--- title: "Halls of Emperors and Gods" description: "7 days from the Forbidden City to 2000 painted faces and the China behind both" type: "tour" route_id: "beijing-shanxi-temples-7-days" total_days: 7 price: 2190 highlights: ["Beijing", "Taiyuan"] url: "https://www.lyriktrip.com/tours/beijing-shanxi-temples-7-days" canonical_url: "https://www.lyriktrip.com/tours/beijing-shanxi-temples-7-days" locale: "en-US" alternates: {"en-US":"https://www.lyriktrip.com/tours/beijing-shanxi-temples-7-days","en-GB":"https://www.lyriktrip.com/en-GB/tours/beijing-shanxi-temples-7-days","zh-CN":"https://www.lyriktrip.com/zh-CN/tours/beijing-shanxi-temples-7-days","de-DE":"https://www.lyriktrip.com/de-DE/tours/beijing-shanxi-temples-7-days","fr-FR":"https://www.lyriktrip.com/fr-FR/tours/beijing-shanxi-temples-7-days","es-ES":"https://www.lyriktrip.com/es-ES/tours/beijing-shanxi-temples-7-days","it-IT":"https://www.lyriktrip.com/it-IT/tours/beijing-shanxi-temples-7-days","x-default":"https://www.lyriktrip.com/tours/beijing-shanxi-temples-7-days"} --- # Halls of Emperors and Gods 7 days from the Forbidden City to 2000 painted faces and the China behind both Old China, wood and stone. The Great Wall, Song dynasty statues, Buddhist grottoes and the walled town of Pingyao, with English-speaking guides throughout. - Moderate — up to about 12,000 steps a day, with some stairs — City walking and Mutianyu wall steps, with level temple, museum, and old-town days at your own pace. ## Overview Beijing plays the empire at full volume: one axis, gate after gate, every roof ranked. Then the train runs west into Shanxi and the volume drops. The temples turn to wood, the sculpture to painted clay, and the faces turn individual: Song dynasty maidens at Jinci, more than 2,000 figures at Shuanglin, stone Buddhas carved through four dynasties at Tianlongshan. Seven days, one civilization in two registers. The souvenir is a habit: you will find yourself reading rooflines long after you are home. LyrikTrip travel designers Your route is designed and noted before you land; licensed English-speaking local guides accompany you in Beijing and across Shanxi. ## Summary - Route ID: beijing-shanxi-temples-7-days - Duration: 7 days / 6 nights - Starting price: $2,190 - Status: active - Highlights: Beijing, Taiyuan - Cover image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/jjBLMpSL.jpg ## Hero tags - private - cultural - heritage - architecture ## Highlight notes - Old China, wood and stone. The Great Wall, Song dynasty statues, Buddhist grottoes and the walled town of Pingyao, with English-speaking guides throughout. ## Selling points - Walk the Beijing Central Axis through the Forbidden City, gate after gate, until an empire's plan appears. - Ride the cable car to Mutianyu's ridgeline and walk watchtower to watchtower along the Great Wall. - Meet the Song dynasty maidens of Jinci Temple, each with her own age, rank and mood. - See the painted halls of Shuanglin Temple, the ones behind a game the world now plays. - Climb Pingyao's city wall and walk the streets where merchants once moved money across China on paper. ## City highlights - Beijing (3 days): the Central Axis - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/2yR5lg3Q.webp - Taiyuan (4 days): wood in the morning, stone in the afternoon - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/ce9bf1c242ce.jpg ## Experiences Beijing sets out imperial order at full scale. Shanxi draws the eye closer, to timber frames, painted clay and mountain-cut stone. - Shichahai Hutong Walk (Beijing): the lakeside quarter where old Beijing still lives at lane level. You pass courtyard doors, narrow gray alleys and the Drum and Bell Towers while your guide explains how these neighborhoods were arranged around family, community and the clock of the imperial capital. Fitted to your arrival time on day one. - Subtitle: the lakeside quarter where old Beijing still lives at lane level - Tags: City - Host: Beijing, Beijing Lens — Imperial capital and Great Wall - Access: Fitted to your arrival time on day one. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/b3f2f5a11e6c.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/c24addfaebbd.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/04a1b8761320.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/32dfb7aa7ce1.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/8f53a337fbca.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/9334df3db1e2.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/748ea658803d.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/47b3cb416a3b.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/61793c2d137e.jpg - Mutianyu Great Wall (Beijing): A well-restored Great Wall section with open views and easier walking conditions for first-time visitors. - Subtitle: A classic Great Wall section near Beijing - Tags: Great Wall - Host: Beijing, Beijing Lens — Imperial capital and Great Wall - Access: A polished Great Wall experience with flexible cable car or walking options. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/f6c07b2f8772.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/3a661e194c2f.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/1b0f83ddd1e5.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/7207d6532c2f.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/e88879531691.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/926d916b9408.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/91465599744f.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/a720fb1678e6.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/608cdc21a04d.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/9b968ec44131.jpg - Shanxi Museum (Taiyuan): the province's flagship museum in Taiyuan. The collections run from bronzes of the ancient State of Jin to Buddhist sculpture, architectural decoration and the merchant culture of Shanxi's trading houses. Why it opens the Shanxi chapter: it hands you the backstory for every temple, statue and courtyard you will walk in the next two days. - Subtitle: the province's flagship museum in Taiyuan - Tags: Museum - Host: Beijing, Beijing Lens — Imperial capital and Great Wall - Access: Why it opens the Shanxi chapter: it hands you the backstory for every temple, statue and courtyard you will walk in the next two days. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/9e890937a6b9.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/b6c7a7748882.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/066a812b538c.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/c14e11568279.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/ffabb3845bdf.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/f52720e23594.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/b0aa330eadc5.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/fad59db9f15d.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/a8807808c7fa.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/89b132fb089a.jpg - Shanxi Noodle Evening (Taiyuan): Shanxi's kitchens treat wheat and oats as a repertoire, not a staple. In Taiyuan you sit down to regional dishes: hand-cut noodles, oat noodles and Shanxi-style pork. Your guide recommends and books the table; the meal is on your account, and none of it costs much. - Subtitle: Shanxi's kitchens treat wheat and oats as a repertoire, not a staple - Tags: Food - Host: Beijing, Beijing Lens — Imperial capital and Great Wall - Access: Your guide recommends and books the table; the meal is on your account, and none of it costs much. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/fef52d19f079.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/91ffcae78a16.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/2f6ba219c14f.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/2928a53de468.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/5397a7229b43.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/6474ed30da65.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/59c4a4192aaf.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/65f9104d90b7.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/ba6d82c063b9.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/2707e33dbe31.jpg - Jinci Temple (Taiyuan): an ancestral temple complex outside Taiyuan where wooden halls, gardens, ancient cypresses and running spring water share one site. At its center stands the Hall of the Holy Mother: timber frame, bracket sets and a deep front gallery, a working lesson in how China built in wood. Inside wait the Song dynasty painted clay maidens, no two alike in age, rank, posture or expression. Nearby: the cross-shaped Flying Bridge over the Fish Pond, the Offering Hall and the Never-Ageing Spring. - Subtitle: an ancestral temple complex outside Taiyuan where wooden halls, gardens, ancient cypresses - Tags: Heritage - Host: Beijing, Beijing Lens — Imperial capital and Great Wall - Access: Nearby: the cross-shaped Flying Bridge over the Fish Pond, the Offering Hall and the Never-Ageing Spring. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/579b8cdc2f6b.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/f9d9e475cab1.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/cf8bebfa431b.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/8d49c44f847f.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/f52720e23594.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/a26654a70439.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/f0b1e40d6a43.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/e0d0580c1fbb.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/87df9f2de48b.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/9925807ca62a.jpg - Tianlongshan Grottoes (Taiyuan): Buddhist caves cut into the mountains outside Taiyuan across the Eastern Wei, Northern Qi, Sui and Tang dynasties. You move cave by cave, comparing faces, body proportions, garments and carving technique, and watch the style of Chinese Buddhist sculpture change in front of you. Why it pairs with Jinci: one morning of wood and clay, one afternoon of mountain and stone. - Subtitle: Buddhist caves cut into the mountains outside Taiyuan across the Eastern Wei - Tags: Heritage - Host: Beijing, Beijing Lens — Imperial capital and Great Wall - Access: Why it pairs with Jinci: one morning of wood and clay, one afternoon of mountain and stone. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/9b6eea1b1357.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/0b1041163c7f.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/cbb2c0529d57.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/1f5a379f5bca.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/b53aa752d9a5.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/1268136cf715.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/8fdec2e20c71.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/4d46505e7bcd.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/b4fabe6209c2.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/ac8e83a0fb30.jpg - Shuanglin Temple (Pingyao): a temple just outside Pingyao holding more than 2,000 painted clay sculptures, arranged through a sequence of halls and courtyards: Buddhas, bodhisattvas, guardian deities and ordinary people. Many figures interact, gesture answering gesture across a hall, closer to staged theater than to rows of statues. The Skanda in the Thousand Buddha Hall, an armored temple guardian caught mid-turn, is the single most quoted figure. Why it matters beyond the temple walls: this sculptural tradition helped shape the visual language of modern Chinese fantasy, Black Myth: Wukong included. - Subtitle: a temple just outside Pingyao holding more than 2,000 painted clay sculptures - Tags: Heritage - Host: Beijing, Beijing Lens — Imperial capital and Great Wall - Access: Why it matters beyond the temple walls: this sculptural tradition helped shape the visual language of modern Chinese fantasy, Black Myth: Wukong included. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/d44c51af6442.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/858516d54932.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/0a674f258323.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/e96fe72e8d75.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/88347dc6da5c.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/51265eba4c94.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/091ac87aaf49.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/a5a62302e410.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/e0febd316674.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/b3ce5e1351de.jpg - Pingyao Ancient City (Pingyao): one of China's most complete walled towns. You walk the city wall, sit in the courtrooms of the old county government complex, and step into Rishengchang, one of China's earliest draft banks, to learn how its paper drafts let money travel long distances safely. The Ming and Qing commercial streets show the Shanxi formula: shop in front, family courtyard behind, all in one compound. - Subtitle: one of China's most complete walled towns - Tags: Heritage - Host: Beijing, Beijing Lens — Imperial capital and Great Wall - Access: The Ming and Qing commercial streets show the Shanxi formula: shop in front, family courtyard behind, all in one compound. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/513b313d16a1.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/c3837ec3c5b7.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/921c54d62911.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/b1315e105ce8.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/c553fab8c7a3.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/627cd1cbcc17.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/ea656e6550c5.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/78b79994e2b9.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/fb9336e431c0.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/1e5242cb5162.jpg ### Capture banner - Label: Save this itinerary - Title: Send the full route to your inbox - Subtitle: We will include the latest hotels, hosts and pacing notes. - Placeholder: Email address - CTA: Send route - Sent label: Sent ## Itinerary ### The empire at full scale - 3 days Beijing #### Beijing (3 days) - Subtitle: the Central Axis - Recommendation: Begin with the imperial grammar before reading its older materials in Shanxi. - Transport: High-speed rail - Transport mode: train Three nights in Beijing cover the Central Axis, Mutianyu and the hutong city at a measured pace. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/2yR5lg3Q.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/14h8ZnOb.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/17bdSgjF.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/1bDq9gT4.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/1cZHxWkg.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/1vwu9mIQ.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/1X29GyUB.webp, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/1xVI7jTc.webp ##### Day 1: Beijing: arrival and the old lanes - (transport) — Your guide meets you at arrivals in Beijing, and a private vehicle takes you to the hotel. - (sight) — With daylight left after landing, walk the lakeside lanes, courtyard doors and the Drum and Bell Towers; a late arrival keeps the evening quiet at the hotel. ##### Day 2: Beijing: the Central Axis - (sight) — Cross the square and walk the Beijing Central Axis through the palace gates, ceremonial courtyards and halls while your guide explains color, roof rank and ritual space. - (sight) — Climb to the hilltop pavilion and see the palace courts and the old central axis laid out below you. - (sight) — Walk the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, the Imperial Vault of Heaven and the Circular Mound Altar, reading how architecture carried ritual between heaven and earth. ##### Day 3: Beijing: the Great Wall at Mutianyu - (transport) — Drive north into the mountains, then let the cable car carry the climb to the upper wall. - (sight) Mutianyu Great Wall — Walk the ridgeline between watchtowers while your guide explains beacon signals, garrison life and the engineering that carried stone over steep slopes. You set the distance. - (sight) — Time allowing on the return drive, stop for exterior views of the Bird's Nest and Water Cube. ### Wood, clay and stone - 4 days Shanxi #### Taiyuan (4 days) - Subtitle: wood in the morning, stone in the afternoon - Recommendation: Taiyuan keeps the museum, temple, grotto and Pingyao days within practical drives. - Transport: High-speed rail - Transport mode: train Three nights in Taiyuan let Shanxi's timber, sculpture and merchant history unfold without changing hotels. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/ce9bf1c242ce.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/579b8cdc2f6b.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/9b6eea1b1357.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/9e890937a6b9.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/fef52d19f079.jpg ##### Day 4: West to Taiyuan: Shanxi Museum - (transport) — Travel west from Beijing to Taiyuan, where your Shanxi guide meets you at the station. - (sight) Shanxi Museum — See bronzes of the ancient State of Jin, Buddhist sculpture, architectural decoration and Shanxi merchant culture before the temple and old-town days. - (dining) — Your guide recommends and books hand-cut noodles, oat noodles and Shanxi-style dishes; the meal is on your account. ##### Day 5: Jinci and Tianlongshan - (sight) — Stand under the Hall of the Holy Mother's timber frame, bracket sets and deep gallery among gardens, cypresses and spring water. - (sight) — Move from face to face among painted clay attendants whose age, rank, posture and expression are each distinct. - (sight) — See the cross-shaped Flying Bridge over the Fish Pond, the Offering Hall, the spring and ancient cypresses. - (sight) — Walk caves carved across the Eastern Wei, Northern Qi, Sui and Tang dynasties, comparing faces, proportions, garments and carving technique. ##### Day 6: Shuanglin and Pingyao - (transport) — Travel privately from Taiyuan to Shuanglin Temple and Pingyao Ancient City. - (sight) — Walk hall after hall of more than 2,000 painted clay Buddhas, bodhisattvas, guardian deities and ordinary onlookers. - (sight) — Stop before the armored guardian caught mid-turn, a figure linked to the visual tradition behind modern Chinese fantasy. - (sight) — Walk the wall, county government complex, Rishengchang draft bank and Ming and Qing commercial streets. - (transport) — Drive back to Taiyuan in the evening. ##### Day 7: Departure - (note) — Breakfast and free time are fitted to your departure schedule. - (transport) — A private transfer takes you to Taiyuan Wusu International Airport or the railway station. ## Daily plan ### Day 1 — Beijing: arrival and the old lanes Land, and drop to walking pace. The old city makes its own introduction. - Arrival & transfer: your guide meets you at arrivals in Beijing, and a private vehicle takes you to the hotel. - Shichahai & the hutongs: with daylight left after landing, you walk the lakeside lanes: courtyard doors, gray brick, the Drum and Bell Towers ahead of you, while your guide explains how these neighborhoods ran on family, community and the capital's clock; a late arrival simply keeps the evening quiet at the hotel instead. - Stay: Beijing - Meals: On your own on arrival day ### Day 2 — Beijing: the Central Axis One straight line through the capital. Learn its grammar in a morning. - Tian'anmen & the Forbidden City: you cross the square and enter the palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties, walking the Beijing Central Axis through gates, ceremonial courtyards and halls in succession; your guide teaches you the code as you go: which colors belonged to whom, how roofs announce rank, where ceremony ended and living began. By the fourth courtyard, you'll be reading the roofs without help. - Jingshan hill: you climb to the hilltop pavilion and the morning turns into a diagram below you: courtyard nested in courtyard, the axis running straight through the city, the scale and symmetry of the old capital laid out flat. - Temple of Heaven: in the afternoon, the empire builds for a different audience: not subjects, heaven. You walk the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, the Imperial Vault of Heaven and the Circular Mound Altar, and hear how architecture and ritual were made to carry the relationship between heaven and earth. - Stay: Beijing - Meals: Breakfast at the hotel ### Day 3 — Beijing: the Great Wall at Mutianyu North to the mountains. See what the empire built when it was on guard. - Up by cable car: the drive runs north into the mountains, and the cable car lifts you to the upper wall; you stand in a watchtower arch with the wall dropping and rising along the ridge in both directions. - Tower to tower: you walk the ridgeline between watchtowers while your guide reads the system aloud: beacon fires passing word down the line, garrisons living inside the towers, and the engineering that carried stone over slopes this steep. You set the distance. - Back via Olympic Park: time allowing on the return drive, a stop for outside views of the Bird's Nest and the Water Cube: the newest Beijing on your way back from the oldest. - Stay: Beijing - Meals: Breakfast at the hotel ### Day 4 — West to Taiyuan: the Shanxi Museum West by high-speed rail. The older China starts in a museum. - Rail to Taiyuan: the high-speed train carries you west out of the capital and into Shanxi; at the station in Taiyuan, the provincial capital, your Shanxi guide is waiting. - Shanxi Museum: you spend the afternoon with the province's story: bronzes of the ancient State of Jin, Buddhist sculpture, architectural decoration and the merchant culture that later built Pingyao's banks; you lean in at the bronze cases, and the next two days acquire their backstory: why this province holds such a place in the history of Chinese building and religious art. - A noodle evening: in the evening, the table your guide has booked: hand-cut noodles, oat noodles, Shanxi-style pork; the meal is on your account. - Stay: Taiyuan - Meals: Breakfast at the hotel ### Day 5 — Jinci and Tianlongshan Wood in the morning, stone in the afternoon. Two ways China shaped its gods. - Jinci Temple: you start where wooden halls, gardens, ancient cypresses and spring water share one ground; at the center, the Hall of the Holy Mother: you stand under its bracket sets and deep front gallery while your guide explains how a frame of timber has carried this roof through the centuries. - The Song maidens: inside the hall, the painted clay attendants of the Song dynasty, no two alike in age, rank, posture or expression: you move from face to face in the dim hall, close enough to catch the difference between patience and boredom. You'll catch yourself lowering your voice, the way you would with living company. - Bridge, spring, cypresses: before you leave: the cross-shaped Flying Bridge over the Fish Pond, the Offering Hall, the Never-Ageing Spring, and cypresses grown so old they read as part of the architecture. - Tianlongshan Grottoes: in the afternoon you drive into the mountains, to Buddhist caves carved across the Eastern Wei, Northern Qi, Sui and Tang dynasties; you walk the sequence cave by cave, watching faces, proportions and garments change as the centuries pass under the chisel. - Stay: Taiyuan - Meals: Breakfast at the hotel ### Day 6 — Shuanglin and Pingyao A temple crowded with 2,000 figures. Then the walled town that moved China's money. - Shuanglin Temple: just outside Pingyao, hall after hall of painted clay: Buddhas, bodhisattvas, guardian deities and ordinary onlookers, more than 2,000 figures in all; they gesture across the rooms at one another, mid-story, and you walk through the middle of the plot. - The Skanda: in the Thousand Buddha Hall you stop in front of Skanda, the armored temple guardian: torso twisting, weight mid-shift, robes swinging with a turn that clay should not be able to hold. For a moment, you'll forget nothing in this hall has moved for centuries. These halls helped shape the visual language of modern Chinese fantasy, Black Myth: Wukong included: the game's world is drawn from places like this one, and today you are standing in it. - Pingyao Ancient City: you walk the wall and streets of one of China's most complete walled towns; at the old county government complex: courtrooms, offices, prison and living quarters of a working Qing-era administration; at Rishengchang, one of China's earliest draft banks, you learn how paper drafts let Shanxi merchants move money safely across long distances. The Ming and Qing streets keep the formula visible: shop in front, family courtyard behind. - Back to Taiyuan: in the evening, the drive back to Taiyuan. - Stay: Taiyuan - Meals: Breakfast at the hotel ### Day 7 — Departure One last slow morning. Take the trained eye home. - Free morning: breakfast at the hotel and free time, fitted to your departure schedule. - Onward: a private transfer takes you to Taiyuan Wusu International Airport or the railway station for the journey onward. - Meals: Breakfast at the hotel ## Hotels ### Atour Hotel (Beijing West Railway Station South Square) - City: Beijing - Description: Upscale local hotel near Beijing West Railway Station South Square. - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/dHqyz391.webp ### LANLI Hotel (Taiyuan South Station Wusu Airport) - City: Taiyuan - Description: LANLI Hotel (Taiyuan South Station Wusu Airport). A selected stay in Taiyuan. - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/94cb6519cab9.jpg ### Atour Hotel, Liuliqiao, Beijing West Railway Station - City: Beijing - Description: Upscale local hotel near Beijing West Railway Station and Liuliqiao. - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/gLxP4Hxa.webp ### Sofitel Beijing Central - City: Beijing - Description: Luxury international hotel in central Beijing with refined comfort and service. - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/itT5uc1l.webp ### Beijing Marriott Hotel Northeast - City: Beijing - Description: International high-end hotel in Beijing, suitable for business and city stays. - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/bWOFYezP.jpg ### DoubleTree by Hilton Beijing East Third Ring Road - City: Beijing - Description: International upscale hotel in Beijing, suitable for business and leisure stays. - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/kkFJOiOe.webp ## Included / Excluded ### What's Included - Private vehicles: Air-conditioned private vehicles for all listed sightseeing and transfers, with airport and station pick-ups - Hotels: 6 nights in selected stays, breakfast daily; the named list follows in your written confirmation - Guides: Licensed English-speaking local guides in Beijing and Shanxi - Tickets: All listed attractions, including the Mutianyu cable car ### Not Included - Long-haul: International flights to Beijing and onward travel from Taiyuan - Internal legs: The Beijing to Taiyuan high-speed rail tickets are quoted with your confirmation - Meals: Beyond daily breakfast, lunches and dinners stay flexible and remain on your account, including the Taiyuan noodle evening - Personal: Visas, gratuities, single supplement and personal spending ### Special Notes A few things on this route depend on flight times or the day's flow. Here they are, told straight. - Arrival day: The Shichahai walk flexes to your landing time; a late arrival keeps the first evening at the hotel. - Olympic Park: A time-allowing stop on the drive back from Mutianyu; if the wall deserves the full day, the wall wins. - Hotels and venues: Named in your confirmation; or similar means the same class and comparable location. ## Is Seven Days Your Length? Tell us your dates and who is coming: we will shape the length around you. ### Have the full week? This is the whole argument, empire to originals, in the right order. ### Shorter on days? Tell us what matters most and we cut the line to fit, without speeding up the rest. ### Want more of Shanxi? The province rewards extra days; tell us your dates and we will say what to add. ## Good to Know - Group: Private; from 1 guest: no minimum - Arrival: Day 1 is your landing day; the afternoon plan flexes to your actual arrival time - Language: English-speaking guides throughout - Shopping Policy: No shopping stops or commission detours on the route; your time is dedicated solely to the places listed here. - Tailoring: Fully flexible. Days, stops, and pace can be added, removed, or swapped. We'll reshape the plan together before you confirm and pay. - Payment: A 10% deposit, minimum $399, locks your dates and resources; the balance is due 14 days before departure - Flexibility: Walking distances adapt to your pace; time-dependent stops are listed in Special Notes - Season: Spring and autumn are comfortable; winters run cold and clear, with thinner crowds - Ports: Beijing In · Taiyuan Out - Gateway markets: Lead country marker: GB. Gateway markets from inventory: UK, WEU, NCEU, CA. Taiyuan outbound access may need a connection. - Advance booking: The Shanxi Museum is reserved 3 days ahead; your travel designer books it once your dates are confirmed ## Your Private Concierge - Name: Jason Hu - Title: Private China Route Concierge - Tagline: A bilingual planning desk for tailor-made China journeys. - Bio: Our China team tunes pacing, hotels and local hosts around each route style. - Avatar image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/c0TBypRh.png ### Stats - 20+ Years - 300+ Trips designed - 24/7 On-trip care ### The Conversation Every LyrikTrip journey begins with a conversation. Tell us your dates and who's coming — and if this length isn't right for you, we'll say so and shape a shorter arc. First reply within four hours; a clear price for your dates within one business day. - CTA: Start the conversation ### Step 01: Tell us what excites you Not your dates and budget — your curiosity. Where have you always wanted to go? What do you want to feel? We start there. - 24h: First concept delivered ### Step 02: We design it around you Your specialist builds the itinerary from scratch — routes, hosts, hotels, and experiences you won't find anywhere else. - 100%: Bespoke, never off-the-shelf ### Step 03: Lock it in with 10% When the plan feels right, a 10% deposit holds your entire trip. Balance due 30 days before departure. - 10%: Deposit to secure everything ### Step 04: Travel. We handle the rest. Your Trip Pack arrives before you fly. On the road, your concierge is one message away — for the expected and everything you didn't plan for. - 24/7: Support throughout your journey - Free cancellation up to 30 days - English-speaking concierge - Secure payment via Stripe - CTA: Talk to Us ## Guest Reviews - Overall rating: 4.9 - Total reviews: 523 - Count label: from 523 verified reviews 4.9 / 5 ### Platforms - google: 4.9 (312 reviews) - tripadvisor: 5.0 (211 reviews) - Filter tabs: All, Google, TripAdvisor - Emily Carter (🇺🇸 Seattle, USA · 5★ · May 2026 · google): Perfect for couples - My partner and I had an amazing time in China. Everything was arranged for us — transfers, hotels, guides. No stress at all. - Claire Brooks (🇬🇧 London, UK · 5★ · Apr 2026 · tripadvisor): Great for families - Traveled with my two kids and had zero issues. The team made sure the pace wasn't too rushed and included things the kids would enjoy. Communication was easy throughout. Will definitely use them again for our next Asia trip. - Laura Bennett (🇨🇦 Toronto, Canada · 5★ · Mar 2026 · google): Alisa made the whole experience easy - Alisa was our point of contact throughout and she was brilliant — patient, knowledgeable, and always quick to reply. The trip itself was wonderful. Beijing and Guilin were highlights. - Mark Henderson (🇺🇸 Denver, USA · 4★ · Feb 2026 · tripadvisor): Good service, minor hiccup but sorted quickly - Really good service. There was a small mix-up with one of our restaurant bookings but it got sorted quickly. The rest of the trip was seamless. - Rebecca Miller (🇺🇸 Boston, USA · 5★ · Jan 2026 · google): Really listened to what we wanted - Really helpful team. They listened to what we wanted and delivered. Beijing and Xi'an were incredible. ## China Ready We've solved the hard parts. Here's everything a first-time Western traveler needs to know before arriving. ### VPN & Internet Access - Badge: Do this before you fly - What's blocked: Google, Gmail, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, and most Western news sites are inaccessible in China without a VPN. - Download before you leave: It's nearly impossible to download a VPN once inside China. Install and test at home. Recommended: Astrill (most reliable), Mullvad, ExpressVPN — subscribe to at least two in case one stops working. - Hotel Wi-Fi tip: Some hotels block VPN connections on their Wi-Fi. Use your phone's mobile data as a hotspot if the VPN drops. - Good news: WhatsApp works perfectly through a VPN, so your messaging stays unchanged. Apple iMessage and Signal also work. ### Paying in China - Badge: Your concierge sets this up on Day 1 - China is cashless: Alipay and WeChat Pay are used for almost everything — restaurants, taxis, markets, tickets. Cash is rarely accepted in cities. - International cards now work: Foreign Visa/Mastercard can now link directly to Alipay (set up in minutes, $5,000 single transaction limit). Your concierge walks you through the setup on your first morning. - Carry some cash: We recommend ¥500–800 RMB in cash for the rare vendor that won't accept digital payment, and for small towns. - Booking this trip: Your deposit and balance are charged via Stripe — the same trusted platform used by Airbnb and Booking.com. USD billing, no surprise conversion fees. ### Visa & Entry - Badge: We handle the paperwork - Do you need a visa?: Most US, UK, EU, Australian, Canadian, and New Zealand passport holders need a tourist (L) visa for stays over 10 days. We provide a visa invitation letter with every booking — it significantly speeds up approval. - 240-hour visa-free transit: Citizens of 55+ countries (including USA, UK, most of EU, AUS, NZ, Canada) can enter China visa-free for up to 10 days if transiting through eligible ports. This covers our 12-day itinerary only if you have a confirmed onward flight. - Processing time: Apply 4–6 weeks before departure. Standard processing: 4–7 business days. Express (3 days) and same-day options available at most Chinese consulates. - What we provide: Visa invitation letter, hotel confirmation for all nights, suggested itinerary document — everything the consulate needs, formatted correctly. ### Safety & Practical Tips - Badge: Our responsibility, always - Is China safe?: China consistently ranks among the safest countries for foreign tourists. Violent crime against visitors is extremely rare. Cities have extensive CCTV coverage and a visible police presence. - Emergency numbers: Police: 110. Ambulance: 120. Your concierge is your first call for any non-emergency situation — she has local contacts for every city on the itinerary. - Health & medications: Bring a full supply of any prescription medication. International pharmacies exist in major cities but may not carry your brand. Travel insurance is required — we can recommend policies that cover China specifically. - Language: English fluency outside hotels and tourist sites is limited. Your guides all speak English. We provide a printed pocket card with essential Chinese phrases and emergency contacts for every traveler. ## Before You Book Everything worth knowing before you book. ### Why Shanxi? It was not on my list. Shanxi holds older layers of Chinese building and religious art: wooden halls, painted clay, Buddhist grottoes and a walled banking town, all within practical drives of Taiyuan. ### Is this a Black Myth: Wukong tour? No. The game drew from Shanxi's monuments and sculptural tradition; this route stands in that tradition at Shuanglin, Jinci and Tianlongshan rather than chasing scene matches. ### How much walking and climbing is there? Moderate and adjustable. The cable car handles the main climb at Mutianyu; temple, museum and old-town days are level walking. ### Why are lunches and dinners not included? Tastes diverge over a week. Breakfast is included, while your guide recommends and books other meals around your tastes and you pay the restaurant directly.