Pingyao Ancient City

The Pingyao Ancient City is a World Heritage Site recognized by UNESCO. It is also the best-preserved Han Chinese city from the Ming and Qing dynasties in China. Often referred to as a "living museum," it condenses 2,700 years of history and has well-preserved city walls, traditional courtyard dwellings, as well as landmark buildings that once shaped China's financial and cultural landscapes.

Highlights of Ancient City of Pingyao

Ancient City Wall

Ancient City Wall

This 6,163-meter-long Ming Dynasty wall stands 12 meters tall and is a wonder of military engineering. It was built in 1370 with 72 watchtowers, a moat, and six beautiful gates. Walking along the walls, you can see traditional rooftops and streets arranged in a "土" shape grid. People say the wall's tortoise-like design symbolizes longevity, with the south gate as the head and the north gate as the tail. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is still an important example of ancient city defenses.

Rishengchang Exchange Shop

Rishengchang Exchange Shop

Rishengchang Draft Bank was founded in 1823. It was China's first draft bank institution and once revolutionized the way of financial transactions in the Qing Dynasty. Inside this well-preserved courtyard house of Shanxi merchants, there are exhibits such as old accounting tools, secret vaults and replica silver notes on display. The "East-West Partnership System" management model pioneered by it has had a profound influence on modern banking. Because of this, the Ancient City of Pingyao is known as the "Wall Street of the East in the 19th century".

Pingyao County Government Office

Pingyao County Government Office

This grand complex was built in the Northern Wei Dynasty (386 - 534 AD). It's the largest existing ancient yamen in China. The complex has six courtyards and over 200 rooms. It keeps judicial parts like the courtroom and prison, and also has gardens for officials to rest.There are daily situational dramas of ancient court hearings at 9:30, 11:00 and 15:30. They show history vividly. The layout follows Confucian rules. The main hall represents justice's majesty, and the back garden is for peace. Woodcarvings and steles in the yamen help know about Qing local governance.

Pingyao Chenghuang Temple

Pingyao Chenghuang Temple

This 11th-century Taoist temple is in Pingyao Ancient City. It is China’s only "triple-temple complex". It puts the City God, Kitchen God, and Wealth God together in one place. The temple is well-known for its Ming-Qing architecture. There is a grand axis in the temple. It has ceremonial gates, opera stages, and the famous City God Hall. The City God Hall has vivid 17th-century murals. These murals show divine processions. The temple has a unique mix of the symmetry of government offices and sacred aesthetics. Glazed turquoise roof tiles and detailed woodcarvings make this special feature stand out. In 1997, it was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site.