Ancient City Wall of Pingyao

Ancient City Wall of Pingyao

The Ancient City Wall of Pingyao is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

City walls were important military defensive structures in ancient China. The Pingyao City Wall has a long history and remains remarkably well-preserved. Legend has it that construction began during the reign of King Xuan of Zhou (Ji Jing) in the Western Zhou Dynasty, making it over 2,700 years old. Originally, the wall was very low, but to meet military defense needs, it was expanded and rebuilt in the third year of the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty (1370), transforming into the brick-and-stone structure seen today. Over the next 500-plus years during the Ming and Qing dynasties, it underwent 26 rounds of repairs and expansions—hence, it still retains the architectural style of those periods.

The existing Pingyao City Wall is one of only three intact county-level city walls in China. Among them, it stands out for its grand scale and complete structure, stretching 12.8 Chinese li (approximately 6.4 km) in total length. The wall is about 10 meters high and features six city gates—two each on the north and south sides, and one each on the east and west. Each gate is equipped with a barbican. Additionally, every 40–60 meters along the wall, there is a protruding structure called a "horse face" or enemy tower. Architecturally, these horse faces not only reinforce the wall, making the ancient city sturdy and solid, but also serve critical military functions. If enemies attempted to attack, defenders stationed between the horse faces could strike from the front and both flanks, putting the attackers in a crossfire—a tactic known as “flanking attack” or “pincer movement.” Each horse face is topped with an enemy tower, which served as shelter for soldiers in peacetime and as storage for weapons during wartime. These elevated structures allowed defenders to “see in all directions” and effectively organize their firepower to repel invaders.

Outside each gate of the Pingyao City Wall is a barbican—a small fortress built outside the main gate to enhance the city’s defenses. It has two gates set at a 90-degree angle. Scientifically speaking, Pingyao is located in the central part of Shanxi Province on the Loess Plateau, where sandstorms are frequent. This design helps block direct sand invasion into the city streets. From a military perspective, when enemies breach the first gate of the barbican, they are unprepared for the second gate inside. Defenders can then rain down crossfire from above, delivering a fatal blow. The idiom “catching a turtle in a jar” or “shutting the door to beat the dog” vividly illustrates the function of the barbican.

Moreover, the crenels and observation holes on the wall are used for shooting and monitoring approaching enemies. There are 3,000 crenels and 72 enemy towers around the wall, symbolizing Confucius’ 3,000 disciples and 72 wise followers. This reflects the strong influence of Confucian ideals on even such a massive military structure—expressing the ancient people’s disdain for war, longing for peace, and pursuit of benevolence. The 72 enemy towers also served as watchtowers for observing enemy movements and organizing defenses. A chain of communication would see tower guards swiftly report sightings to corner towers, which would then relay the information up to the main tower on the city wall. This integrated system enabled coordinated defense: the main towers focused on repelling attacks at the gates, corner towers provided auxiliary support, and enemy towers delivered lethal crossfire from three sides.

Although Pingyao is neither a major military stronghold nor a strategic mountain pass, its ingenious design and comprehensive functionality speak volumes about the ancient wisdom of “preparing for danger in times of peace.” Historically, this formidable wall helped repel invasions by the Jurchens, Mongol raids, and Japanese forces. The scars left on the outer wall today still tell those stories.

The design of the Pingyao City Wall is rigorous and majestic. It is said to have been planned according to the principle of “a turtle playing with water, facing the sun over mountains and rivers,” and built based on the strategy of “using terrain to your advantage.” Despite centuries of weathering and warfare, the wall remains as solid as ever. Folklore refers to it as the “Turtle City,” a symbol of longevity and endurance. The south gate represents the turtle’s head, the north gate its tail, and the four gates on the east and west its limbs. Inside the city, the layout of four main streets, eight smaller streets, and seventy-two winding alleys mimics the pattern of a turtle shell—symbolizing eternal stability and everlasting good fortune for Pingyao.

The overall urban layout is orderly and exquisitely designed, constructed strictly according to Han Chinese rites, traditional urban planning concepts, and layout principles. It serves as a living specimen of a typical county-level Han Chinese city during China’s Ming and Qing periods. At the heart of the city is the Market Tower, with South Street serving as the central axis, creating a symmetrical arrangement described as “the Temple of the City God on the left, the County Yamen on the right; the Confucian Temple on the left, the Martial Temple on the right; the Taoist Temple to the east, and the Buddhist Temple to the west.” This echoes the ritual sequence from the Rites of Zhou: “ancestral temple on the left, altar of land and grain on the right; front court, back market.” The entire city is a vast complex of ancient architectural relics composed of walls, streets, shops, temples, and residences.

The Pingyao City Wall, with its sophisticated military facilities and ingeniously designed defensive functions, serves as a vivid textbook of ancient military science, an excellent location for film shoots, and a popular destination for visitors seeking a historical experience.

Address: Ancient City of Pingyao, No. 58 Zhaobi South Street, Pingyao County, Jinzhong City

Type: Historical Site / Historic Architecture / Ancient Town / World Cultural Heritage

Recommended Visit Duration: 2–4 hours

Phone: 0354-5680205

Opening Hours:

Ancient City Opening Hours: Peak season (March 1 – October 9): 08:00–18:30; Off-season (October 10 – February 29): 08:00–17:30.

Ticket Information:

No separate ticket required. Included in the Ancient City Pass, valid for general entry to the Ancient City of Pingyao.

Gutao Town: The seat of Pingyao County Government. Located at the southern end of the Taiyuan Basin, it borders Qi County to the east, Wenxi County to the north, Fenyang to the west, and Jiexiu to the southwest. Pingyao Ancient City lies to its south near Qinyuan, and it also neighbors Qinxian and Wuxiang to the southeast. As the political, economic, and cultural center of the county, it hosts the UNESCO World Heritage Site—Pingyao Ancient City—and is one of the most dynamic and economically robust towns in Pingyao. It borders Yuebi Township and Duan Village Town to the south, Zhongdu Township to the west, Nan Zheng Township to the north, and Yuebi Township and Hongshan Town to the east. The Gutao Town government is headquartered in Xicheng Village, overseeing Dongcheng, Xicheng, Nancheng, ... [More details on Gutao Town++]

Further Reading:

· Top 50 Existing Ancient Architectures in China

· Third Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units