31 years after the Stock Exchange began in Wall Street, Chinese banking began in Pingyao in 1823. When the world was busy changing its face, it kept its appearance of 2,700 years ago. You don't need a time machine — just come to Pingyao, and you will see the birthplace of "China's Wall Street", and experience the history of the best-preserved ancient town in China.
Pingyao is like a scroll displaying the development of China's economy, culture, society, and religion for nearly 3,000 years — the First Bank in China, displays of old armed escort companies, colored mud sculptures, wooden temples, the ancient city wall… every corner has its unique story.
Our Pingyao package tours pick out the most representative sights, utilize time efficiently, and thoughtfully present the gems of ancient Pingyao to you. We are flexible to tailoring your own trip according to your schedule, and offer professional suggestions.
Most Popular Pingyao Tour
Pingyao Ancient City and Surrounding

Pingyao Vicinity Map

Common Questions Travelers Ask Us
1. What are the best sightseeing and transportation options in Datong and Pingyao?
It is recommended to spend one day in Datong (to see the town's attractions and the Yungang Grottoes,), one day traveling from Datong to Pingyao and sightseeing on the way (to see the Hanging Monastery, Yingxian Wooden Pagoda, and the Wang Family Courtyard), and one day in Pingyao Ancient Town. The best way to get to Pingyao from Datong is to have a private vehicle. In order to have the most flexibility to enjoy the attractions along the way, we have a four-day package tour that includes the most representative attractions in Datong and Pingyao
2. What are the transportation links between Beijing and Datong?
There are two ways to get to Datong from Beijing: airplane and train. There are two daily flights from Beijing to Datong that depart in the early morning and late afternoon. The flights take 55 minutes. The train journeys take between 6½ and 8 hours, and most of them are overnight trains. They depart in the late evening (around 11pm) and arrive in the early morning.
3. What is an overnight train like? How is a train ticket booked?
For overnight trains, we recommend soft sleepers. There are four bunks in a compartment with a door for privacy. Each bunk has a pillow and a blanket. The toilets are at the end of the carriage and may be a Western toilet; however, they may not always be clean as they are used by people from other carriages. We can book the train ticket for you, and will usually purchase the ticket for a bottom bunk in the compartment, which is easier and steadier. If you do not want to share the compartment with other people, we can also book the whole compartment (four tickets).
Discover real reviews of Highlights Travel Family's best-rated service across trusted platforms.

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Good Experience!!
![]() The experience with Tom was good. Very good choice of venues and restaurants and a lot of good experiences in a short timespan. more
Jul 2025, Iulia
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Beijing Great Wall and Forbidden City tour
![]() We had a great experience with the Great Wall and Forbidden City tour. Our guide, Kevin - was very patient and knowledgeable. The Great Wall was an amazing sight, we were able to walk for about 30 minutes on this tourist-oriented section of the Wall; we were fortunate that the weather was misty and rainy- most days during the summer are very hot and humid. After a lunch nearby, we went on a tour of the Forbidden City; The former palace is a huge area full of history. I highly recommend this tour. more
Jul 2025, Jason
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Hike on the great wall
![]() We booked a hike through China Highlights, where we hiked an unrestored part of the Great Wall. Our tour guide, Oliver, was very nice and shared a lot of history along the way. The hike was about four hours long and took us through various terrain. It was very beautiful. more
Jul 2025, Tobias E
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