Pingyao Ancient City – A Journey Through Time

Step into the Past: Discover the Timeless Charm of Pingyao Ancient City

By China Tours Editorial Team

I had never heard of Pingyao until I planned our most recent trip to China and was left with a hole in our itinerary after plans to spend a week in Mongolia fell through. We were all excited to sleep in a yurt and ride camels in the Gobi desert. Unfortunately, they were still snowed in while we were there in April, and we were all disappointed.

My sister and her family lived in Beijing for 4 years, so she was able to glean insider travel tips from locals, and that's how we first heard about Pingyao. All of the locals know about Pingyao, because it was considered the banking capital of ancient China.

But it's still kind of a novelty for foreigners. In fact we were the only Americans we saw in Pingyao, while we were just a few of many throughout the rest of the cities we visited.

I didn't really know what to expect, but I stuffed Pingyao and Datong into the hole in our itinerary, and boy am I grateful for those recommendations! They both meant backtracking a bit, but they were totally worth it! It's hard to choose a favorite city when you visit so many in such a short time, but I think Pingyao is probably my favorite.

China isn't known for being charming the way old European cities are charming, but I can honestly say that Pingyao is charming. You'll have to go see it for yourself!

The History of Pingyao

Ancient Pingyao began as a garrison town during the Zhou Dynasty. It traded hands many times and was the birthplace of the Jin Businessmen — one of the two powerhouses during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Over the next century, it became the banking center of China and played a very important role in the economic development of the country.

Pingyao's prosperity led to large, beautiful public buildings and infrastructure advanced for its time. Magnificent private residences and charming grey brick storefronts line the main streets inside the ancient walls. It has retained its grandeur, barely changing over the last thousand years, which makes wandering through the streets of Pingyao incredibly memorable.

"China isn't typically known for being charming the way old European cities are charming, but Pingyao genuinely is charming. You'll have to go see it for yourself!"

10 Amazing Things to Do in Pingyao

1. Stay in an Ancient Chinese Courtyard-Style Home

The ancient Chinese courtyard-style home we stayed in may well have been the most unique and interesting place I've stayed in my entire life. It was so amazing to see, up close and personal, how the Chinese in this area have lived for centuries.

Chinese courtyard-style homes are the exact opposite of Western homes, with rooms constructed around the perimeter of each lot leaving the central courtyard vacant. Those courtyards are used for cooking and congregating.

2. Visit the Rishengchang Exchange Shop

Pingyao is considered the banking capital of ancient China, and the Rishengchang Exchange Shop was the first bank in China's history. The shop was once the lifeblood of the Chinese economy and is considered a landmark building in the development of the country. It's been converted into a museum displaying the history of banking in China.

3. Explore the Ancient Government Office

Located in the center of Pingyao, the Government Office complex has over 300 rooms to explore, from courts to prison cells to torture chambers and living quarters for the magistrates and their servants. It's interesting to catch a glimpse of how feudal China was governed and how justice was administered. This place was the governing seat of Pingyao for over 600 years.

4. Walk the Ancient City Wall

Built in 1370, with a circumference of 6.4 km, the ancient city walls are still largely intact and are considered among the best-preserved ancient city walls in China. The wall is turtle-shaped and contains six gates. From the top you can see the patchwork of ancient rooftops across Pingyao and get a good idea of the city's layout.

5. Wander the Historic Streets

The streets in Pingyao are just incredible. Everywhere you look you'll see colorful textiles and wares juxtaposed against the ancient, traditional grey brick. Pingyao's main streets, lined with storefronts, are stunningly charming. But when you step off into the many alleys criss-crossing the main streets, it's like being transported to another world.

6. Temple of the City God and Confucius Temple

The Temple of the City God is the best preserved Confucius Temple in China. It features complex construction, detailed brick carvings and vivid statuary and frescoes. The Confucius Temple, built during the Tang Dynasty, is located in the southeast corner of Pingyao.

7. Local Cuisine

Don't miss the opportunity to taste some of the delicious food available in Pingyao! There are all kinds of food stalls along the two main shopping streets with yummy snacks like potato tornadoes and ice cream confections. There are also excellent restaurants everywhere serving fresh, hand-pulled noodles and other local specialties.

8. Nine Dragon Screen

You'll see many of these intricately carved stone screens all over China. They were used in front of wealthier residences to both show off wealth and for privacy. Many of the better examples are being preserved, which is awesome, because they're really neat.

9. The Catholic Church

We were astonished to find this Catholic Church in the middle of Pingyao. The gate is open and the doors are open, and it looks clean and cared for. It's an unexpected sight in this ancient Chinese city.

10. Shopping on Ming-Qing Street

The shopping on Ming-Qing Street is super fun, and a great place to purchase souvenirs and local wares and yummy things to eat! Plan to spend, at the very least, an afternoon walking the main streets of Pingyao to see all of the interesting people and places.

Plan your visit today and let the timeless charm of this ancient walled city create memories that will last a lifetime.

📸 More Scenes of Pingyao

Tags: Pingyao UNESCO Shanxi Ancient City China Travel