Answer: Planning a 10-day tour in Shanxi, including Pingyao and Datong, is very doable and allows you to experience historical sites, ancient architecture, and cultural highlights. Here’s a detailed guide for your questions.

Answer: Your travel plan through Shanxi sounds well thought out, and it’s great that you’re allowing time to explore the province’s cultural and natural highlights. Datong and Pingyao are both excellent destinations, offering very different experiences — Datong for its Buddhist grottoes and temples, and Pingyao for its preserved Ming and Qing architecture. Below is some detailed advice on how to structure your itinerary and travel route.

Answer: Mianshan Mountain is a popular day trip destination from Pingyao, and traveling by public transport is possible but requires careful planning. The usual route is to take a train from Pingyao to Jiexu, which is a short and convenient journey.

Answer: Your plan to travel from Beijing to Datong, then onward to Pingyao and Xi’an, covers some of the most culturally rich parts of Shanxi Province. The route is entirely feasible and offers a nice mix of ancient architecture, temples, and natural scenery. The main decisions revolve around whether to stop in Taiyuan and how to organize the side trip to Hukou Waterfall.