Yiyun Yinfu Boutique Hotel

Staying inside PingYao Ancient Walled City suited our main reason for visiting, and I was glad we chose it. The historical sights are walkable once you're there, though the buggy made it easier to focus on the tour. We strongly recommend the government-licensed guides and buggy rides. Prices are standard, and payment is by Alipay or Wechat. The guides knew their history and made the visit much more meaningful and enjoyable. Near each attraction entrance, look for guides in the standard windbreaker. Ours was purple and grey in winter. For Shuanglin temple, we asked the concierge and followed their advice: walk five minutes to the "new east gate" and take a taxi. That worked well. Cars can only enter the ancient city with authorization. When we visited, the hotel offered a free train station transfer, and its registered cars could take us right to the door. We contacted the hotel to arrange it. We were comfortable speaking Mandarin, too.