Vast Mogolian Prairie Plus Charming China Culture
Welcome to Hohhot, the Capital of Inner Mongolia! Clear the customs and retrieve your baggage by yourself upon arrival, be greeted by our tour guide in the airport or train station who is holding a sign on which says your name. A comfortable vehicle (non-smoking) with experienced driver will transfer you directly to your hotel in Hohhot. Your guide will help you check in. The rest of today is on your own to explore the "Green City" in Mongolian.
After breakfast, enjoy a car journey from Hohhot to Xilamuren Grassland (90 km away, about 1.5 hours’ driving). Xilamuren means “Golden River” in Mongolian and the grassland is the nearest one to Hohhot and the earliest one in Inner Mongolia.
There are some featured activities on Xilamuren Grassland. (a) You’ll be warmly welcomed by local Mongolians who are colorfully dressed. They’ll present you a silver cup of wine and Hada; (b) Appreciate the beautiful scenery of the grassland; (c) Taste some local favorites such as mutton and other traditional cuisines; (d) Take an optional horseback riding to visit a herdsman’s family and Aobao Hill (at your own expenses); (e) Enjoy some traditional Mongolian activities like archery, horse racing, and Mongolian-style-wrestling performances.
Good to Know: There are three famous grasslands near Hohhot, including Xilamuren Grassland, Gegentala Grassland (140 km) and Huitengxile Grassland (135 km). The itinerary could be tailor-made according to your preference.
After the tour, transfer back to Hohhot city.
Wrestling on Grassland
Xilamuren Grassland in July
Today, enjoy your full day tour to visit the top attractions in Hohhot. Firstly, you’ll pay a visit to Dazhao Temple, the largest and most famous Tibetan Buddhism shrine in Hohhot. It also boasts the impressive buildings, a large collection of religious and cultural relics, among which the silver statue of Buddha, dragon sculpture and frescos are the most cherished treasures. Afterwards, continue a trip to Five-pagoda Temple. Originally built in ancient Indian style, it is one of the only remaining parts of the Ci Deng Temple compound located in the Old City of Hohhot.
After lunch, be escorted to take a train to Datong City (3.5 hours). Upon arrival at Datong Train Station, your local tour guide will meet you and take you to check in your hotel.
Dazhao Temple Appearance
Today, your first stop is the Yungang Grottoes. Listed as World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2001, Yungang Grottoes was built in Northern Wei Dynast (368 – 534). Its Buddhist culture and art involve in architecture, history, music and other aspects of Chinese culture, representing the highest achievement in Buddhist art in 5th to 6th century as the essence of oriental sculpture art. Yungang Grottoes is one of the top three grottoes in China, along with Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang and Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang. There are 45 major grottoes in total and 209 secondary caves, with about 1100 niches and 51000 statues. The biggest statue is 17 meters high and the smallest one is only 2 centimeters high.
Later, drive to visit the Hanging Temple, built on the cliffs of Mt. Hengshan, one of the five most scared mountains in China. It is the only existing temple which combines Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism together in China. The temple was constructed in the late Northern Wei Dynasty (491AD), protruding from the cliff of Cuiping Peak and is 50 meter above the ground. The Times magazine selected the Hanging Temple as one of the Top 10 Unique and Precipitous Architectures in 2010.
After the tour, transferred to Taiyuan for accommodation.
Yungang Grottoes - The treasure of traditional Chinese art
Hanging Temple at Mt. Hengshan
Today you will travel to Pingyao. Take a side trip to visit Jinci Temple. Stepping into this sprawling complex, you will be overwhelmed by the charming natural landscape as well as historical relics of unique architectures, elegant murals and colored sculptures. Get awed by the Zhou Cypress which has been growing at an angle of about 30 degrees for the last 900 years.
After arriving at Pingyao, you will be taken to explore Pingyao Ancient City. As one of the best-preserved ancient cities in China, Pingyao Ancient City is listed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site because of its brilliant cultural magnificence. With a history over 2700 years, Pingyao Ancient City still keeps its intact charm: ancient city walls, elegant courtyards, scattered temples, all reflecting the urban planning style between 1368 and 1911 during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Your tour starts from the Ancient City Wall of Pingyao, where you can have a panorama view of the layout of this town. Then you will move on to the Rishengchang Former Bank, which shows you the original bank system in the past. Next, stroll on the traditional Ming and Qing Dynasties Street, a cobbled road with old buildings on either side. It’s much like tracing back to the former bustle bazaar in the old days. Later, visit the Temple of City God to appreciate the wonderful wood carvings, paintings and sculptures in the old temple.
After the ancient city exploration, go to check in to your hotel.
Optional activity: Enjoy the excellent drama show of Another Glance at Pingyao (19:00~20:30) which presents local life, prosperity and recession of Pingyao during Qing dynasty vividly.
Temple Garden
Pingyao Ancient City Wall Shot by Our Customer Elie
After breakfast, drive about 1 hour to Zhangbi Ancient Castle, which is a series of tunnels dug to hide out in times of war in over 1380 years ago. You will be amazed by the fabulous feat of architecture and engineering in ancient time.
Later, move to Wang's Family Compound which is reputed as an art museum of traditional Chinese architecture and “Forbidden City in Folk”. It is a building complex of multi-generation endeavor of Jingsheng Wang family through the Ming and Qing dynasties for more than 300 years, including five lanes and 6 forts and 231 courtyards, 2,078 rooms and a street with a total area of 250,000 square meters. Within the courtyards are rooms, kitchens, schools, and prayer pavilions. The architectural layout of the Wang Family Compound inherits the courtyard style formed in the Western Zhou Dynasty (1046 BC~771 BC) – halls in front and bedroom at back which not only provides enough space for social activities, but also satisfies the requirements of the family privacy. Young and orderly, men and women, hosts and workers are accommodated in different areas, which fully reflects the majesty of the official family and the regularity of the patriarchal etiquette in ancient China.
After visiting, your local guide will escort you to Airport / Railway Station to catch your flight / train to next destination.
Zhangbi Ancient Castle
Wang's Family Compound
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Beijing / Datong / Pingyao / Xian
Beijing / Datong / Wutaishan / Pingyao
Beijing / Datong / Pingyao / Xian / Shanghai
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