China Pingyao Travel Guide

Ancient city of Pingyao in central Shanxi Province in northern China, was founded in Western Zhou Dynasty (827BC~782BC) and was expanded in Ming Dynasty (AD1370), now has 2,700 years of history.

So far, It has well preserved the basic style of Ming and Qing Dynasty (AD1368~1911) and known as the most complete existing ancient city in Han people areas.

Pingyao is located in the east coast of Fen River, southwest end of Taiyuan Basin., adjacent to the historical and cultural city, Qi County. Tongpu Railway and Dayun Freeway run through the county. Agriculture dominates its economy, the main products are grain, cotton, beef and push light lacquer. Among these, beef gains great reputation.

Pingyao was once the financial center of China, and is now the best preserved ancient town pattern. It belongs to Jin in Spring and Autumn Period and Zhao in Warring States, and it was acted as the king’s capital for many decades. It was named Pingtao County in Qin Dynasty and Zhongdu County in Han Dynasty, in Beiwei Dynasty it was changed the name as Pingyao County. In Qing Dynasty, there are more than twenty notes based in Pingyao, which takes up half of the country. Thus it is named the Ancient Chinese Wall Street. The largest one—Rishenchang, built in Qing Dynasty, famous for its Huitongtianxia, is the first note in China.

The unique style of local architecture is the treasure of Chinese architectural arts. The layout of the city conforms to a bagua (octagonal diagram) pattern popular during the Ming (1368 –1644) and Qing (1644 – 1911) Dynasties. The term bagua can signify a fundamental philosophical concept in ancient China that refers to manifestations of specific shapes and patters flourishing in multiple directions. Over 300 sites scattered throughout the city have ancient ruins, and there are over 4000 preserved Ming and Qing style residences.

Pingyao has been recognized for its beauty and cultural significance as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The reason it has received this recognition is because during the 19th and early 20th centuries, it was the financial center of China, and has the oldest bank in the nation. During this time, banks in Pingyao were the most efficient of their day and helped paved the way for keeping financial records and modern banking in China. You can see this history by visiting the Rishengchang (日升昌) Financial House Museum, a popular destination for those interested in the history of banking in China.

Pingyao Ancient City Wall is constructed in Hongwu Years (1370), with perimeter of 6.4 km, is the existing largest city wall of early history. Though repaired in Ming and Qing Dynasties, it is basically the shape and structure of early Ming Dynasty. Repairing many times makes the Pingyao Ancient City Wall more solid.

Pingyao ancient city is square, the wall is about 12 meters high, all exterior walls built of bricks, and outside the wall is moat, with breadth and depth of 4 m. there are six doors built around the city, each two in west and east and each one in north and south. Outside west and east sides build the Urn, in order to defend from attack. Surrounded by walls in every side, built a watch tower every 60 meters, the whole city wall contains 72 ones.

Pingyao Town mostly takes on the Ming and Qing prototype. People call it the “Turtle City “for its base layout.

Streets, city buildings, shops and so still retain the original shape. Treasures of ancient buildings in city and suburbs are also well preserved. One of Pingyao Town’s notable features is the courtyard-style houses, existing city traditional courtyard 3797, and most still in use. Service available within the city, all kinds of cuisines, unique shops, hotels, restaurants, shopping malls can be found there. Ancient Pingyao Town is where the note and wealthy businessmen gathered, the rigorous but not rigid housing layout, exquisite and ancient building techniques all reflect the Qing architectural and ethnic characters.

Pingyao Climate

How to Pingyao