Pingyao Day Tour: Wang Family Mansion & Shuanglin Temple

Two thousand painted sculptures and a mansion built for a dynasty

A full-day guided tour of Pingyao visits Shuanglin Temple, a 1,500-year-old complex renowned for its vivid color-painted mud sculptures and ancient locust trees, then Wang Family Mansion, a sprawling courtyard complex with 123 courtyards and 1,118 rooms that showcase northern China's residential architecture. An English-speaking guide and private driver handle transport and entry.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Shuanglin Temple2h · entry included
2. Wang Family Courtyard2h · entry included

Visit Shuanglin Temple and Wang Mansion

• Meet guide at hotel in Pingyao
• Drive 20 minutes to Shuanglin Temple
• Explore Shuanglin Temple sculptures and frescoes
• Drive one hour to Wang Family Mansion
• Tour Wang Family Mansion courtyards and rooms
• Return to hotel in Pingyao

The experience

The day starts at 9:00 am when your guide meets you at your hotel. A 20-minute drive takes you to Shuanglin Temple, also known as Double Forest Temple. Built roughly 1,500 years ago, the site holds over 2,000 well-preserved color-painted mud sculptures, ancient steles, and frescoes. The sculptures are the draw here. Each one carries meaning and tells a story through its pose, expression and detail, and the scale of the collection is what sets this temple apart from others in the region.

After Shuanglin, you drive about an hour to Wang Family Mansion, a massive courtyard complex that rises on higher ground overlooking the surrounding landscape. The compound contains 123 courtyards and 1,118 rooms, all built to reflect the strict social hierarchy of the time. Carvings and statues throughout the buildings encode meanings and histories. The architecture itself is a record of how a wealthy family organized space, status and daily life during its era. Your guide walks you through the layout and explains what the decorative elements signify.

The tour wraps up around 4:00 pm when your driver returns you to your hotel. The whole day runs about seven hours. Lunch is not included, but you can take a break whenever you need one. Just let your guide know and they'll work it into the schedule.

What’s included

• Private air-conditioned vehicle and reliable driver.
• English-speaking tour guide.
• entrance fees to both Shuanglin Temple and Wang Family Mansion.
• hotel pickup and drop-off in Pingyao.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

AgesAdult (12 to 90 years) · Child (2 to 11 years) · Infant (under 2): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Trippest Travel

Is this one for you?At seven hours, this tour fills most of a day but leaves room for an early breakfast or a late dinner elsewhere in Pingyao. If you need a shorter outing or want to explore the Old Town on your own, look for a half-day option instead.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (2 to 11 years); Infant (under 2): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How far is Shuanglin Temple from Pingyao Old Town?

Shuanglin Temple sits about a 20-minute drive from Pingyao. The temple was built around 1,500 years ago and is known as Double Forest Temple for its ancient locust trees and the over 2,000 color-painted mud sculptures housed inside.

What makes Wang Family Mansion worth visiting?

Wang Family Mansion is a masterpiece of northern China residential architecture, with 123 courtyards and 1,118 rooms arranged to show the social hierarchy of the era. Every carving and statue carries meaning and tells a story about how the family lived and what they valued.

Will I have time to eat during the tour?

Lunch is not included in the tour, but you can take a break at any point during the day. Let your guide know when you'd like to stop, and they'll find a place for you to eat without disrupting the schedule.

What language does the guide speak?

Your tour guide speaks English and will be with you throughout the day to explain the sites and answer questions about the architecture, sculptures and history.