Ancient City of Pingyao
Listed as a World Cultural Heritage Site in 1997 Location: Shanxi Province, central China Best Time to Visit: Anytime
The Ancient City of Pingyao is an ancient countylevel city in China, where the architecture of the Han people from the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911) has been well preserved. Located in Pingyao County, in central China’s Shanxi Province, the Ancient City includes three parts: the old town within the city walls, Shuanglin Temple, located 6 km southwest of the city, and Zhenguo Temple, about 12 km northeast.
Founded in the 14th century and covering an area of 225 hectares, the Ancient City of Pingyao is a complete building complex including ancient walls, streets and lanes, shops, dwellings and temples. Its layout reflects the changes in architectural style and urban planning of the cities of the Han people over more than five centuries.
Particularly, from the 19th century to the early 20th century, the Ancient City of Pingyao was the financial center for the whole of China. The nearly 4,000 existing shops and traditional dwellings in the town, which are grand in form and exquisite in ornament, bear witness to Pingyao’s economic prosperity over a century.
The Ancient City of Pingyao retains all the city features of the Han people and provides a complete picture of the cultural, social, economic and religious developments in Chinese history. Located outside the city, with more than 2,000 existing painted sculptures made in the Ming and Qing dynasties, Shuanglin Temple has been reputed as an “oriental art gallery of painted sculptures.” The site is of great value for studying the social form, economic structure, military defense, religious belief, traditional thinking, traditional ethics and dwelling form of local Han people throughout history.
Travel Tips
• Don’t miss performances in the Pingyao Drama Hall at night.
• A through ticket is available for all scenic spots. Be sure to hold onto your ticket, as it will be checked at each attraction you visit.
• We recommend taking bottled water along with you, as local drinking water has a salty taste not to everyone’s liking.