Atlas of China
Pingyao Ancient City 平遥古城Píngyáo Gǔchéng
An intact Ming walled town of courtyard inns, where China's first draft banks were born
- Best time
- Apr–May, Sep–Oct
- Time needed
- 1–2 days
- Days to budget
- 1½ days
- Stay in
- Pingyao
- Region
- Shanxi
- Type
- Heritage
- Listed as
- 5A scenic area, National heritage site, UNESCO World Heritage
Why go to Pingyao Ancient City
Pingyao is one of the best-preserved walled towns in China: a grid of grey-brick courtyard houses, temples, shopfronts and old banking halls enclosed by a Ming-dynasty wall more than 6 km around. Stay overnight in a courtyard inn, walk the ramparts at sunset and explore the back lanes after the day-trippers have gone.
The story
In the 19th century Pingyao's merchants ran the piaohao, draft banks that moved silver across the Qing empire on paper. Rishengchang, founded around 1823 and often called China's first bank, now opens its old counting rooms as a museum.
What to see at Pingyao Ancient City
- South Street 南大街: The central axis of the walled town, lined with old shopfronts and trading houses that once handled a large share of the empire's finance. It is the natural place to start.
- Market Tower 市楼: A tower at the centre of the walled town; the tableaux of painted clay opera figures were once displayed in its passages at New Year.
- Rishengchang Draft Bank 日升昌票号: The headquarters of the draft bank founded in the Daoguang reign, whose slogan promised to remit money across the empire. Its counting rooms, vaults and ledgers show how silver moved on paper.
- County Yamen 平遥县署: The old county government compound on the west side of town, with its courtrooms and offices laid out on a ceremonial axis.
- City Wall 平遥城墙: The 1370 Ming wall has six barbican gates, four corner towers and 72 watchtowers, and its top gives a view over the grey roofs of the courtyards.
How to visit Pingyao Ancient City
The streets are open to wander, while the walls, banks, yamen and temples are entered on the combined ticket. Walk north along South Street to the Market Tower, then branch to West Street for Rishengchang and to the county yamen; the City God Temple lies on the east side. Climb the wall for an overview of the lanes and, with a second day, add Shuanglin and Zhenguo temples outside the walls.
How to get to Pingyao Ancient City
Pingyao Gucheng station, on the high-speed line between Taiyuan and Xi'an, is a short taxi or electric-cart ride from the walls; Taiyuan is under an hour away.
Where to stay
Sleep inside the walls in a courtyard guesthouse, most of which are converted old family homes, so that you can walk the lanes and the ramparts early and in the evening.
What to eat
- Pingyao beef 平遥牛肉: Calf leg boiled and cured until tender, sold in nearly every restaurant and as vacuum packs to take home.
- Wantuo 碗托: A century-old Pingyao noodle snack of firm, slippery gelled batter, eaten cold with a dipping sauce in summer or stir-fried in winter.
- Fried sweet cake 泡泡油糕: A fried cake filled with date paste or red-bean paste, golden outside and soft within; locals eat it at festivals and when guests come.
Tips for visiting Pingyao Ancient City
- Stay inside the walls in a converted courtyard house to see the town early and late.
- The combined ticket covers the walls and many temples and museums, and is valid for several days.
- Keep an ear out for near-silent electric scooters and carts in the narrow lanes.
Nearby
- Shuanglin Temple 双林寺 under 10 km
Some 2,000 painted clay Buddhas, saints and guardians crowded into ten temple halls - Qiao Family Compound 乔家大院 30 km
Walled courtyards of a Qing merchant-banking family, the set for Raise the Red Lantern - Mount Mian 绵山 40 km
Cliff temples, plank walkways and gorges on the mountain of the Cold Food legend - Wang Family Compound 王家大院 40 km
Fortified courtyard 'castles' of a Qing merchant and official clan on a loess hillside - Jinci Temple 晋祠 60 km
Song-dynasty halls, painted clay maidservants and a cross-shaped bridge at the Jin springs - Shanxi Museum 山西博物院 80 km
Bronzes of the ancient state of Jin, Buddhist statues and tomb treasures on the Fen River
Also within 30 km: Pingyao Market Tower (Shilou) 平遥市楼 (under 10 km), Former Residence of Lei Lütai 雷履泰旧居 (under 10 km), Rishengchang 日升昌票号旧址 (under 10 km), City God Temple, Pingyao 平遥城隍庙 (under 10 km), Pingyao Confucian Temple 平遥文庙 (under 10 km), Qingxu Temple, Pingyao 清虚观 (under 10 km).
Trips with Pingyao Ancient City
- North China’s heritage line: Beijing, Datong, Pingyao and Xi’an 9 days · Beijing, Datong, Pingyao and Xi'an
On the map
Open Pingyao Ancient City on the illustrated map to see the terrain around it, what else is close, and to add it to a trip and plan the days.
Open Pingyao Ancient City on the map