Pingyao Tour
Tour to the Famous UNESCO Heritage Old Town in Northern China
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In the central area of Shanxi Province lies an ancient county
typical of rural counties in North China--simple and steeped in
ancient tradition. What's different is that this county is linked
firmly to a certain prosperous time in Chinese history. It played
quite
an important role in the economic development of Shanxi during the
Ming and Qing Dynasties.
Pingyao County is 94 kilometers (58.4 miles) southwest of Taiyuan.
With an area of 1,260 square kilometers (486.5 square miles), it has
five towns and nine villages under its prefecture. Unlike those
cities or counties south of the Yangtze River, Pingyao was not
endowed with charming natural scenery but with a group of
accomplished businessmen. Pingyao was the birthplace of the Jin
Businessmen, who were one of the two famous Chinese business groups
during the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. Owing to
this, the first Chinese exchange shop was opened in Pingyao. Then,
for the next hundred years, Pingyao was home to almost all of the
large exchange shops in China. To a certain degree, Pingyao was to
China during the eighteenth century what Wall Street is to the US,
which not only helped promote the economic development of Shanxi,
but also left us with a magnificent old city and a series of grand
residences.
Pingyao has now become quite a hot tourist attraction even though it
is no longer economically prosperous. It boasts the famous Pingyao
Old City which was included in the United Nations World Cultural
Heritage in 1997. From the top of the grand City Wall, you have a
bird's-eye view of the Old City, a complete city built almost a
thousand years ago. In the Ancient Ming and Qing Street, you can
experience the town's former glory while exploring the rows of
residences and shops all constructed in the original architectural
style.
As
a popular tourist city, Pingyao has a great number of hotels in its
not very large old city area. Many of the hotels are delicately
constructed and decorated in a Ming and Qing style, comfortable and
easy for tourists to appreciate the authentic flavor of old Pingyao.
Yide Hotel is highly recommended when staying in Pingyao. It is
situated in a quiet little alley just a few minutes' walk from Nan
Dajie, the main street of Pingyao Ancient City. It is a beautifully
renovated courtyard house built in 1736 by a wealthy merchant during
the reign of Emperor Qianlong. All rooms in Yide Hotel are well
equipped with air conditioners, bathrooms and large kang-style beds.
Besides Yide, Yunjincheng Hotel and Yuantiankui Hotel are also good
choices.
Today, Pingyao's economic and government center has gradually moved
outside the Old City. A residential area and commercial buildings
have sprung up around the Old City. Department stores, super
markets, and other entertainment venues show this ancient county's
renewed vitality. While it does its best to keep its valuable old
culture and heritage, Pingyao continues to develop into a modern new
county.
Pingyao tourist attractions:
Pingyao-City Wall of Pingyao
Pingyao-Ancient
Ming-Qing Street
Pingyao-Cao's Compund
Pingyao-Chang's Compound
Pingyao-Qu's Compound
Pingyao-Rishengchang
Pingyao-Temple of the City
God
Pingyao-Zhenguo Temple
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