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Jin Merchants Ancient Buildings 6 Days · Including Fo Guang Temple and Hongdong Great Pagoda Tree
6 days / 5 nights · Taiyuan / Wutai Mountain / Pingyao / Hongtong

Jin Merchants Ancient Buildings 6 Days · Including Fo Guang Temple and Hongdong Great Pagoda Tree

Taiyuan / Wutai Mountain / Pingyao / Hongtong · 6 days 5 nights · Moderate

Reference Price

$870Rise / Person

  • Purely for fun, no shopping
  • The itinerary can be slightly adjusted
  • Includes ticket reservation service
Number of people in a group2–10 people
IntensityMedium
Best seasonApr–Oct
Traffichigh-speed rail + tour bus
Accommodation4-star hotel + Pingyao Inn
Departure MonthApril to October
View daily schedule Customized according to this line

Prices vary between peak and off-peak seasons; the following order confirmation shall prevail · Tickets for highlands and peak seasons need to be booked in advance

Itinerary Details

All routes are for reference only, the actual route is subject to the explanation of customer service

A whole day should definitely be specially arranged for Foguang Temple, while the Great Pagoda Tree is the emotional destination for seeking one's roots.

Day-by-day itinerary6 days in total · daily destination, meals, accommodation and transport

Expand day by day; click a title to collapse. Itinerary for reference and may be adjusted for weather and traffic.

  1. D1Arrived at Taiyuan · Shanxi Museum

    DestinationLocally→ Taiyuan

    Meals
    Meals are self-managed
    Accommodation
    Taiyuan Hotel
    Transport
    Airport/Station Pickup and Drop-off
    Distance
    Within the city
    Stops
    Daily detailArrive in Taiyuan from various locations, with a dedicated airport or station pick-up to your hotel. Afternoon free time.
    Half a day at the museum + half a day at Jinci Temple. On the second day, head north to Wutai Mountain.
    Shanxi Museum: Bird Zun, Hou Ma Alliance Book, and Northern Dynasties Buddha statues. After seeing them, you'll have a much clearer view of the ancient architecture.
    Meals: Knife-cut noodles, fried pork, cat ear.
    Note: Shanxi Museum is closed on Mondays; Jinci is about 25 km from downtown Jinci, about 40 minutes by bus or taxi.
    In the evening, take the high-speed rail or tour bus to Wutai Mountain, and stay overnight there.

  2. DestinationWutai Mountain, urban area

    Meals
    Breakfast: Hotel · Lunch: Local (included) · Dinner: Self-arranged
    Accommodation
    Wutai Mountain Hotel
    Transport
    City bus Walking
    Distance
    Walking about 4-6 km within the city
    Stops
    Daily detailEast Main Hall of Foguang Temple: Built in 857 AD, seven bays with eight beams, single-eave hip roof, a textbook wooden structure from the Tang Dynasty.
    Main Hall of Nanchan Temple: The oldest existing wooden structure, dating back to 782 AD, small in scale but older.
    Meals: Mushroom stewed chicken, oat noodles with kaolaolao, vegetarian meal.
    Note: The top is at a high altitude with large temperature differences, so bring a jacket; Foguang Temple is outside the South Terrace and requires more than half a day to get there by trip.

  3. DestinationWutai Mountain → Pingyao

    Meals
    Breakfast: Hotel · Lunch: Local (included) · Dinner: Self-arranged
    Accommodation
    Wutai Mountain Hotel
    Transport
    High-speed rail / tour bus → Pingyao
    Distance
    Intercity Transfer
    Stops
    Daily detailXiantong Temple and Tayuan Temple: The core temple cluster of Taihuai Township, with the Great White Pagoda as a landmark of Wutai Mountain.
    Bodhisattva Peak and Dailuo Peak: Qing Dynasty imperial lama temples and 'Xiaochao Terrace.' From the top, you can enjoy panoramic views of Taihuai.
    Meals: Taiwanese Mushroom Stewed Chicken, Oat Noodles with Kaolaolao, and vegetarian meals.
    Note: The summit is at a high altitude with large temperature differences, so bring a jacket; Foguang Temple is located outside Nantai and requires more than half a day to get there by special trip.
    In the evening, take the high-speed rail or tour bus to Pingyao and stay overnight.

  4. DestinationPingyao city center

    Meals
    Breakfast: Hotel · Lunch: Local (included) · Dinner: Self-arranged
    Accommodation
    Pingyao Hotel
    Transport
    City bus Walking
    Distance
    Walking about 4-6 km within the city
    Stops
    Daily detailPingyao Ancient City Wall and County Office: You can walk around the city wall, and the county office holds daily performances.
    Rishengchang Draft Bank: The founder of the Bank of China, where you can see the secret seals and account books from back then.
    Meals: Pingyao beef, bowl trays, and kaolaolao.
    Tip: Entry to the ancient city is free; the attraction ticket includes 22 locations; Choosing inns within the city for more atmosphere for accommodation.

  5. DestinationPingyao → Hongtong

    Meals
    Breakfast: Hotel · Lunch: Local (included) · Dinner: Self-arranged
    Accommodation
    Pingyao Hotel
    Transport
    High-speed rail / tour bus → Hongtong
    Distance
    Intercity Transfer
    Stops
    Daily detailShuanglin Temple: 6 kilometers southwest of the ancient city, with over 2,000 Ming Dynasty painted sculptures and stunning Wei Tuo statues.
    Zhenguo Temple: Five Dynasties wooden Myriad Buddha Hall, listed alongside Shuanglin Temple as one of Pingyao's 'one city, two temples.'
    Meals: Pingyao beef, bowl trays, and kaolaolao.
    Note: Entry to the ancient city is free; the attraction ticket includes 22 locations; Choosing inns within the city for a more ambient stay.
    In the evening, take the high-speed rail or tour bus to Hongtong and stay overnight in Hongtong.

  6. DestinationHongtong → Airport drop-off / stop-hop drop-off

    Meals
    Breakfast: Hotel · Lunch: Local (included) · Dinner: Self-arranged
    Accommodation
    Not included
    Transport
    Private vehicle for transfer to airport/station
    Distance
    Walking about 4-6 km within the city
    Stops
    Daily detailHongtong Great Pagoda Tree Root-Seeking Ancestor Worship Garden: The ancient locust tree site, ancestral hall, and surname plaque, where you can trace the origin of surnames.
    Guangsheng Temple: At the foot of Huoshan, Feihong Pagoda is the most complete existing glazed pagoda, with Yuan dynasty murals extremely valuable.
    Susan Prison: The site of a Ming dynasty prison, famous for the story of 'Yutang Chun'.
    Yao Temple (Linfen): About 40 minutes from Hongtong, can be arranged in the same row as Linfen.
    Meals: Hongtong crispy pork, wonton noodles.
    Tip: Ancestral halls can be searched by surname; it is recommended to record your surname and hall number in advance; Guangsheng Temple Feihong Pagoda is accessible.
    Shuttle service will be provided according to flight or train time, ending the itinerary.
Key facts
Departure pointGather in Taiyuan, disperse in Hongtong
Number of people in a groupSmall group of 2-10 people
Recommended monthApr–Oct
AccommodationFour-Star Hotel Pingyao Inn
TrafficHigh-speed Rail Tourist Bus
IntensityMedium

Route Overview

Main Route for Ancient Shanxi Merchants Architecture: Shanxi Museum and Jinci Temple, East Hall of Foguang Temple on Mount Wutai and Nanchan Temple (Tang Dynasty wooden structures), Pingyao Ancient City and Shuanglin Temple, Grand Pagoda Tree in Hongtong and Guangsheng Temple. A Shanxi route for cultural and museum enthusiasts.

The whole journey is 6 days, progressing along "Taiyuan → Foguang Temple on Mount Wutai → Pingyao Ancient City → Grand Pagoda Tree in Hongtong": Taiyuan / Mount Wutai / Pingyao / Hongtong. The pace is arranged as "one city per segment," with high-speed trains as the main mode of intercity travel, and segments over 5 hours replaced with flights.

Destinations on this Route

  • Taiyuan: Half a day at the museum + half a day at Jinci Temple, then head north to Mount Wutai on the second day.
  • Mount Wutai: One day visiting the Taihuai temple complex, one day dedicated to Foguang Temple + Nanchan Temple (must be arranged).
  • Pingyao: One day in the city (city walls + county office + draft banks), one day visiting Shuanglin Temple + Zhenguo Temple.
  • Hongtong: Half a day at the Grand Pagoda Tree, half a day at Guangsheng Temple, can be connected with Linfen in a line.

Belonging Cultural Long Route

This route belongs to Ancient Shanxi Merchants Architecture・Northern China Ancient Charm, and there are alternative itineraries with different durations for the same theme for comparison.

Costs include

  • Accommodation listed in the itinerary (double occupancy)
  • First entrance tickets to the attractions specified in the itinerary
  • Ground transportation listed in the itinerary (high-speed rail / tour bus / scenic area sightseeing bus)
  • Full-time Chinese-speaking tour guide service
  • Daily breakfast, and meals specified in the itinerary
  • Travel agency liability insurance and travel accident insurance

Cost not included

  • Round-trip international airfare between the place of departure and China
  • Personal visa and document fees
  • Main meals and personal expenses not listed
  • Optional items (cable car, additional boat rides, performances, etc.)
  • Tips for guides and drivers (voluntary)
  • Single room supplement

Booking Reminder

After confirming the itinerary and dates, pay the deposit, and the remaining balance should be paid 15 days before the trip. Cancellation more than 30 days before departure will get a full refund of the deposit, 70% refund for 15-30 days, 50% refund for 7-15 days, and no refund within 7 days. Popular sites such as Mogao Caves and Sanxingdui require real-name reservation, please submit ID information at least 15 days in advance. Seniors over 70 and children under 12 should be noted in the remarks, and we will adjust the daily walking distance accordingly.