Pingyao Tours

Pingyao Tours

Experience historical China on a Pingyao tour

Pingyao city is really something else in the realm of historical China. Come on one of our Pingyao tours and go back in time. Pingyao city is a destination where you can marvel at the business and administrative ingenuity that evolved from this ancient city – in trade, banking, government, and defense– that still hold value today. On a Pingyao tour, it’s entirely possible to imagine the lifestyle of prosperous leading families who drove business, when visiting their home compound that has formed the backdrop for the memorable Chinese film, Raise the Red Lantern.

Among its great appeal, Pingyao boasts one of the most complete examples of an ancient Chinese town. Within its still intact Ming and Qing dynasty City Walls, you will find a veritable treasure trove of culture, society, economy, and religion from an era long gone. It is possible to spend two or three full days exploring with a local bilingual guide on a Pingyao tour.

Our private, small group and custom Pingyao tours encompass all the must-see attractions, while also allowing ample time for relaxed ambling through the narrow historical streets to create your own unique travel memories in this curious destination, such as Pingyao Ancient Town, Qiao, the Wang Family mansion, and the primitive Zhangbi Castle.

Highlights of our Pingyao tours

Our Pingyao tours include memorable highlights.

  • Rishengchang Former Bank – Wonder at the march of financial progress emanating from the Rishengchang Former Bank, a forerunner of modern banking, believed to be founded in Pingyao in 1823 during the Qing Dynasty. “Sunrise prosperity” (translation of Rishengchang) certainly lived up to its name, at its peak spreading throughout major cities in China and some foreign countries until the Xinhai Revolution of 1914. Gain a firsthand view of the inspiration behind today’s banking in China preserved in its original style.
  • Ancient City Wall – A favorite Pingyao tours attraction. As the financial center of the region from the 16th century, Pingyao needed the wall for protection. Since becoming a World Heritage Site in 1997, restoration has continued on the 12 meters high, 4 meters wide wall, with a 6,163 meters perimeter, surrounded by a deep moat. The 72 watchtowers and more than 3,000 battlements are said to represent the number of Confucius’ disciples and other students.
  • Ming and Qing Street – Envisage trade of old in the bustling business center of Pingyao’s narrow, orderly Ming and Qing Streets, built in the traditional Ming and Qing style architecture of bricks with stone. Shops and houses of prosperous trading families line what was once the “Wall Street of China”.
  • Qiao Family Compound – Moviegoers may recognize the Qiao Family Compound as the main location in the film Raise the Red Lantern. Construction began in 1756 and was completed sometime in the 18th century to become the residential compound for a well-known financier. Architects believe the 9,000 square meters of the estate to be one of the finest examples of imposing private residences in northern China and a must-see on a Pingyao tour.
  • Shuanglin Monastery – Be surprised by the Shuanglin Monastery, located in Qiaotou village in the countryside about 7 kilometers outside Pingyao. Founded in the 6th century, the monastery is notable for its collection of more than 2,000 decorated clay statues dating back to the 12-19th centuries.

Experience more

A world away from China’s super-sized modern cities, Pingyao is a welcome and refreshing change. With its history reflecting China’s strong commercial pedigree, in Pingyao, we help travelers create their own unique experience of this destination.

We can make special arrangements to make your Pingyao tour truly memorable.

  • Imbibe history – On a Pingyao tour, it’s possible to dine as the Chinese did 300 years ago at Yunjincheng. Eat traditional Pingyao Beef served in the elegant blue and white porcelain tableware and you’ll be stepping back in time and taste.
  • Revive the old – Ancient Pingyao comes alive again at the Pingyao Night Show. Set in an old city scene from the Qing era, the show combines music, drama, dance, and performance. Be amazed by this not to be missed Pingyao tour attraction.
  • Visit Tongxinggong Escort Agency – Make a stop at the Tongxinggong Escort Agency which served as an ancient security firm for protecting businesses and individuals trading valuables. Here you’ll gain an appreciation of the necessity for such a service. The organization maintains characteristics of escort: vehicles, cases, equipment and a field for martial arts.

Private Pingyao tours

On each of our private tours, we provide our travelers the certainty of careful attention to detail. When you book a Pingyao tour with us, we’ll arrange your itinerary and provide you with a knowledgeable and enthusiastic bilingual tour guide. Understanding the importance of balancing structure with flexibility, our tours allow for ample time to explore at your own pace, while gaining firsthand knowledge of your destination.

Why not have a look at some of our other popular China tour packages as well, these tours too can be taken as private tours, just you and your family or fellow group of travelers.


Pingyao Tours

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Testimonials


Brandon L
Brandon L
Reviewed on Sept 26, 2026
Tripadvisor score Joy was an absolute Joy

Sept 2026

Our trip to Xi’An was amazing and would not have been possible without the help of our tour guide, Joy. Joy was incredible in helping our family explore the Terracotta Warriors, Xi’An City Wall, and the Muslim Quarter. She also helped us in the market. I cannot recommend Joy enough!
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Victoria L
Victoria L
Reviewed on Sept 22, 2026
Tripadvisor score So much fun. We love Joy

Sept 2026

We had a great time. Joy was so excellent. She answered all of our questions and was so patient with all of our family needs. She helped us translate things in the market and was so kind. 100/10 recommend Joy!!
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Chris N
Chris N
Reviewed on Sept 21, 2026
Tripadvisor score Independent travel in China

Sept 2026 • Couples

We wanted to travel independently in China, but knew that there were some places we wanted a private guided tour. Dora from China tours was excellent! She found us guides and drivers for day tours tailored to our requirements in Beijing, Xian and Chengdu. The guides were friendly and knowledgeable. Dora was also extremely helpful and flexible when our plans changed. We knew she was always there for us! Would highly recommend Dora and China Tours
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Philip W
Philip W
Reviewed on Sept 17, 2026
Tripadvisor score Chongqing tours with Jennie through China Tours

Sept 2026 • Couples

We booked our China trip through China Tours, and Dora was our main contact who helped organize our visit across three cities. She was very helpful throughout the planning process and made the arrangements easy for us.

For our Chongqing tour, we were very lucky to have Jennie as our guide. She was patient, organized, caring, knowledgeable, and just a genuinely nice person to spend the day with. She made the whole experience feel easy, relaxed, and enjoyable.

One of the things we really appreciated was how much effort Jennie put into taking pictures for us. She used her professional-grade cameras and captured so many great moments throughout the day. At times, it honestly felt like we had a professional photographer traveling with us, which made the experience even more special.

Jennie also went well beyond what we expected from a tour guide. She had already been in touch with us before the tour to help us prepare, and even after the tour had ended, she continued to look out for us. The next day, she reminded us a couple of times about a drone show in Chongqing so that we would not miss it. She did not have to do that at all, and we really appreciated how thoughtful and caring she was.

We really enjoyed our time with Jennie and were very happy with the support we received from Dora and China Tours as well. We would happily recommend China Tours, and especially Jennie, to anyone visiting Chongqing.
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Napha P
Napha P
Reviewed on Sept 13, 2026
Tripadvisor score Jenny was a hard worker dedicated to providing us with the best service possible making our tour totally enjoyable. ❤️🥰

Sept 2026

Jenny was a hard worker dedicated to providing us with the best service possible making our tour totally enjoyable. ❤️🥰🥰
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Fabio M
Fabio M
Reviewed on Sept 09, 2026
Tripadvisor score Discover the attractions of Zhangjiajie with CHINA TOURS.

Sept 2026 • Solo

Perfectly organized tour with driver and guide, Mr. Mudong. Every day allowed me to discover enchanting places and attractions, both by day and by night. I highly recommend these people and this type of organization. Heartfelt thanks.
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Lyn R
Lyn R
Reviewed on Sep 02, 2026
Tripadvisor score Excellent Tour and Outstanding Guides

August 2026 . Friends

We had a very good experience and would definitely recommend this tour. The itinerary was well paced, covered the major sights we wanted to see, and the logistics were handled very well.

The guides were the strongest part of the trip. Helen was exceptional; Robert, John and Smile were all knowledgeable, attentive and flexible. They worked hard to make the trip comfortable and adjusted when needed. Smile’s recommendation of the Beijing acrobat show was an unexpected highlight.

We loved the Great Wall, Forbidden City, Summer Palace, Terracotta Warriors, pandas and Shanghai Museum. The Peking duck experience was also excellent. Crowds were overwhelming at times, but that was beyond the tour company’s control.

There were a few areas for improvement; dietary restrictions needed better communication with restaurants, domestic airline baggage limits should be explained in advance, and we would have appreciated clearer instructions for high-speed train travel.

Overall, it was a memorable trip with excellent guides, good pacing and very well-managed logistics. We were very glad we chose this tour.
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Emily Rose
Emily Rose
Reviewed on August 26, 2026
Tripadvisor score Our tour guide Ken made the trip so special!

Aug 2026 • Couples

Ken was an AMAZING guide!! One of my favorite tour guides ever. He was so professional and knowledgeable and kind. He really looked after us and made sure everything was handled perfectly. Huge thanks to Ken!!
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