Pinglu's attractions are authentic and mostly free. With cross-province buses to Sanmenxia costing only CNY 2, you can easily combine Yellow River scenery with leisure in nearby cities. The pace is relaxed, and it offers great value.
🗓️ 3-day itinerary suggestion: Yellow River scenery and slow cross-province travel
Day 1: Pinglu east route – ancient Yellow River ferry and sunken cave dwellings
Morning: Visit Zhoucang Cultural Park (free). This is the only AAA-rated scenic spot in Pinglu. The pure wooden Zhoucang Hall and Guangong Hall are impressive, and Zhongyong Square is also worth a visit. Lunch: Have a bowl of Zhangdian lamb soup in the county town. It is made by simmering year-old goat meat and bones for over 10 hours, resulting in a milky white broth. Pair it with oil-wowo bread for a hearty and warming meal.
Afternoon: Head to Dongpingtou Village in Duma Township. This is a cluster of sunken cave dwellings known as "underground courtyards," where you can't see houses when entering the village and can't hear people when listening. They are warm in winter and cool in summer. You can stay one night in a unique sunken cave dwelling at the Yellow River Folk Culture Park and watch the Yellow River sunset from the viewing platform in the evening.
Day 2: Cross-province to Sanmenxia – Swan Lake and Shanzhou ancient city
Morning: Take the cross-province bus 20 from Pinglu to Sanmenxia. It costs only CNY 2 one way, takes 20 minutes, and the last bus from Pinglu departs at 6:30 PM. First, visit Swan Lake Urban Wetland Park (free). With thousands of acres of water, it is a wintering ground for swans, and walking along the wooden boardwalks offers expansive views. Lunch: Enjoy Sanmenxia specialties in the Hubin District, such as Daying twisted dough paired with Guanyintang beef.
Afternoon: Explore the Shanzhou Ancient City Ruins (free), located within Shanzhou Park, where you can still see parts of the city walls and the bell and drum tower ruins. Take the bus back to Pinglu in the evening. Dinner: Try Pinglu oil-splashed noodles in the county town. The handmade noodles are freshly made and splashed with hot oil, making them incredibly fragrant.
Day 3: Pinglu west route – red earth forest and Maojin Ferry, relaxed departure
Morning: Visit Mitangou Red Earth Forest (free). This is a Danxia landform on the Loess Plateau with layered red soil pillars. The colors are especially vivid after rain, earning it the name "earth oil painting." Lunch: Return to the county town for Changle stir-fried jelly. The jelly is stir-fried in an iron wok until golden brown and served with chili and garlic sauce, making it smooth and chewy.
Afternoon: Go to Maojin Ferry (free). It is one of the three ancient ferries on the Yellow River, with a history dating back to the Shang Dynasty. The "Maojin sunset" in the evening is one of the eight ancient scenes of Pinglu. Sit by the ferry for a while, watch the Yellow River flow slowly, then buy some water-processed persimmon cakes as souvenirs before heading home.
💰 Budget breakdown (total approx. CNY 1,350–1,450)
· Transport (approx. CNY 100): The cross-province bus from Pinglu to Sanmenxia is CNY 2 one way. Taxi starting fares in the county are low. For township attractions like Dongpingtou and Mitangou, carpooling or chartering a car is recommended; budget about CNY 80.
· Accommodation (approx. CNY 300): Economy hotels in Pinglu county town are about CNY 100–130/night (such as Shenxianju Express Hotel, Hanting Hotel Taiyang Road Branch, etc.); sunken cave dwelling homestays in Dongpingtou are about CNY 100–150/night. Two nights total about CNY 300.
· Tickets (approx. CNY 50): Zhoucang Cultural Park, Dongpingtou sunken cave dwellings, Mitangou Red Earth Forest, Maojin Ferry, and Swan Lake are all free. Only a few individual experience projects may have minor costs; budgeting CNY 50 is sufficient.
· Dining (approx. CNY 400): Prices in Pinglu are affordable. Zhangdian lamb soup is CNY 20–30 per person, and oil-splashed noodles are over CNY 10 a bowl. You can eat very well for CNY 400 over three days.
🍜 Local specialties
· Zhangdian lamb soup: The "signature" of Pinglu cuisine. Made by simmering fresh year-old goat meat and bones for over 10 hours. The broth is milky white, the meat is tender, and it is best enjoyed with oil-wowo bread.
· Pinglu oil-splashed noodles: Created in the 1980s by local Hui chefs, these handmade noodles are topped with beef and red chili powder, then splashed with hot oil for a fragrant finish.
· Changle stir-fried jelly: Jelly is cut into pieces and stir-fried in an iron wok until golden, then seasoned with chili and garlic sauce for an enticing color and a smooth, chewy texture.
· Water-processed persimmon cakes: Maquangou has a 1,350-year history of cultivating water-processed persimmons. The resulting persimmon cakes are sweet, sticky, and not astringent, making them perfect as souvenirs.
💡 Practical tips
· Transport: The cross-province bus 20 from Pinglu to Sanmenxia is the most convenient way to cross the province. It costs CNY 2 one way; remember to check the last bus time (6:30 PM from Pinglu). Driving or carpooling is recommended for Dongpingtou and Mitangou, as public transport is limited.
· Accommodation: For a unique experience, stay in a Dongpingtou sunken cave dwelling—warm in winter, cool in summer, and right by the Yellow River. For shopping convenience, stay in Pinglu county town, where there are many economy hotel options.
· Best season: November to February is the swan wintering season, when Swan Lake is at its liveliest. In autumn, the red leaves in Maquangou cover the mountains, offering the best color layers.
· Clothing: Both Dongpingtou sunken cave dwellings and Mitangou Red Earth Forest require walking, so wear non-slip, comfortable sports shoes. It is windy by the Yellow River, so bring a windbreaker.
Three days is just enough to connect the ancient Yellow River ferry, sunken cave dwellings, red earth forest, and the lake and city scenery of Sanmenxia. It is an affordable, authentic, and solid short trip~