Pingyao （平遥） originally named as Gutao （古陶）, is an integral and one of the best preserved Chinese ancient city located at the eastern bank of Fen River in central Shanxi Province, about 700km away from Capital Beijing. History of the city could be traced back to 2700 years ago when it was first established during the reign of Emperor Xuan in Western Zhou Dynasty (827-782 BC). Initially it was part of Jin and Zhao Kingdom but expanded for military purposes in early Ming Dynasty. It reached its golden age in 19th century when it became a financial center of China and home to many commercially influencing Jin Merchants during Qing Dynasty. It was reputed as The Wall Street in China at that time. On 31st December 1997, Pingyao Ancient City was added to the list of Unesco World Heritage Site as an outstanding example of a Han Chinese City of the Ming and Qing Dynasty (14th to 20th century) that has retained all its features to a certain degree that was able to provide a remarkably complete picture of cultural, social and religious development during one of the most seminal periods in Chinese History. It was said that the past prosperity of Shanxi lies in Pingyao and the soul of Pingyao stays in its old city.
The impressive sight along the 6 km long city walls. The grand and solemn city wall is 12 meter high with a base width varied from 9 to 12 meter and 3 to 6 meter at the top, allowing two horse carriages to go side by side. It has 6 barbican gates, one each at north and south and two each at east and west appearing similarly like a shape of a turtle. Turrets and moat measured 4 meter wide by 4 meter deep were built sequentially after the gate towers. Being the oldest and largest existing in the nation, the city walls are one of the 6 key national protected relics in Pingyao City.
The Kuixing Pavilion （奎星楼） at south east corner of the city hall built during Qing Dynasty is rather gorgeous . It is octagon in shape with height of 24 meter and the top roof was covered with colored glazed tiles. It has become a symbol of the flourished culture of the city.
The city walls were first built with rammed earth and then covered up with bricks and stones and extended to 6 km in year 1370. There are 3000 embrasures (battlements) and 72 watch towers said to represent the 3000 students and 72 disciples of Confucius as during that era, the region was profoundly influenced with Confucianism. Most of the city wall remains intact till today. It is now the center piece of the heritage site.
This part of southern portion at city wall collapsed and was reconstructed in year 2004. Interesting man-life brass statues were added to depict the life of people at that period. The calligrapher and opium smokers are among some of them.
Chinese Martial Art had been renowned from past to present while the time keepers who went round and announced the hours at night and advised residents to be bewared of fire, was a mobile clock of the past.
There are 6 city gates with 4 turrets and 72 defensing towers along the 6km long city wall. Unlike the other three external vertical walls at East, West and North direction, the walls at southern gate winds along with The Zhongdu River.
Most of the Gate Towers are about 16 meter in length and 14 meter in height
The grand Southern Gate
A green square and some living quarters viewed from city wall
Best and dreamy view of Pingyao Old City with sea of roofs under your feet
Sun began to set
The stunning sunset view captured from southern city wall.
The setting sun, bright and big.
The sun finally dropped behind the hills leaving behind a screen of colors before the darkness arrives.
Many hotels were delicately constructed and decorated in Ming and Qing style into a comfortable accommodation for tourists to experience authentic flavor of olden days, so is this Hotel Yufeng-Heng, the place where we stayed for 5 days when we traveled Pingyao ancient city and its surrounding attractions.
Yufeng-heng hotel with fabulous internal courtyards is converted from a typical sihe-yuan old residence （四合院）.
The courtyards outside our room.
The hotel provides us an ancient sleeping bed which was called Keng （坑）. It was indeed an excellent experience.
The kitchen is at the other side of the courtyard and coal is used for cooking.
The lobby of the hotel looks like a home and the owner of the hotel acts like your friend. He is at the lobby every morning to answer your needs and solve your problems. It was our home in Pingyao Ancient City, cozy and comfortable.
The green jue-cai (厥菜) is widely grown in this region. Stir fried into a simple dish in raw or sun-dried or fermented, are equivalently tasty and nutritious.
Beancurd fungus vegetable soup, fungus and yam, vegetable dumplings are common dishes made from local produces. They are delicious, healthy and cheap.
Shanxi's delicacies: Dao-xiao-men （刀削面）, You-men（五谷莜面） and Huang-gao （黄糕）。 We especially like the you-men, its filling and nutritious too.
The Moniker Turtle city enclosed inside the 6km long city wall is as solid as a rock and long-living as a turtle.
The 12 meter high city wall enclosed the Pingyao ancient city in a quadrangle shape.
Long stretches of bullet pot holes remains at the wall were caused by Japanese invaders during 2nd world war.
Bustling farmers market outside the city wall, short distance away from Yamen Street where The Administrative County House situated.
A scene of lively morning market.
Heaps of leeks stocked at road side and track, ready for transfer to markets.
Pingyao boasts a mass of historical sites and old buildings and more than 300 sites having ancient ruins. An unknown ancient stupa standing at the center of a highway not far away from its toll gate.
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