Reputed as one of the āFour Best-Preserved Ancient Citiesā in China, Pingyao has been a popular destination for a day trip. This ancient city features well-preserved Ming and Qing architecture, abundant ancient architectural arts and profound Shanxi merchant culture. To experience its charm, about 1 – 2 days is needed. You can get there by high-speed train easily from Xian, Beijing, Datong, Taiyuan, etc.
Plan your perfect Pingyao trip with our expert guide to top attractions, itineraries, dining, and accommodation.
- Location: Gucheng Street, Pingyao County, Jinzhong City, Shanxi Province
- Time needed: 1 – 2 days
- Best time to visit: April – May, September – October
- Highlights: The unique layout and remarkable preservation of Pingyao Ancient City, profound Shanxi merchant culture, Shuanglin Temple, Zhenguo Temple
Content Preview
- How to Get to Pingyao
- How Many Days to Stay in Pingyao & Recommended Itineraries
- Things to Do in Pingyao
- Essential Travel Information for International Visitors
- Plan Your Pingyao Tour with China Xian Tour
- FAQs about Pingyao
How to Get to Pingyao
Pingyao is primarily served by two train stations. Pingyao Gucheng Station is the high-speed train station and is about 10 km from the Pingyao Ancient City. To get to the ancient city, you can take bus line 108 to its north gate or south gate.
Pingyao Station mainly operates normal trains. It is only about 1 km from the ancient city, so you can walk to the west gate in about 10 – 15 minutes directly.
Thanks to the excellent rail network, it has been a popular destination for a day trip or a weekend trip for tourists from nearby cities, such as Beijing and Xian.
From Beijing
Taking a high-speed train is the most popular choice. Every day, 4 high-speed trains run from Beijing Fengtai Station or Qinghe Station to Pingyao Gucheng Station. The fastest train takes only about 3.5 hours with a cost of CNY 245 for a second-class seat.
Recommended tour
From Xian
Xian North Train Station operates 10 bullets trains to Pingyao Gucheng Station every day. Most trains take only about 2.5 hours and a second-class seat costs about CNY 150 – 159, making it the preferred choice.
Recommended tour
How Many Days to Stay in Pingyao & Recommended Itineraries
Generally, 1-to-2-day tour is the preferred choice of most travelers. If you are on a tight schedule, it is advised to focus on Pingyao Ancient City for an in-depth exploration. If you have 2 days, include nearby attractions like Wang Family Compound and Shuanglin Temple to enrich your experience.
1-day Itinerary – Essence Tour
Arrive in the morning āĀ Ancient City Wall & Ming and Qing Street āĀ Taste local snacks for lunch āĀ Rishengchang Draft Bank &Ā County Government Office ā Light show / See Pingyao Again performance
2-day Itinerary – Enriched Tour
Day 1: Arrival at Taiyuan in the morning – Jinci Memorial Temple – Qiaoās Family Compound
Day 2: A full day tour in Pingyao Ancient City with a route of Pingyao City Wall – Rishengchang Former Bank – Ming Qing Street – City God Temple – departure
Recommended tour
Extended Itinerary – Connect to Nearby Cities
For tourists with a longer vacation, you may want to extend your trip to other cities in China. The most classic destination includes Beijing, Xian and Datong.
Recommended tour
Things to Do in Pingyao
Embark on a Pingyao Ancient City Day Tour
- Tickets: Entering the ancient city itself is free. But the combo ticket including all the 22 core scenic spots inside the ancient city costs CNY 125/person, and it is valid for 3 days and allows one-time entry per attraction.
- Opening hours: All day for the streets; 08:00-18:30 during April – October and 08:00-17:30 during November – March for major scenic spots
- Time needed: about 6 – 8 hours
- Highlights: Ancient City Wall, Rishengchang Draft Bank, County Government Office, Ming and Qing Street, Confucius Temple
Visiting Pingyao Ancient City is definitely the top thing to do in Pingyao. The ancient city is a large architectural complex with ancient city wall, stores, streets, temples and residences. It is reputed as one of the āFour Best Preserved Ancient Citiesā in China and was listed as a UNESCO cultural heritage in 1997.
Private cars are not allowed to enter the ancient city, so exploring on foot is the primary option. Besides, electric sightseeing cars are available, making it highly accessible for seniors and kids. To have an in-depth exploration, it is better to set aside one day for the ancient city.
Main Scenic Spots |
Features |
Ancient City Wall |
One of the best-preserved county-level ancient city wall with a total length of about 6.4 km. Ascending the top, you can overlook the entire city. |
Rishengchang Draft Bank |
The first draft bank in China and the forerunner of modern Chinese bank. |
Xietongqing Draft Bank |
The largest draft bank in Pingyao, boasts an incredible underground vault |
Pingyao Government Office Buildings |
One of the best-preserved ancient government office buildings. There is a lively daily reenactment of a historical county court trial. |
Maās Courtyard |
The former residence of the richest merchant in Pingyao in the Qing Dynasty called Ma Zhongxuan, the highest residential building inside the ancient city |
Ming and Qing Street |
Once known as the āChinaās Wall Streetā, the central axis of the ancient city with plenty of time-honored stores on both sides |
Confucius Temple |
One of the most ancient existing Confucius temples in China, the best place to learn about the culture of the ancient imperial examination system |
The Chinese Armed Escort Company Museum |
Displays the history and culture of ancient Chinese armed escort agencies and discover the legendary stories of escort masters on their missions. |
Immerse Yourself in See Pingyao Again Performance
- Location: See Pingyao Again Theater, 154, Shuncheng Road, Pingyao County, outside the west gate of Pingyao Ancient City
- Time: 14:00 & 19:00 from Tue. to Sun. No performances on Mondays.
- Duration: about 90 minutes
- Ticket: CNY 238/person
See Pingyao Again is a large-scale immersive performance. Unlike traditional performance, there is no main stage in the first hour; instead, the audience walks through various settings, like escort company, marketplace and courtyard. In the last half an hour, it is viewed from traditional seating.
After checking the ticket, the audience will be divided into two groups and they follow a chronological and reverse chronological order to see the performance, respectively. The order of the first five acts is reversed, but they will finally converge in the main theatre.
Tips: Usually the audience in chronological group (usually the left row) will arrive at the main theater 5 minutes earlier, so they can snag seats with better views (ideally the middle seats from rows 3 to 7).
Watch 3D Light Show in the Evening
- Time: At 20:00/21:00 every evening, adjusted according to the seasons and may be canceled during bad weather
- Duration: 18 minutes
- Location: Yingxunmen Square (The Yingxunmen Gate will be closed from 20:00; please access the square via the Small South Gate or East Gate)
- Ticket: Free
- Best place to see: The central area of the square directly opposite the city gate
The light show takes the ancient city wall as the background and it vividly tells the stories of Shanxi merchants and shows local folk culture through the 3D projection technology. With a stunning soundtrack, the visual effect is truly spectacular.
Marvel at Coloured Sculptures in Shuanglin Temple
- Location: Qiaotou Village, 6km southwest of Pingyao Ancient City
- Ticket price: CNY 35
- How to get to from the Ancient City: Take bus line 108 north route at the north gate of the ancient city and get off at Shuanglin Temple. A one-way trip takes about 40 minutes and costs CNY 1.
Inside the temple, there are over 2,000 coloured sculptures ranging from the Song Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty. These sculptures are prized not only for their large quantity, but also for their exquisite craftsmanship, excellent state of preservation and striking realism, thus renowned as the āArt Treasure of Oriental Colored Sculptures.ā
Explore Well-preserved Zhenguo Temple
- Location: Haodong Village, 15km northeast of Pingyao Ancient City
- Ticket price: CNY 25
- How to get to from the Ancient City:
- Taking a taxi is the most convenient way. The 30-minute ride costs CNY 30 – 40.
- Bus line 209 also connects See Pingyao Again Theater and Zhengguo Temple directly. But the bus departs only every hour and the 1-hour trip costs CNY 3.
Zhenguo Temple is one of the only three surviving wooden structures from the Five Dynasties in China. The charm of Zhenguo Temple lies in its authenticity. Without large-scale renovations in later periods, it well preserves wooden structures, coloured sculptures and murals of the Five Dynasties period.
And the main wooden structure, the beam framework and plenty of components of its core building Wanfo Hall remain its original features, making it a miracle of ancient architectural history.
Visit Magnificent Wang Family Compound
- Location: Jingsheng Village, Jingsheng Town, Lingshi County, Jinzhong City
- Ticket price: CNY 30 – 50
- How to get to from the ancient city: There are direct buses shuttling between the South Gate of Pingyao Ancient City and Wang Family Compound. The ticket price is about CNY 15 – 17 and the travel time is about 1 – 1.5 hours.
Wang Family Compound is hailed as the “Folk Forbidden City of Chinaā. Built over a span of 300 years from the Ming Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty, its total area has reached 250,000 sq. m. Now, three major architectural complexes of Hongmenbao, Gaojiaya and Chongningbao have now been opened to the public.
Its grand castle-like layout, exquisite brick carvings, wood carvings & stone carvings art and the profound ritual culture show the splendor of Shanxi merchant culture.
Discover Exquisite Qiao Family Compound
- Location: Qiaojiabu Village, Dongguan Town, Qixian County, Jinzhong City
- Ticket Price: CNY 115
- How to get to from the ancient city: From Pingyao Bus Station, 2 buses depart to Qiao Family Compound daily at 08:00 and 14:00 with a ticket price of CNY 18 and a duration of 40 minutes. The bus station is about 600 meters from the north gate of the ancient city.
When viewed from above, the entire architectural complex of Qiao Family Compound forms a layout of the Chinese character āåā (means double happiness) with 6 courtyardsĀ well-arranged along the 80-meter-long walkway.
Also, the brick carvings, wood carvings and stone carvings can be seen everywhere in the compound. Whatās more, you can also experience the local intangible cultural heritages here, such as paper-cutting, shadow puppet and dough figurine making.
Tips: In comparison, Wang Family Compound is an official residence and is as grand and imposing as a castle, while the Qiao Family Compound is a civilian residence and is as exquisite and compact as a museum. You can choose one of them for a tour based on your preference.
Essential Travel Information for International Visitors
When is the Best Time to Go
Generally, spring and autumn are more recommended for its pleasant climate. Besides, PingyaoĀ International Photography Exhibition is held in late September every year, when the entire ancient city is transformed into an open-air global gallery with works of photographers from all over the world displayed everywhere.
Another recommended period is the Spring Festival. From lunar Dec. 23 to Jan. 16, the ancient city will hold a variety of activities to celebrate the Chinese New Year. You will see lively street performances, including dragon and lion dances, stilt walking, Yangko dance, etc. And the red lanterns, spring festival couplets and window paper-cuts are decorated in each store, offering you an immersive experience.
Where to Stay
Both inside and outside the Pingyao Ancient City, there are plenty of accommodation options. See the comparison table below to decide where to stay.
Ā |
Inside Ancient City |
Outside Ancient City |
Core Experience |
Immersive ancient-style experience with Ming and Qing streets just outside the door, best to experience the night life |
Comfortable,Ā convenient, quiet, private, standard facilities |
Convenience |
High |
Moderate |
Main Area |
Ming and Qing Street, West Street, Yamen Street |
Near Lower West Gate North Gate |
Price |
Moderately high, ranges from CNY 200 ā 400, may double in peak season |
Cost-effective, relatively stable, ranges from CNY 150 ā 300 |
Hotel Types |
Mostly characteristic homestays transformed from traditional residences, with ancient decorations and earthen bed |
Modern chain hotels with spacious rooms, new facilities and better sound insulation |
Best For |
First timers, cultural lovers and tourists who enjoy nightlife |
Families, tourists seek comfortable and quieter living environment, budget travelers |
Disadvantages |
lĀ Poor sound insulation
lĀ InconvenientĀ for tourists with heavy luggage due to the stone-paved roads lĀ Some hotels are equipped with older facilities |
lĀ Lack the distinctive atmosphere of an ancient city
lĀ Require travelling back and forth to the ancient city every day |
What to Eat
In Pingyao, you can enjoy the most authentic flavor in central Shanxi Province which features a salty taste and focus on fresh, natural ingredients. And it offers an incredible variety of noodle dishes.
- Must-try dishes: Pingyao beef, Wantuo (round thin slices steamed from buckwheat batter), Youmian Kaolaolao (steamed rolled oat noodles), Guoyourou (fried boiled pork), knife-cut noodles
- Where to eat: Tianyuankui Restaurant, Hongwuji Restaurant, Deshenglou Restaurant, Xiangchangtai Restaurant, street stalls in South and West Streets
How to Travel around
Inside Pingyao Ancient City, you can explore on foot or by electric sightseeing car based on your own preferences and energy.
If you travel to other popular scenic areas, most can be reached by public bus or tourist direct bus. Taxi is also flexible if you plan to visit nearby attractions like Shuanglin Temple and Zhenguo Temple. For a tour to distant scenic spots like the Wang Family Compound and the Qiao Family Compound, chartering a private vehicle is also cost-effective if you are traveling in a group of 3 to 4 people.
Plan Your Pingyao Tour with China Xian Tour
Whether you want to visit Pingyao Ancient City only or combine it with other nearby temples or ancient family compounds, China Xian Tour can customize a trip specially for you. To ensure you enjoy a perfect travel experience, we will provide 1-to-1 expert planning before the trip and 24-hour support during the trip. So do not hesitate to contact us.
FAQs about Pingyao
What to buy in Pingyao Ancient City as souvenirs?
For food lovers, Pingyao Beef and Wantuo are highly recommended. Most stores provide vacuum packaging for easy storage. For cultural souvenirs, the lacquerware is a national intangible cultural heritage and various products can be found, such as jewel cases, ornaments. Also, exquisite fridge magnets are very popular.
Are there any cultural taboos or etiquette I should be aware of during the tour?
Please keep quiet and be respectful when visiting the temples. If you plan to take photos of private courtyards or local people, please ask for permission first.
