Xi'an Taiyuan Pingyao Old Town 5-Day Tour
This 5-day China heartland journey highlights imperial and merchant history in Xi’an, Pingyao, and Taiyuan. Features include Terracotta Army, Ming walls, ancient bank museums, Song Dynasty temples, and local noodles—immersing in northern traditions through visual and culinary splendor.
Book this Tour
Xi'an-Taiyuan-Pingyao Old Town
Included with every escorted tour
Day 1: Xi'an Arrival
Arrival in Xi’an
4-Stars Hotel
Breakfast&Lunch
Upon arrival, enjoy free time to explore at your leisure.
Recommended experience: Wander through Zhonglou Small District, a hidden culinary gem near the Bell Tower, where you can sample authentic local snacks like crispy roujiamo (Chinese hamburger), steaming biangbiang noodles, and sweet persimmon cakes. Let your taste buds begin the journey through Shaanxi’s rich food culture.
Day 2: Xi'an
Muslim Quarter – Giant Wild Goose Pagoda – Da Ci’en Temple – Tang Dynasty Ever-bright City
4-Stars Hotel
Breakfast&Lunch
Morning: Begin at the vibrant Muslim Quarter, Xi’an’s iconic culinary alley where the aroma of sizzling yangrou paomo (lamb stew with bread) and liangpi (cold noodles) fills narrow lanes lined with Persian-inspired eateries and nutcake vendors. This 1,000-year-old Islamic enclave showcases Hui minority culture through its blue-tiled mosques and hand-hammered copperware shops.
Next, visit the 64-meter Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, built in 652 AD under monk Xuanzang’s supervision to house Buddhist scriptures from India. Its seven-tiered, brick-heavy Tang architecture—leaning slightly since the 1556 earthquake—offers panoramic city views from the top tier (climb requires extra ticket).
Afternoon: Explore adjacent Da Ci’en Temple, the 7th-century imperial monastery that birthed China’s Faxiang Buddhist School. Marvel at its gilded Sakyamuni statue flanked by 18 luohan, and don’t miss the stone steles detailing Xuanzang’s epic Silk Road journey.
Night: Step into Tang Dynasty Ever-bright City, a 2.1km open-air theater where holographic poets recite verses beside “floating” lantern installations. Between 7-11pm, catch rotating performances:
Day 3: Taiyuan Arrival
Terracotta Warriors – Ancient City Wall – Transfer to Taiyuan (by High-Speed Rail)
4-Stars Hotel
Breakfast&Lunch
Morning:
Stand in awe before the Terracotta Army, the subterranean legion guarding China’s First Emperor, Qin Shi Huang, for over 2,200 years. This UNESCO-listed “Eighth Wonder of the World” reveals thousands of life-sized clay soldiers, chariots, and bronze weapons—each with unique facial expressions—showcasing the Qin Dynasty’s military might and artistic mastery. For hands-on history, try a pottery workshop (extra fee) to craft your own miniature warrior.
Afternoon:
Return to Xi’an’s 13.74-kilometer Ming Dynasty City Wall, the most complete ancient fortification surviving in China. Originally built in 582 AD during the Sui Dynasty and rebuilt in 1370, this towering 12-meter-high rampart offers bike rentals to pedal past arrow towers and moat bridges while absorbing panoramic views of old and new Xi’an.
Evening:
Board a high-speed train (approx. 3 hours) to Shanxi’s capital, Taiyuan, where coal-rich history meets Buddhist art.
Day 4: Taiyuan
Shanxi Museum-Qiao Family Compound
4-Stars Hotel
Breakfast
Morning: Begin at Shanxi Museum, home to 400,000+ artifacts showcasing the province’s 5,000-year history. Don’t miss:
– Bronze ritual vessels from the Zhou Dynasty
– Exquisite Yuan Dynasty painted sculptures
– The “Bird Demon” roof ornament from Jin temples
Afternoon: Explore Qiao Family Compound, the 18th-century mansion of China’s Rockefeller-like banking clan. Marvel at:
– 313 rooms with carved brick, wood, and stone decorations
– Hidden treasure walls and anti-bandit tunnels
– The “Three Marvels” (lightwells, hanging corridors, secret passages)
Evening: Return to Taiyuan for a taste of Shanxi knife-shaved noodles at a local bistro.
Day 5: Taiyuan Departure
Pingyao Ancient City-Return to Taiyuan-Departure
Breakfast&Lunch
Morning: Head to Pingyao Ancient City, founded during the Western Zhou Dynasty (827 BC) and boasting over 2,800 years of history. It is one of China’s best-preserved Ming and Qing ancient cities and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997. The city is famed for its intact city walls, historic streets, and rich merchant culture, known as a “treasury of Chinese ancient architecture.”
Afternoon: Return to Taiyuan for your onward flight, concluding your Xi’an&Shanxi adventure.
