You will also see the Pingyao City Hall located in the center of the ancient town. This iconic building has a beautiful design and is a popular spot for taking photos.
Next, visit the Rishengchang Draft Bank. Known as "the First Draft Bank of China", it showcases the intelligence of the Shanxi merchants, who once achieved "financial unity across the land", and their complex anti-counterfeiting password system.
Rishengchang, China's first draft bank Then, visit the Xietongqing Draft Bank, whose underground treasury is very impressive. You can descend to the five-meter-deep silver vault buried underground and experience the storage method of ancient silver coins firsthand.
Xietongqing Underground Vault ā Gold Ingot Model Setting your feet on Ming-Qing Street, once one of China's busiest commercial hubs, gives you a better idea of how advanced the development in China was at that time. Today, the well-preserved relics of ancient shops are still visible, including exchange shops, banks, pharmacies, butcher shops, and pawnshops. Now, Local snack shops, souvenir shops, and things like that inherit the ever-prosperous street and dominate the major crowds here.
After the tour, take a private car to the railway station for deaprture.
Tour Price Per Person
The price varies depending on the activity, number of people, travel date, and selected hotel. Please contact us for a specific price.
Accommodation For This 2-Day Datong Pingyao Tour
For your China private tour, the choice is in your hands: you can selectĀ luxury 5-star hotelsĀ for unparalleled comfort,Ā cozy 4-starĀ accommodations, orĀ value-for-money 3-starĀ options.
All our partner hotels are handpicked forĀ their prime locations, conveniently situated near bustling commercial areas. Every room is equipped withĀ standard amenitiesĀ like air conditioning, hot water, 24-hour showers, reliable Wi-Fi, and windows for natural light.
InĀ some hotels, there are English-speaking staffĀ who are committed to providing attentive service. Should you have any special requests, feel free to ask - they are always ready to assist.
