Shanxi Province

Tours

The unexpected unearthing of the Terracotta Warriors, a hoard of legendary life-sized clay soldiers intended to fill an emperor’s elaborate mausoleum, is renowned as one of the world’s greatest archaeological events. On this 2.5-hour tour, experience the wonder of these ancient artifacts and gain a deep understanding from your expert tour guide about the First Emperor’s vision for his afterlife and his unification of China, which shaped the nation as it is known today.  If the transfer option was selected, you will be collected from your accommodation and driven to the Terracotta Warriors Museum in a comfortable air-conditioned coach, or you can choose to meet the tour guide at the museum. Your unforgettable tour begins in Pit 1 of the museum, which is the largest of the excavated pits and home to around 6,000 soldiers. Then, head to Pit 2 and 3, where the cavalry and infantry units and officers are located. The famous Bronze Chariot Pit, where two painted bronze chariots are on display, will not be forgotten.  Your expert tour guide will give you a comprehensive introduction to Imperial China’s distinctive approach to funerary art as well as the celebrated sculptures of their scale, both in terms of each individual sculpture’s height and of the group as a whole. If you select the lunch option, you will be treated to a traditional local style Chinese meal before being transferred back to your accommodation. 

Explore the enchanting sights around Datong and be driven in the comfort of a private air-conditioned vehicle. Visit the world-famous Yungang Grottoes, with its huge Buddhas carved in AD 460. The kilometer-long monument is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an artistic treasure trove. Made from sandstone, the largest Buddha is a staggering 56-foot tall while the smallest is just a few centimeters high. You'll then be driven to the Hanging Temple, built over 1,400 years ago during the Northern Wei Dynasty, then rebuilt in the Tang, Jin, Ming, and Qing Dynasties. Standing 50 metres high in the air, the temple is unique not only in its concern for harmony and order, but also in its contents. At the Hanging Temple, its 40 perilous halls and pavilions lean straight over Golden Dragon Canyon. See these beautiful, ancient remnants of Buddhist history with a passionate local guide in tow.

This private customizable day tour will take you to visit Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum and two of the following highlights of Xian according to your personal interests: The Tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi, Banpo Museum, Shaanxi History Museum, Xian City Wall, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, The Great Mosque or the Muslim Street. Start with a pickup from your downtown Xi'an hotel lobby and a one-hour drive onboard a private vehicle. Visit the Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum. Marvel at the massive life-sized terracotta warriors and horses troops. Experience the wonder of these ancient artifacts and gain a deep understanding about the First Emperor’s vision for his afterlife and his unification of China. Afterward, visit two of the following recommended sites. If you cannot decide on what to see, then the Xian City Wall and the Muslim Streets will be the default. At the end of the tour, get a transfer back to your downtown Xi'an hotel.

Discover the artifacts from one of the world’s most significant archaeological excavations on this trip from Xi’an. Depart from Xi’an and enjoy a ride to the Emperor Qinshihuang’s Mausoleum Site Museum, which is home to over 7,000 terracotta warriors, which are over 2000 years old. See the over 7,000 terracotta warriors, terracotta horses, and numerous bronze chariots and weapons, and learn about China's first emperor, for whom the warriors were built. See artifacts from the first unified empire in Chinese history while learning about the rise of the empire. Visit the largest tomb in known Chinese history, and learn about Emperor Qinshihuang’s unique approach to funerary art and his vision of the afterlife and modern China while accompanied by an expert guide.

Visit the Hanging Temple, built into a cliff (40 meter or 131 feet above the ground) of Mt. Hengshan. It is the most famous scenic spot in the area. Built more than 1,500 years ago, this temple is notable not only for its location on a sheer precipice, but also because it is the only existing temple with the combination of three Chinese traditional religions: Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism.  Learn how this temple was constructed in a unique way, only leaning on the precipitous mountain face and facing a deep valley. Seeing it from the distance you might even think that it is miraculously floating in mid air. Explore Yungang Grottos in the afternoon. The grottoes are caved into the foot of the mountain, stretching about one kilometer from east to west. There are about 45 grottoes of different sizes and more than 51000 Buddhist carvings. It is one of the biggest grottoes in China! The Datong bus tour will pick you up from your hotel or railway station and drop you off at your hotel at the end of the tour. This group tour starts at 8 AM and finishes around 5-6 PM.

Take in incredible views of the city of X’ian from its magnificent Bell Tower and Drum Tower, and learn all about its intriguing history from your local guide. Depending on the option you choose, you will either meet the guide yourself at the Bell Tower Hotel or get transferred from your hotel to the meeting point by a premium car. Head to the Bell Tower along with your guide and marvel at the ancient wonder located right at the heart of the bustling city of Xi’an. This 14th-century wooden monument from the Ming dynasty, standing at the height of 36 meters, was used to tell time during ancient times. Enter the tower and walk up the wooden stairs to the top of the building as you listen to your guide share fascinating stories about its legendary past. Behold the panoramic views of the city from the top and take time to let that sink in. Continue towards the Drum Tower, a smaller building at 7.7 meters in height that marks the entrance towards the city’s Muslim Quarter. Learn about the historical role of this tower from your guide before making your way into the Muslim Quarter. Walk past an unending line of vibrant food stalls selling cakes, dried fruits, bread, and barbequed meat before you arrive at your final stop — Jia San Soup Dumpling Restaurant — a must-try restaurant in the Muslim Quarter. After a delicious meal at the restaurant, in case you’re left wanting more, feel free to get recommendations from your guide for the best street food you could try.

Pick-up from your hotel lobby is at 9:00 by local tour guide, aboard a comfortable air-conditioned vehicle to start the highlight day trip from Pingyao. Your first stop will be Shuanglin Temple reputed to be the ancient painted sculptures museum. Listed in the World Heritage by UNESCO in 1997, Shuanglin Temple houses more than 2,000 colorful sculptures reflecting the exquisite skills of the artisans of the Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties. Head inside the Temple with a history of about 1,400 years, follow your guide to stroll around the large and small halls, and view the vivid and lifelike sculptures. Move on to a local restaurant to enjoy delicious lunch and have a short break. Then drive approximately 1 hours to visit the Wang's Compound -a luxurious residence built during 1762-1811 of the Wang Family. Wang's Compound is not only an example of residential architecture, but also a museum of architectural art. Walk into the courtyard, one can see sculptures of stone, wood and brick everywhere. The architectural groups open for viewing are Gaojia Ya, Hongmen Bao, Chongning Bao, etc. The Painting and Calligraphy Hall displays hundreds of excellent works while Treasure Hall contains collections of furnishings, old coins, porcelains, rare stones and jade carvings. Afterwards, enjoy comfortable transfer back to your hotel to conclude the memorable day trip.

After hotel pick–up at 9:00 AM, transfer to visit the Hanging Temple, a temple built into a cliff 75 meters above the ground near Datong City. Discover the temple, built more than 1500 years ago, and marvel at its massive size. Find out more about the only existing temple to combine three Chinese traditional religions: Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism. Enjoy your lunch in local restaurant before you move on to the Yungang Grottoes, one of the three most famous ancient Buddhist sculptural sites of China. Take in this outstanding example of the Chinese stone carvings from the 5th and 6th centuries. See the 53 major caves, along with 51000 niches housing the same number of Buddha statues. Find out how the grottoes were excavated in the south face of a sandstone cliff. In 2001, the Yungang Grottoes were made a UNESCO World Heritage Site. At the end of the tour, return to your hotel in Datong.

Discover China's Hanging Temple and the Yungang Grottoes on this 2-day tour through Chinese history. Begin from your location in Datong and make your way to the world-famous Yungang Grottoes. Catch the Hanging Temple early next morning and ponder how it sits serenely along steep cliffs. Perched 50 meters high in the air, its 40 perilous halls and pavilions lean straight over Golden Dragon Canyon. Continue to the town of Yinxian and uncover the Wooden Pagoda. Detailed Itinerary: Day 1: Datong - Yungang Grottoes Begin with a pick-up from your location in Datong and head to Yungang Grottoes. Dating back to the 5th-century, the UNESCO World Heritage site is full of rare and splendid sculptures. Take in over 50,000 Buddhist statues over the course of 1 km. Enjoy a delicious lunch before continuing toward the Nine-Dragon Wall, the biggest, oldest, and tallest dragon wall in China. Stop by the historic Huayan Temple, the largest and most well-preserved temple from the Liao and Jin dynasties. Finally, explore the Shuanhua Temple before returning to your hotel for the night. Day 2: Hanging Temple - Yinxian - Datong Enjoy an early morning breakfast before heading toward the Hanging Temple. Located just outside the town of Hunyuan, the temple was built precariously along sheer cliffs above Jinlong Canyon. Make your way through the grounds as you trace back more than 1,400 years of history. In the afternoon, head to Yinxian to see the Wooden Pagoda. At the end of the day, return to your destination in Datong.

A local friendly tour guide will meet you at your Pingyao hotel lobby at 9:00 am and lead you to start the tour of the well-preserved ancient city with a grand City Wall, traditional residences, former security guard companies, time-honored shops, and Ancient government offices. While walking along the ancient Ming-Qing Street, learn about the Old Town’s history, culture, and architecture from your guide. Founded during the Western Zhou Dynasty (1046 – 771 BC) and rebuilt in 1370, the Pingyao Ancient City is one of China's four best preserved old cities and was inscribed as a world cultural heritage in 1997. Visit the Ancient Government Office to the west of the Ancient Ming-Qing Street and hear about old trials at the law court. Explore the nearly 200-year-old Rishengchang Exchange Museum, the first 'bank' in China's history. With more than 30 branches throughout the country. It once controlled the lifeblood of the nation's economy in the Qing Dynasty. Later you will have a break and enjoy a delicious lunch of traditional local food. Then proceed to visit the Confucius Tempel to learn the development and procedure of the old examination, wander in the City God Temple to see exquisite pavilions and towers, and explore one of the best-preserved ancient walls in Chia - the turtle-like Ancient City Wall. To conclude the trip, your local guide will escort you back to the hotel and bid farewell.