Ancient City of Pingyao

Ancient City of Pingyao

The Ancient City of Pingyao is a National AAAAA-level Tourist Attraction and a World Cultural Heritage site.

Located in Shanxi, the Ancient City of Pingyao is a cultural city with a history of over 2,700 years. It is one of the best-preserved four ancient cities in China and the only ancient county town in the country that has successfully applied for World Cultural Heritage status as an entire ancient city. Formerly known as "Ancient Pot," in the early Ming Dynasty, to defend against invasions from nomadic tribes, ...

The Ancient City of Pingyao was first built between 827 BC and 782 BC during the reign of King Xuan of Zhou, established when the Western Zhou general Yin Jifu stationed troops here. Since the Qin Dynasty implemented the "commandery-county system" in 221 BC, Pingyao has continuously served as the seat of the county government up to the present. Having endured many changes over the centuries, the Ancient City of Pingyao remains the most intact prototype of an ancient Chinese county town from the Ming and Qing periods. The current ancient city is what was expanded in 1370 during the Ming Dynasty. The expanded city was grand and imposing, with a perimeter of 6.4 kilometers, making it the oldest and largest surviving county town city wall in Shanxi and China.

A bird’s-eye view of the Ancient City of Pingyao is even more astonishing. The square-shaped city wall resembles a turtle, with six gates—two each on the north and south sides, and one each on the east and west. The southern gate is considered the turtle’s head, with two wells outside symbolizing its eyes. The northern gate is the turtle’s tail, situated at the lowest point of the city, where all accumulated water drains out. The four barbicans on the east and west sides are positioned opposite each other; the upper and lower west gates and the upper east gate all open southward, resembling extended turtle claws. Only the outer gate of the lower east barbican opens directly east—legend says this was to prevent the turtle from crawling away, so its left leg was straightened and tethered to Lutai Hill, twenty li away. This seemingly whimsical legend reflects the ancients’ deep reverence for turtles. As symbols of longevity and sanctity, turtles were believed to endow the city with enduring strength and eternal security. The 72 watchtowers on the wall and the 3,000 crenels along the parapet are said to represent Confucius’ 3,000 disciples and 72 wise followers.

To this day, the ancient city's walls, streets, residences, shops, and temples remain largely intact, with their original forms and layouts preserved. Together, they form an integral part of the historical relics of the Ancient City of Pingyao.

This sturdy and complete brick-and-stone fortress played a significant role in military defense and flood control for centuries. The streets, ancient government offices, market towers, shops, and residences within the city still retain their original Ming Dynasty appearance. It is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Known as the “Treasury and Collection of Ancient Chinese Architecture,” the Ancient City of Pingyao boasts an exceptional number and high quality of cultural relics rarely seen elsewhere in China. Among them are the most intact ancient city wall in China, initially built in the Western Zhou and expanded in 1370 during the Ming Dynasty, vast and majestic in scale; the Wanfo Hall of Zhenguo Temple, constructed in 963 AD during the Later Han of the Five Dynasties and ranked as the third most precious surviving wooden structure in China, containing exquisite polychrome clay sculptures from the Five Dynasties that serve as vital research samples for early Chinese sculpture art; the Shuanglin Temple, founded in 571 AD during the Northern Qi, hailed as the “Treasure House of Ancient Chinese Colored Sculpture Art,” which houses 2,052 clay sculptures from the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties; the Dacheng Hall of the Confucian Temple, a rare surviving example of Song-Jin period Confucian architecture; the Rishengchang Draft Bank, known as the “Number One in the World” and “Connecting the World’s Finance,” regarded as the pioneer of China’s financial industry; the Qingxu Guan Temple, built in 657 AD during the Tang Dynasty, featuring the rare “hanging beam and pillar” structural design, with over 20 wooden carved deities that offer rare insights into ancient Chinese wood carving and Taoist development; and over 1,000 stone tablets scattered throughout the city, along with a variety of colorful glazed artifacts in diverse forms and eras. Additionally, Pingyao is one of the gathering centers of ancient Chinese residential architecture. Among the 4,000 ancient and modern residential buildings in the city, over 400 distinctly reflect the styles and characteristics of ancient and modern northern Chinese dwellings.

With a long history and numerous cultural relics, the Ancient City of Pingyao fully embodies the historical landscape of the 17th to 19th centuries, serving as a historical museum of Ming and Qing architectural art. Its ancient buildings and relics are exceptionally rare in both quantity and quality, holding immense historical, artistic, and scientific value for the study of ancient Chinese urban evolution, architecture, human habitation patterns, and the development of traditional culture.

In 1997, Kenzo Tange, a UNESCO expert, visited the Ancient City of Pingyao and inscribed the words “Pingyao—the Finest Ancient City Under Heaven.” UNESCO praised it as: “The Ancient City of Pingyao is an outstanding example of a Han Chinese city during the Ming and Qing periods. It has retained all its features and presents a remarkable panorama of cultural, social, economic, and religious development in Chinese history.” Visitors often say, “Stepping into Pingyao is like entering a vast historical museum.”

Pingyao is said to have three treasures, one of which is its ancient city wall. Initially built with rammed earth and on a smaller scale, it was expanded to its current size in 1370 during the Ming Dynasty. Despite over 600 years of weathering, its majestic presence remains. The roughly 6-kilometer-long city wall features 3,000 crenels and 72 watchtowers, symbolizing Confucius’ 3,000 disciples and 72 wise men. In addition, a Kuixing Pavilion, symbolizing cultural prosperity, was built in the southeastern corner of the city during the late Qing Dynasty, reflecting the profound influence of Confucian thought represented by Confucius.

The Ancient City of Pingyao is entirely planned and laid out according to the traditional urban planning concepts and layout methods of the Han Chinese. Within the enclosed city, centered around the Market Tower, four main streets, eight smaller streets, and seventy-two lanes interweave in an orderly fashion, each with distinct functions and a well-organized layout. The ancient residential houses are all traditional courtyard homes with gray-tiled roofs and gray bricks, featuring clear axes and symmetrical designs, particularly those cave-style dwellings built with brick, exuding strong local flavor. The city preserves 3,797 quadrangle courtyard residences, over 400 of which are exceptionally well-maintained. In addition, the city houses several temples of varying sizes and rows of old-style shops, all authentically depicting the bustling market scenes of the Ming and Qing periods.

Speaking of Pingyao, one must mention “Shanxi Merchants” and “Draft Banks,” as it is one of the birthplaces of the Shanxi Merchants and home to Rishengchang, China’s first prototype of a modern bank. During the Ming and Qing periods, with the growth of commerce, major Shanxi merchant firms developed a business model with headquarters in Shanxi and branches elsewhere, engaging in cross-regional operations. This led to the need for transporting large amounts of silver for wholesale trade, giving rise to a new remittance method—“draft bank exchange.” In 1824, Rishengchang Draft Bank was established in Pingyao on the site of the Xiyucheng pigment shop on West Street. Three years later, branches were set up in Shandong, Henan, Liaoning, Jiangsu, and other provinces. By the 1840s, its services had expanded to Japan, Singapore, Russia, and other countries. Under Rishengchang’s leadership, Pingyao’s draft bank industry flourished, peaking with 22 banks that once made Pingyao the financial center of China. Clearly, Pingyao holds a significant place in the history of modern Chinese finance.

Ancient Pingyao was glorious, and today’s Pingyao remains full of charm. While many historic cultural cities are fragmented and damaged in the name of commercial development, Pingyao has been remarkably well-preserved. It retains all its features and presents a remarkable panorama of cultural, social, economic, and religious development in Chinese history. In December 1997, the Ancient City of Pingyao in Shanxi was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Chenghuang Temple is located in the middle section of Chenghuangmiao Street in Pingyao. The entire temple complex faces south and covers a total area of 7,302 square meters, consisting of four courtyards. It is a fully equipped Taoist temple rich in religious, historical, and cultural significance. In addition to the main hall and the bedroom palace, it mainly comprises six sections: the Six Ministries’ Yamen, the Earth God Shrine, the Kitchen God Temple, and the God of Wealth Temple. The layout is neat, the levels are distinct, the momentum is grand, and the style is unique.

Outside the street-facing temple gate is the iconic structure—a tall wooden memorial archway with a hip-and-gable roof, following the specifications of a four-pillar, three-door, eleven-rafter bracket set. The plaque reads "Chenghuang Temple," written by the renowned local calligrapher Mr. Zhao Wangjin. On the reverse side are the four golden characters “Wei Ling Bai Li” (Authority Reaches a Hundred Li), accompanied by bluestone lions and horse-tying posts inscribed with: “Those who visit with good intentions feel no shame; those who pass through with evil deeds tremble with fear,” directly conveying the religious theme of the Chenghuang Temple.

The Confucian Temple of Pingyao, also known as the Confucian Temple and School, was built in the early Tang Zhenguan era. Its Dacheng Hall was rebuilt in 1163 AD during the Jin Dading era and has maintained its original appearance for over 800 years. It is the oldest existing Confucian temple among all levels in China and the most completely preserved Confucian temple architectural complex.

The Pingyao Confucian Temple is located in the southeastern corner of the Ancient City of Pingyao. It is the oldest, largest, most majestic, and most typical Confucian temple in the city, and the most completely preserved, largest, and most distinctive Confucian temple in North China. Facing south, it covers an area of 40,580 square meters and is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit. As an important part of the World Cultural Heritage—Ancient City of Pingyao, its construction location, architectural style, and hall arrangement reflect the concentrated embodiment of Confucian ritual ideology in architecture. The temple’s grand and solemn halls feature rich content and orderly layout. The red walls and gray tiles resemble an imperial palace, vividly reflecting the Han people’s historical emphasis on Confucianism and education.

Rishengchang Draft Bank is located in the bustling section of West Street, known as the “No. 1 Financial Street of the Qing Dynasty,” in the Ancient City of Pingyao. Founded in 1823, it was China’s first draft bank and can be considered the country’s first bank. Its business outlets once covered nearly the entire nation. Today, Rishengchang has become a Chinese Draft Bank Museum, preserving some physical materials from its operations and showcasing the glorious history of ancient Chinese banking.

Xietongqing Draft Bank was established in 1856 on South Street in Pingyao. Its owners were the Nie Dian Wang family from Yuci and the Mi family from Wangzhi Village in Pingyao County. Xietongqing had five courtyards: the first included the Counting Room, General Accounting Room, and Interregional Accounting Room; the second had the Business Hall and Interregional Correspondence Room; the third contained the Management Room, Worship Room, and Manager’s Office; the fourth was the staff living area; and the fifth housed the vault.

The Pingyao County Government Office is located in the center of the ancient city. Initially built during the Northern Wei Dynasty and finalized in the Yuan, Ming, and Qing Dynasties, the earliest surviving structures date back to 1346 during the Yuan Zhizheng era, over 600 years ago. The entire office complex faces south and is symmetrically arranged along an axis, with a north-south axis over 200 meters long and an east-west width of over 100 meters, covering an area of more than 26,000 square meters. Following feudal etiquette, the layout is left for civil affairs and right for military, front for official duties and rear for residence, with six courtyards along the central axis.

Weishengchang Draft Bank was established in 1826 (the sixth year of the Daoguang reign) as the second of the “Wei”-prefixed Five United Banks that dominated China’s finance. It operated for 90 years until closing in 1916. Originally a silk and satin shop before becoming a draft bank under the Kangxi Emperor, Weishengchang had a history of over 200 years, predating Rishengchang by 90 years. Its first manager was Mao Hongyu, one of China’s Ten Famous Managers, and its owner was Hou Yinchang from Jiexiu, known as “Hou Million” and one of China’s Ten Wealthiest Men.

The Pingyao Market Tower’s original construction date is unknown, but it was renovated in 1688 during the 27th year of the Kangxi reign in the Qing Dynasty. Further repairs were made in 1757 (22nd year of Qianlong), 1813 (18th year of Jiaqing), 1870 (9th year of Tongzhi), 1905 (31st year of Guangxu), and 1911 (3rd year of Xuantong). The three-tiered wooden tower is 18 meters tall, with yellow and green glazed tile roofs and a hip-and-gable roof. The ground floor is three bays wide and deep, covering 133.4 square meters. The structure is square, with a passage running north-south and brick-and-stone platforms on the east and west, four corner pillars reaching the roof, and brick walls. There is one arched gate on each of the east and west sides.

Pingyao’s South Street was first established in 1856 during the Xianfeng era and closed in 1913 during the second year of the Republic of China, operating for 58 years. Also known as Ming-Qing Street, it has long been the most bustling commercial center in Pingyao, lined with Ming- and Qing-style architecture. In June 2009, South Street of the Ancient City of Pingyao, a World Cultural Heritage site, was selected as one of the first “China Historical and Cultural Streets.”

Hui Wulin is located on South Street in the Ancient City of Pingyao, covering a total area of 2,800 square meters with three courtyards. The complex primarily showcases the status of Chinese martial arts and the origins of Pingyao’s martial traditions. First, an understanding of the status of Chinese martial arts: with a long history, it is an essential component of traditional Chinese culture, a crystallization of wisdom from laboring people across generations for national defense and physical fitness. It is hailed as the “national art” or “national essence.” Martial arts are far more than just a sport—they integrate medicine, mechanics, literature, and art as a comprehensive science.

The former residence of Lei Lütai is where he lived and worked for over 20 years during the mid-to-late stages of his life. Built from the late Jiaqing to the early Daoguang periods of the Qing Dynasty, the residence faces south and consists of four independent yet interconnected courtyards: the East Courtyard, Middle Courtyard (commonly called the West Courtyard), East Side Courtyard, and West Side Courtyard. It covers an area of 3,888 square meters.

Yongqingxiang (China Rare Newspapers Exhibition Hall) is located at the original site of the Yongqingxiang merchant firm. The building retains the architectural style of the Ming and Qing periods, exuding an antique charm. The museum has 10 exhibition halls, including the Picture and Inscription Hall, Pingyao Hall, Shanxi Hall, Turn-of-the-Century Hall, Hong Kong-Macao Hall, and others.

Pingyao’s draft banks provide a multifaceted, multilevel, and multidimensional glimpse into the socio-economic and political landscape of late Qing and early Republican China. If Rishengchang, the first draft bank, stands as a model of innovation and management, and Xietongqing, with its respect for talent and knowledge, wrote its own glorious history, then the Wutaihou Draft Bank Museum reveals this truth: success in any endeavor hinges on strategy, management, and talent. It is precisely because the owners of Wutaihou adhered to these three elements that they, too, achieved a century of glory and historical significance.

The Ancient Residential Courtyard Expo Park is located at No. 18 West Street in the ancient city, on the former site of the "Weifenghou" Draft Bank. The courtyard faces five bays across and consists of two connected compounds—one in the north and one in the south—forming a large residence. The northern courtyard faces south and has its entrance on the street, representing a typical commercial-style quadrangle; the southern courtyard faces north with its gate hidden in a deep alley. It is composed of a "main house with two wings" and includes a backyard, making it a standard residential-style quadrangle. The north and south courtyards are connected by a narrow passageway. With high walls and deep residences, the layout is unique, the construction exquisite, and it is famed as the "Ingots Courtyard."

The Tongxinggong Escort Agency is located at No. 105 South Street in the ancient city of Pingyao. It was founded in the fifth year of the Xianfeng reign during the Qing Dynasty (1855) by Wang Zhengqing from Nanliangzhuang, Pingyao. The exhibition hall is a Ming Dynasty building that provides a comprehensive and systematic introduction to the entire history of the Tongxinggong Escort Agency—from its establishment and development to its closure—from the Xianfeng reign of the Qing Dynasty to the early years of the Republic of China. It also shares knowledge about martial arts escort agencies.

The Tianjixiang Museum is the only merchant museum in the ancient city of Pingyao. It was established by Mr. Cui Changming, chairman of the county's collectors association. In the past, merchant houses were places for trade and business. What you are visiting now is the former site of the most famous foreign goods trading firm in Pingyao over a hundred years ago—the Changshengwei Firm. Established in the 22nd year of the Guangxu reign (1896) and ceasing operations in 1917 (during the October Revolution), it lasted for 21 years. It changed its name twice, with previous identities as the Changshengyu and Changshengqing Foreign Goods Stores.

The China Escort Agency Museum is situated in the middle section of South Street in the ancient city of Pingyao. It faces east and covers a total area of several square meters. The museum’s 10 exhibition rooms use detailed and abundant physical materials to objectively and comprehensively present the historical facts regarding the emergence, management, and operational organization of the escort agency—a unique profession—revealing the special contributions made by these agencies to the circulation of goods in the later period of China’s feudal society.

Baichuantong was once one of China’s top ten draft banks. Founded in the 10th year of the Xianfeng reign during the Qing Dynasty (1860) and ceasing operations in the 7th year of the Republic of China (1918), its financial backers were the owners of the Qucun Estate in Qi County, led by Qu Yuanzhen. It mainly operated silk shops, money shops, and tea houses, accumulating substantial capital over half a century of commerce and earning a reputation as one of the Eight Wealthy Merchants of Shanxi. The name Baichuantong signifies the hope that “a hundred rivers flow to the sea, bringing endless wealth; success comes naturally, flowing continuously like a stream.”

The Pingyao City Wall has a long history and remains well-preserved. Legend says it was initially built during the reign of King Xuan of the Western Zhou Dynasty, Ji Jing, dating back over 2,700 years. At that time, it was a rather low wall. To meet military defense needs, it was expanded in the third year of the Hongwu reign of the Ming Dynasty (1370), reconstructed into the brick-and-stone wall seen today. Over the following 500-plus years of the Ming and Qing dynasties, it underwent 26 rounds of repairs and expansions, thus retaining the architectural style of those periods to this day.

Pingyao has six ancient city gates, two in the east and two in the west. Viewed from above, the ancient city resembles a turtle about to move, with its “head” facing south and “tail” north. The four gates on the east and west sides represent the turtle’s four legs, leading to the local saying of the “Turtle City.” Outside the southern gate, the ancient Zhongdu River once meandered by, prompting ancient literati to remark: “The turtle plays with water in front, mountains and rivers face the sunrise; the city is built here for this purpose.” The turtle symbolizes good fortune and longevity. The notion of the “Turtle City” stems from ancient worship of the “Four Spirits,” and it implies impregnability, lasting peace, and stability.

The southern gate is the main gate of the ancient city of Pingyao, officially named the Yingxun Gate. “Xun” means warm or hot, implying the welcoming of peace, beauty, joy, and good fortune.

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

Type: Ancient town/village — World Cultural Heritage

Rating: AAAAA

Recommended visiting time: 1–3 days

Phone: 0354-5690000

Opening hours:

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

Ticket information:

Free entry. The ancient city itself is free to enter, but visiting the scenic spots requires purchasing a joint ticket for 130 RMB, valid for three days. Teenagers and students aged 18 and under (inclusive) receive a 50% discount with valid ID; children under 1.2 meters, active-duty military personnel, people with disabilities, and seniors over 60 enjoy free entry with valid ID.

Gutao Town: The seat of the Pingyao County government. Located at the southern end of the Taiyuan Basin, it borders Qi County to the east, Wenshui to the north, Fenyang to the west, and Jiexiu to the southwest. The ancient city of Pingyao lies to the south of Qinyuan and is adjacent to Qin County and Wu Township to the southeast. It is the political, economic, and cultural center of the county, and the World Cultural Heritage site—the ancient city of Pingyao—is situated in the central part of our town. It is also one of the most dynamic and economically strong towns in Pingyao County. It borders Yebi Township and Duan Village Town to the south, Zhongdu Township to the west, Nanzheng Township to the north, and Yebi Township and Hongshan Town to the east. The Gutao Town government is located in Xicheng Village and administers Dongcheng, Xicheng, Nancheng... Detailed information on Gutao Town++

Further reading:

·2020 Top 100 Historic Sites-themed Scenic Area Brands List

·The 28th Batch of National 5A-level Tourist Attractions (July 2015)