Outdoor Activities in Pingyao

Outdoor activities in Pingyao are a mix of adventure sports and some laid-back vibes amidst scenic beauty. Pingyao comes with an ideal terrain and atmosphere to spend active holidays and make plenty of unforgettable memories. So, explore the wilderness of Pingyao and spend some time in the lap of nature with these exciting outdoor activities Pingyao has to offer. From the most adventurous experiences to the most popular ones, the following list combines it all to make sure you do not miss these unique experiences while planning a trip to Pingyao.

From sunrise to sunset, let's discover the best spots for outdoor activities in Pingyao:

  1. City Wall Of Pingyao

    Outdoors, Historical Site, Nature

    The City Wall of Pingyao was built in 827 B.C. to prevent the Pingyao city from any invasion. Since then, the wall has gone through repairs and renovations about 26 times and stands now in an excellent condition. The wall is 12 meters high and 3-6 meters wide on top, and runs for a total length for around 6 kilometres. Built with rammed earth inside and brick and stone outside, the wall resembl...Read more
  2. Qiao's Family Compound

    Outdoors, Architecture

    The Qiao Family compound is located in the central part of the Qiao town in Shanxi province. Spread over an area of over two acres, the compound is huge and castle-like. It served as Qiao Zhiyong’s (The Qiao family third-generation commercial tycoon’s) former residence. The compound consists of 6 main courtyards and 20 smaller courtyards around. There are more than 300 rooms and sev...Read more
  3. Wang Family Compound

    Art Museum, Museum, Outdoors

    This is a luxurious residential site, built in the 18th century. It is 35 kilometres from Pingyao. What was once the residence of the Wang family in the past is now a museum of architectural art. The compound is huge. It covers an area of 150,000 square metres. It is like a complete village in itself- an old township on display to explain how the lifestyle used to be in the olden times. The pla...Read more
  4. Pingyao Ancient Government Office

    Outdoors, Office

    Pingyao Ancient Government office (also known as Gu Xianya) is a well-preserved structure that functioned as a government office and a court for civil disputes. Spread over an area of more than 26,000 square meters, the compound consists of an executive office, a tax office, a trial hall and a prison. It also has a hall dedicated to Buddha worshipers. The building is laid out in such an order t...Read more
  5. Shuanglin Temple

    Religious Site, Temple, Outdoors

    The Shuanglin Temple is a large Buddhist temple, located in the Qiaotou village in the Shanxi province. It is one of the most important cultural monuments of Pingyao and is reputed to be the ‘Ancient painted sculptures museum’. Built in the 6th century, the temple currently houses over 2,000 clay sculptures depicting the incredible skills of the artisans of different dynasties. Thes...Read more
  6. Ping Yao Temple Of The City God

    Religious Site, Temple, Outdoors

    The Temple of the City God, also known as the Cheng Huang Temple amongst the locals, is one of the most well preserved temples in the country. Spread over an area of 7,302 square meters, the temple is built facing the south. The temple exhibits exquisite woodcarvings, stone sculptures and mural paintings. It is believed that the Hall of City God served as the court to the gods, a large statue o...Read more
  7. Pingyao County Government Museum

    Museum, Educational Site

    Pingyao County Government Museum was built in 1346, during the Yuan Dynasty, but was reconstructed during the Ming Dynasty leaving only one building from the Yuan Dynasty. The place was dedicated to the government since Qing Dynasty with over 300 rooms and has conserved the offices and rooms of the judges, mayors and magistrates. The place puts up an evening show performed by the local actors e...Read more
  8. Zhenguo Temple

    Religious Site, Temple, Outdoors

    Zhenguo temple is an ancient Buddhist temple located in the northeast of Pingyao County. Spread over an area of around 2.7 acres, the temple was constructed in 963 A.D. during the Northern Han Dynasty. The temple has undergone several restorations and renovations over the period of history and currently stands as an important part of Pingyao world heritage. The temple is divided into two parts:...Read more
  9. Ming Qing Street

    Outdoors, Street Market, Street Food, Specialty Shop

    Ming Qing Street, located on the South Street of Pingyao Old Town, was founded in the year of 1856 and started running its business in the year 1913. It is also known as the Wall Street of China, which focused on the trade and national finance for decades since Ming Dynasty. The Ming Qing Street is famous for its architecture and the antique shops. The place is not just a business centre, but i...Read more
  10. Rishengchang Exchange House

    Outdoors

    Rishengchang Exchange House is located on the west main street; here Shanxi Merchants developed trade throughout China and with foreign countries. The first exchange house “piaohao” was started in 1823 and it was named Rishengchang, which extended the branches to different cities in China and abroad. The place then became the headquarters of banking industry having half of the headq...Read more
  11. Qu Family Compound

    Outdoors, Entertainment, Courtyard

    Qu Family Compound was built during the Qing Dynasty and covers an area of 5300 square meters (which surprisingly, is not even half of the Qu Family’s property). The compound has several layers and as you enter you will find that each layer becomes wider and the entrance gate much bigger than the previous one, which is because the Qu Family thought that the special people come ahead by wa...Read more
  12. Pingyao Supermarket

    Outdoors, Market, Shopping Center

    Pingyao Supermarket is the only supermarket inside the city walls that is of a modern architecture as compared to the other architecture. The wall by which the street is surrounded was constructed during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The place is well equipped with groceries of all kinds and one can easily find everything here. Highlights and must see includes: Antiques Ming and Qing Dynasty Ar...Read more
  13. Zhang Bi Old Castle

    Outdoors, Castle, Historical Site, Nature

    The Zhang Bi old Castle was constructed during the Qing and Ming Dynasties and has preserved the history and culture of the place over the period. The Castle is a great place for academic research and tourism as it provides a lot of information about the different dynasties. It is situated at 1040 meters above the sea level and has an underground tunnel, constructed during the Sui Dynasty. The ...Read more