Day 1 Pingyao → Wang Family Courtyard → Xiaoxitian → Pingyao
·morning
【Special Reminder】
During the peak season, traffic jams and queues at scenic spots may occur frequently, so you may have to depart early. The specific pick-up time will be subject to the tour guide's notification one day in advance. Please do not take photos if you mind!
During the peak season, we do not accept tourists who have big travel plans on the day. If you still register with big travel plans and cause missed flights or trains, the travel agency will not be able to compensate you.
Gather at [Yongdingmen, West Gate of Pingyao Ancient City] at around 08:00 to start today's exploration journey
·morning
Arrived at Wang Family Courtyard at about 9:30 and started today's tour
From 9:30 to 11:30, follow your guide to explore the Wang Family Courtyard
The Wang Family Courtyard was first built during the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty. During the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty, the Wang family became prominent officials and merchants, and began building houses on a large scale. During the Qianlong reign, the Wang Family Courtyard reached a peak in fortification and house construction. Starting during the Xianfeng reign of the Qing Dynasty, the Wang family began to decline, and by the Guangxu reign, they had fallen into ruin and began selling their ancestral property to make a living. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, the Wang Family Courtyard was divided among hundreds of villagers. Beginning in 1995, restoration work began on the Wang Family Courtyard with the assistance of the local government. Facing north and south, the Wang Family Courtyard boasts 123 courtyards and 1,118 houses, primarily comprising Gaojia Cliff and Hongmen Fort. Since its opening in 1997, the Wang Family Courtyard has had a positive impact both domestically and internationally, earning it the reputation of "China's No. 1 Folk Residence," "China's Folk Palace Museum," and "Shanxi's Forbidden City." It stands as a treasure trove of traditional Chinese architectural heritage and a treasure of folk art.
Around 11:30-12:30, lunch at your own expense near Wang Family Courtyard
·afternoon
Around 12:30-15:00, go to Xiaoxitian Hanging Sculptures
From 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM, follow your guide to visit the numerous deities and Buddhas in Xiaoxitian Temple.
The architectural style and characteristics of Xiaoxitian Temple can be summed up in four words: "small, delicate, exquisite, and unique." It stands out in architectural history, possessing a unique and distinctive style. Xiaoxitian Temple's true value lies in the well-preserved hanging sculptures in the Main Hall. Most of these sculptures were created between the 17th year of the Chongzhen reign of the Ming Dynasty (1644) and the 13th year of the Shunzhi reign of the Qing Dynasty (1656). They are dazzling, exquisite, and breathtaking, remaining impeccably intact for over 300 years. The hall itself is filled with painted sculptures. In addition to the five main statues on the altar, thousands more adorn the walls, purlins, and even the rafters. These sculptures, each in a unique and vivid manner, create a scene set amidst the halls and pavilions of a Thousand Buddhas Land. Some reach over 3 meters tall, while others are barely the size of a thumb. The intricate yet elegant, yet unconfused, sculptures neatly and orderly convey the vastness of Buddhism. The painted patterns on the beams of the Main Hall are even more precious. Made with gilded leaf, this style of painting is considered the highest grade of architectural painting in the Ming and Qing dynasties, reserved exclusively for the royal family. Due to its high quality and high cost, surviving examples are extremely rare.
Before Xiaoxitian Temple, there was no such hall full of hanging sculptures, and after Xiaoxitian Temple, there has been no such hall full of hanging sculptures. The Xiaoxitian Temple's entire hall of colored sculptures is one of the few surviving groups of colored sculpture art, with inestimable historical and artistic value. Despite the passage of time, these colored sculptures still radiate their brilliance and dazzling splendor, truly awe-inspiring.
After having fun, return to Pingyao
Arrive at the west gate of Pingyao Ancient City at around 20:00 and disband
