Back Roads of Pingyao

Here is a great chance to explore Pingyao. Pingyao is a well kept historical city in China.

Day 1: Take soft sleeper night trian 1163(19:03PM---05:56AM) from Beijing west train station to Taiyuan.

Day 2: Zhangbi Fortress and Courtyard of Wang Family

Picked up by our local guide, then drive to an interesting village called Zhangbi, with visible city walls left and tens of km of underground tunnel, this place was used to be a strategic military point dating back to Tang dynasty, 600 AD. And it is a recently discovered treasure, which is off the tourists trail. We will walk around in the 1.5 millennium old city, try to find pieces of history while checking the local villagers' life, later explore the underground tunnel which was suppose for military use.

Later we will drive to the largest and best preserved courtyard house-courtyard of Wang family (Wangjia Dayuan), constructed during 1762-1811 by a rich Shanxi merchant family. A huge private palace, built along the slope of the mountain, very good Fengshui. Unlike other famous courtyard house, this one has been kept intact and real, no restoration, no exhibition of unreal folk and custom stuff, wondering in the hundred years old house, listen to the guide elaborating the story of the family. Later on take a look of the village nearby, there are also some old cave houses, a typical residential architecture in the yellow soil plain area, which are used for peasants living in old time but now ordinary villagers live in, rural people, old house, very real China.

We will get to the ancient city of Ping Yao in the late afternoon, stay overnight in a lovely hundred years old courtyard guesthouse.

Day 3: Pingyao City
Ping Yao is an exceptionally well-preserved ancient city, founded in the 14th century, and it used to be the major financial centre for the whole of China in the 19th and early 20th centuries. There are still more than 4000 old houses in the city, we will check out the biggest private bank in China, an old county government office courtyard, a live demonstration of local administration procedure, then a pawn shop and an old security company.
Another good part of the old city is the food, so many delicious local cuisines, very different from the popular foods in Beijing, of cause we will try as more as we can.
Spend the afternoon do a leisure bike ride in the back lanes of the city, check out some hidden places, meet local peoples, later bike to a interesting temple called Shuanglin temple, which is a Buddhist temple with a long history. Inside the temple are more than two-thousand painted sculptures which arts are of precious value. They are reputed as a treasure reserve of the oriental painted sculptures. Later cycle back to Pingyao city, transfer to Taiyuan, take K602(21:30PM��08:09AM) back to Beijing.

Extended trip to Xian from here is also available (one night train), inquiry us if you are interested.

Price:

RMB 2100 per person based on 2 persons
RMB 1870 per person based on 3 persons
RMB 1720 per person based on 4 persons
RMB 1650 per person based on 5 or 5 +

Included in Package:

Accommodation (3 star)
All entrance fees, cycling fee.
Train tickets ( soft sleepers)

local transportation
English speaking tour guide

Excluded:
Meals,snacks, private drink and activities, tip to tour guide and driver

Things to bring: Sunglasses, camera, towel, tooth brush and tooth paste

Sign up: Contact Cycle China Beijing Office
Tel: 86-10-64025653 Mobile: 86-139-1188-6524
Email: reserve@cyclechina.com

Office Hours: 9:00-18:00 ( GMT+0800 ) Monday - Sunday
Address: No. 12 Jingshan East Street (Opposite of the east gate of Jingshan Park)