Ping Yao

Ping Yao
Photo by Els Slots.

The Ancient City of Ping Yao is an integral and well-preserved Han Chinese city.

It dates from the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911), and its urban plan and city walls have not significantly changed since. Its buildings show the evolution of architectural styles. Numerous impressive buildings associated with banking can be seen, as Ping Yao was a major financial centre in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Community Perspective: It looks like a movie set (though with houses without toilets). The city wall is one of the most perfect in Asia. Visit the courtyard buildings and temples that are now in use as museums, as well as the former financial institutions.

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Nan

Germany - 13-Mar-20 -

Ping Yao by Nan

The first time I heard about Pingyao was not on this website, but in the Lonely Planet guidebook for China. They were extolling the virtues of this most historic Chinese town as one of the top tips for China. Having been fooled by Lonely Planet's so called top tips repeatedly before and after, I didn't prioritize getting there the first time I went to China (Beijing area).

Eventually, I read up on Pingyao and it materialized as one of the places I really wanted to see. In China. And globally. What I often find lacking in Asia are consistent cities, the likes you find plenty in Europe. Places where you can just get lost and stroll the roads, always finding new small treasures. In most of Asia, you find some old buildings or single blocks squeezed between modern concrete towers. Supposedly, Pingyao was different...

The backstory of Pingyao is similar to other sites. For centuries, Pingyao was the financial hub of China. In the 19th century due to the foreign colonial incursions, the financial center moved to the coast (Hongkong, Shanghai) and the town was largely forgotten. Nowadays, it is a tiny city even for German standards (42.000 inhabitants), let alone Chinese where it wouldn't even count as a suburb.

The slumber protected the city center from the blessings of modernity. And it also was not subject to the demolitions of the culture revolution. So, within its city walls (the largest remaining in China), it stayed the same city it was in the 19th century. You can enter and explore plenty of the historic estates on the main roads, several of them former banks. You can also climb the city wall and there are several temples to visit. The city does a good job of being accessible and providing background on the city's history. But the best part was just strolling the many side streets. I spent four hours in the city and it would have been more, if I hadn't been freezing for hours by then due to me visiting in January. On the plus side, the whole city was stunningly decorated for Chinese New Year.

In sum, this is the quintessential Chinese town and belongs with the best sites in China and the world.

Getting There

Pingyao has a bullet train station on the Xian-Beijing line (Xian 3h, Beijing 4h). So it's a nice stop if you plan to travel between the two. I visited as a day trip from Xian and that worked fine.

As always, the bullet train station is outside of town. There are local buses waiting for you to take you into town (North or South Gate). To return, it's easiest to go to the old train station where all buses for the bullet train station pass.

Near the bullet train station is the Shuanglin Temple. I think it would be best to simply take a cab to get there and then continue into town.


Frederik Dawson

Netherlands - 07-Nov-09 -

Ping Yao by Frederik Dawson

My third world heritage site of Shanxi trip and also my final destination was Ping Yao, the well preserved ancient Chinese city which was the important financial and trade center of Chinese Empire during Ming and Qing dynasties and clearly my favorite place of this short but wonderful journey. I was arrived Ping Yao at night, at first sight, new Ping Yao offered me a typical dusty Chinese town with unplanned closing road which made my chauffer quite frustrated with the chaotic traffic.

After half an hour, the city wall of old Ping Yao was appeared in front of me. The city wall of Ping Yao, in my opinion, was one of the most perfect city walls I have ever seen in Asia; the moat and wall turrets were just remarkable, smaller but far better than the city wall of Xi'an. I stayed in a traditional hotel called Yi De, which was once the residence complex of Hou family, sleeping in this hotel was kind of experience as I sleep on a traditional bed in the small ancient room with modern bath surrounding the beautiful courtyard.

Not only the hotel I was impressed, the whole city of Ping Yao was unbelievable to be existed in the modern day China. Walking in Ping Yao was liked walking in the old Chinese movie scenes; the city was full of beautiful Ming Qing traditional courtyard houses, and along the main roads were lively old shop houses that now transformed to be hotels, restaurants and souvenir shops selling Ping Yao style roast beef and tasty Shanxi vinegar. As I mentioned Ping Yao was an important financial and trade center, there were an ancient bank, insurance company and merchants houses that now opened as museums.

Visiting the city was free of charge, but for museums, city wall and temples, 120 Yuan was the price for the whole package. My favorite place was the city tower located in the middle of the city, which was not included in the city ticket. For 5 Yuan, the tower offered you one of best and dreamy view of this city with sea of tile roofs under your feet. Ping Yao was really touristy, but the city was able to keep its original characteristics, local people still live in the old city with their non tourism businesses. I highly recommended visiting small but lively morning market near the old government buildings and buy delicious local snacks freshly made by old friendly locals or vegetable or fruit in horse draw carts.

I also interested in city policy, the notable one was toilet, as ancient Chinese houses had no toilet, instead of put modern one in every house which may destroy ancient house elements, local authority chose to build many public toilets in many parts of city for people to use. Ping Yao gave me many nice memories from its people, food, and architecture and also gave me a good example of which direction ancient Asian city should be preserved. Visiting Ping Yao was truly a great time in China and was another place which deservedly to be a world heritage site.


Els Slots

The Netherlands - 25-Oct-07 -

Ping Yao by Els Slots

There are two sides to Ping Yao. I stayed there for 1.5 days and at first I noticed mainly its poor living conditions. When you look down at the town from its city walls you see a lot of dust and dirt and cramped housing. There are quite a number of public toilets, from which I deduct that many houses don't have private bathrooms. In my first half-hour roaming around the city's backstreets, I also came across two men peeing in the street (and they were neither drunk nor beggars).

Later on, I began visiting the courtyard buildings and temples that are now in use as museums. That is where all the wealth was. Behind a simple-looking entrance there are vast complexes. The bank, the service where one could hire armed bodyguards, the judicial court with its prison and torture instruments, the chamber of commerce and the residence of the founder of the first bank, Lei Lutai. There's even a shrine where you can pray to the God of Wealth!

There are many guesthouses with a traditional courtyard setting where you can spend the night. I did so at Yide hotel, situated in the 18th-century house of tradesmen. This is well recommended: it's a welcome change to sleep in a bare room on the ground floor where fresh air and neighbourhood noises come in, after all those highrise Chinese business hotels that look the same. I even enjoyed the bean bag pillow and slept like a log.


Nachiket Gadre

India -

I went to Ping Yao in May 2005 as a field trip from my International school in Beijing. It was realy exicting to find out how the poor half of China lives. It was fun expiriancing the ancient cultures of China. Is was fun finding out how the old bank system is China worked as there were many banks in Ping Yao. It was truly an amazing experiance!


Jan Staples

USA -

We went with Grandmaster Huang, Chien Liang, of Baltimore, Maryland, with a group of 30 students. This city was phenomenal, very beautiful and striking with its wall surrounding the entire city. We were warmly received, had fun shopping, and watched a 14th century trial, with the accused being punished. We also saw part of an opera and many artifacts in a museum setting. One of the best days of our trip.


Aukje de Jong

Netherlands -

During my visit to Ping Yao in 2000, I learned it had just been added to the World Heritage Site-list. It was until then mostly visited by Chinese tourists. In this town I experienced the feel of 'ancient'-China. Hardly any foreign tourists and a walled town-life which seemed to haven't changed during the last century. Bikes were the main transportation within the wall. It is my favourite Chinese town!


Dave Kennedy

America -

I visited Ping Yao in August of 2002. I was impressed with its factual existence in the same form as a typical ancient Chinese town. The vehicle traffic inside the wall was virtually nonexistence. I saw no building taller than two stories. I was able to walk around the city on top of the city wall. I was also able to observe construction in the ancient style as properties were being refurbished. It was definitely worth the visit.


Site Info

Full Name
Ancient City of Ping Yao
Unesco ID
812
Country
China
Inscribed
1997
Type
Cultural
Criteria
2 3 4
Categories
Urban landscape - Asian
Link
By ID

Site History

1997 Inscribed

Locations

The site has 3 locations

Ping Yao: Ancient City of Ping Yao Ping Yao County, Shan Xi Province,
Ping Yao: Zhen Guo Temple Ping Yao County, Shan Xi Province,
Ping Yao: Shuang Lin Temple Ping Yao County, Shan Xi Province,

Visitors

Community Members have visited.

Alex Goh Alexander Barabanov Alexander Lehmann Alexander Parsons Alfons and Riki Verstraeten Andrew Wembridge Angel Ying Liu Ansitong Anthonybonbon Aspasia Athena2186 Atila Ege Baiqitun Bamse Bin Bob Parda Boj Carlo Sarion Carlos Garrido Chen Taotao Chenboada Christravelblog Cjones Claire Bradshaw Daniela Hohmann David Marton Dolemite92 Drinkteatravel Dwight Zehuan Xiao ERIC ZHOU Els Slots Eric PK Erik Jelinek Everett Fan Yibo Ferdimerkx Frankwsolak Frederik Dawson George Evangelou GeorgeIng61 HE SHAOMIN Haining Guan Hanming Henryjiao18 Hugo Zou Iain Jackson J Mitchell Jacob Otten Jason and Corrinna Javier Coro Jaynew Jeffrey Chai Ran Jennifer Prout Jens Jiangliu bian Jianzhao Zhu Joanne Lee Jon Eshuijs Jonathanliao Juha Sjoeblom Jun Zhou Junwang111 KB1 Kacper Olejarski Kasper Kbtwhs Knut Laobada Lichia Liu tuo Lucio Gorla Ludvan Luke LOU MaYumin Maki Wang Michael Turtle Michal Marciniak MikeMa1999 Nan Nanvano Nihal Ege Nomad99 NonDuality Nongbulinqing Ovalarezo PJ Pang Liang Fong Pascal Cauliez Paul Schofield Peter Alleblas Petteri Philip T.K. Piotrurbanski Qqalexqq Rainlover91125 Randi Thomsen Reza Risson Rob Wilson Robin Frank Rocky Rogerding Rogerlee RyanMak SHIHE HUANG Saxondean Seanzhao777 Sibariam Sijia Simonf Skalec Socon Ssfighter Svein Elias Tatiana Nikulnikova Theresa Goh Thibault Magnien Thomas van der Walt Tingying He Tkinou Vanessa Buechler Voyager Wang Qin WantRain Weecheng Westwards Wj1997yi Wouter Xiong Wei YAO WEI YY Yang Chengyu Yinming Zhang Zhang xiaozhong Zhou Cheng Zhou Yan Zos M Zoë Sheng