2-Day Private Tour from Beijing to Pingyao and Xian by Bullet Train
Step back 200 years into China's financial heartland aboard a high-speed rail adventure.
This Beijing to Pingyao bullet train tour is a private, fully guided two-day experience connecting modern China's capital with one of its most intact ancient walled cities. Departing from Beijing West Railway Station, your dedicated guide accompanies you throughout, ensuring a seamless and informative journey. The itinerary is rated easy, making it suitable for a wide range of travelers.
Pingyao, a UNESCO World Heritage Site inscribed in 1997, preserves a remarkably complete example of Ming and Qing dynasty urban planning. Its street grid follows a traditional bagua pattern, and nearly 4,000 period residences survive in largely original condition. The city once commanded more than half of China's financial institutions during the late Qing Dynasty, a legacy still visible in its preserved bank buildings and merchant houses.
Beyond the ancient city walls, the itinerary extends to Shuanglin Temple and Zhengguo Temple on the second morning. Shuanglin Temple, founded in 571 AD during the Northern Qi Dynasty, houses clay Buddhist sculptures that have endured over a thousand years with their original character intact. Both temples were inscribed alongside the Old Town of Pingyao on the UNESCO World Heritage list.
The tour concludes with a return bullet train journey to Beijing, where your guide transfers you back to your hotel. Local cuisine, including Pingyao's signature beef and noodles, is part of the cultural fabric of the visit and available at local restaurants during the stay.
Tour Highlights
Travel each way aboard a high-speed bullet train from Beijing West Railway Station to Pingyao in approximately four hours.
Explore the UNESCO-listed Old Town of Pingyao, one of China's best-preserved ancient walled cities with over 4,000 Ming and Qing residences.
Visit Rishenchang Bank Institute, the birthplace of China's draft banking system and the financial hub of the late Qing Dynasty.
Walk along the ancient Old City Wall of Pingyao, tour the County Yamun, and discover the Confucius Temple within the historic core.
Tour Shuanglin Temple, home to remarkable painted clay Buddhist sculptures dating back more than one thousand years.
Option to cycle to Shuanglin Temple and Zhengguo Temple on day two for a more active and local experience.
Enjoy the full journey with a dedicated private guide from hotel pickup in Beijing to your return drop-off, with no shared group dynamics.
Itinerary
Your guide meets you in your Beijing hotel lobby and transfers you to Beijing West Railway Station. You board a bullet train for a four-hour journey to Pingyao in Shanxi Province.
Upon arrival in Pingyao, you are transferred directly to the UNESCO-listed old town. The afternoon is spent exploring the Old City Wall, Rishenchang Bank Institute, Confucius Temple, and the County Yamun, offering a vivid sense of China's commercial and civic history from 200 years ago.
Dinner at a local restaurant introduces you to Pingyao's signature dishes, including its well-regarded beef and noodles. You stay overnight at a local guesthouse within or near the old town.
After breakfast at the hotel, you visit Shuanglin Temple, founded in 571 AD, renowned for its exceptionally preserved painted clay Buddhist sculptures. Zhengguo Temple, also UNESCO-listed, is included in this morning excursion, with the option to travel by bicycle.
You are transferred to Pingyao Railway Station to board the bullet train back to Beijing. On arrival in Beijing, your guide transfers you to your hotel, where the tour concludes.
What Is Included
Included
- Private English-speaking guide throughout
- Round-trip bullet train tickets Beijing to Pingyao
- All transfers by private vehicle
- One night accommodation at a local guesthouse in Pingyao
- Hotel breakfast on Day 2
- Entrance fees to Old City Wall, Confucius Temple, Rishenchang Bank Institute, County Yamun, Shuanglin Temple, and Zhengguo Temple
- Hotel pickup and drop-off in Beijing
Not Included
- International and domestic airfare
- Lunch and dinner (except hotel breakfast on Day 2)
- Personal expenses and gratuities
- Travel insurance
- Bicycle rental fee if cycling option is chosen
- Any items not listed under included
Important Information
Reserve Your Private Journey
Secure your place on this private two-day rail tour and explore one of China's most intact ancient cities at your own pace with a dedicated guide.
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