Be picked up from your Beijing hotel at 06:30 am and driven to the railway station for morning fast train to Pingyao. When you arrive in Pingyao, check in to your four-star hotel. This afternoon, we will visit the Wang Family Courtyard, the largest folk residence cluster in China, and admire a display of distinctive Chinese architecture. Then spend the evening however you wish – rest up for the days ahead or explore the old town on your own.

After breakfast, your guide will show you around Pingyao on a walking tour. Visit the Rishengchang Exchange House, a museum that was once the first draft bank of China, and then see the old city wall, the largest city wall in China that remains intact, displaying 72 terraces with battlements. Next, stop at a large compound of government offices built in the Ming and Qing styles. All of these sites have their own interesting stories and legends, which your expert guide will share with you. In the afternoon and evening, explore more of the town’s shops, museums and streets at your leisure.

After breakfast, a private vehicle will take you to Datong, stopping at the Hanging Temple en route. It's an ancient temple which was carved into the cliffs 164 feet (50 meters) from the ground, the Hanging Temple boasts Buddhist, Taoist and Confucian structural elements. It’s an elegant and marvelous sight, complete with temple gates, a bell and drum tower, and large halls. Your expert guide will show you around the temple, sharing anecdotes with you and answering any questions you may have. When you arrive in Datong at around 5pm, your guide will lead you to a popular restaurant for a delicious dinner of local Chinese delicacies. Afterward, spend the evening enjoying the city's sights on your own.

After breakfast, your guide will take you on a visit to one of the most famous ancient Buddhist sculptural sites in China – the Yungang Grottoes. The caves are a World Heritage Site known for their fusion of Buddhist symbolic art from south and central Asia with Chinese cultural traditions. Walk inside the caves and around the site to see the astounding display of different statues, Buddhist paintings and stone carvings. After your morning tour of the caves, board your fast train back to Beijing, where a private vehicle will be waiting to transport you back to your hotel.