Ancient City of Ping Yao

The city of Pingyao is located in Shanxi Province, just 80 kilometers from the provincial capital of Taiyuan, and 715 kilometers from Beijing. It has a history of three thousand years. In the Qin Dynasty, Pingtao County was set up, and in 424 AD, it changed to Pingyao. The stone city wall we see today was built in 1370. The Ming Dynasty expanded the existing fortification, which had been there since the Western Zhou Dynasty (1046 BC – 771 BC), for defense requirement.

The layout of the city conforms to a bagua (octagonal diagram) pattern popular during the Ming (1368 – 1644) and Qing (1644 – 1911) Dynasties. The term bagua can signify a fundamental philosophical concept in ancient China that refers to manifestations of specific shapes and patters flourishing in multiple directions. Over 300 sites scattered throughout the city have ancient ruins, and there are over 4000 preserved Ming and Qing style residences.

Pingyao‑City‑Wall

Despite the fact that much of China has been industrialized and any cultural relics that date back thousands of years remain barely visible, the town of Pingyao remains unchanged. Walking through the town will give you the feeling that you are uncovering some of the secrets of China’s past. Walking through what is known by many as Old Street, you will see the Red Lanterns swaying in the breeze. Even when the air is still, the energy remains, and the streets are full of lively people, both tourists and locals alike.

Pingyao has been recognized for its beauty and cultural significance as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The reason it has received this recognition is because during the 19th and early 20th centuries, it was the financial center of China, and has the oldest bank in the nation. During this time, banks in Pingyao were the most efficient of their day and helped paved the way for keeping financial records and modern banking in China. You can see this history by visiting the Rishengchang (日升昌) Financial House Museum, a popular destination for those interested in the history of banking in China.