Ask a QuestionWhat are the Best Places to Visit in Pingyao? As one of the most famous and well-preserved ancient towns in China, Pingyao is important merchant center during the ancient times, and therefore, it renowned for its unique antique architectures that built hundreds years ago. Where to visit in Pingyao? Travel with us, you will have chance to enjoy a leisure stroll along the bluestone alleys, to memorize and experience the glory of the past.
Situated in the mid-east part of Shanxi Province, Pingyao Ancient City, with a history of over 2,700-year old, is the best preserved wall-city in China. It is a peaceful city as well that well kept the architectural aesthetics of Chinese traditional buildings. It is distinguished from other places in China in that it has well preserved its architecture and urban layout of China’s Ming and Qing styles, earning it a place on the UNESCO world heritage list.
Ancient City Wall is one of "Three Treasures" of Pingyao, the other two being Zhenguo Temple and Shuanglin Temple. This city wall enjoys the longest history compared with the others across China and remains almost intact.
Pingyao is not only famous for its antiquity, but also for being the merchant center with the nation’s earliest bank established in the 19th century, and furthermore it was once served as the financial center of the Qing government.
Recommended Attractions: Ming Qing Street, Rishengchang Exchange Shop
Located 20km north of Pingyao, Qiao’s Courtyard used to be home of a powerful trading family with significant commercial influence even beyond Shanxi, as they were in the trade sector, a nationwide business.
The compound is fortified behind a 10m high wall with battlements. The total amount of buildings was 60 courtyards, ten large courtyards, 19 courtyards, totaling 313 rooms. From the bird-eye view, the layout is in the shape of a Chinese character -double happiness and selected from mould of castle. Inside the close brick wall, each two courtyards are linked tightly and each two rooms are like fish scales and comb teeth. Six buildings are divided into two by corridors. There are numerous courtyards and gardens in courtyards.
Wang’s Courtyard, located 35 km from the Pingyao Ancient City, which is the former private residence of Wang Lan and is four times larger than Qiao’s Courtyard, with 54 courtyards and 1,052 rooms. Thus the Wang’s Courtyard that acclaimed as the "First Folk Residence in Cathay", is the largest-existing folk residence cluster in China.
The whole construction took more than half a century to build and is located on a hilly area. This rambling complex is a model of the merchant family's residence in North China Shanxi Province, demonstrating the quintessence of Chinese architectural art and cultural values. This luxurious residence covers about 45,000 square meters with 123 compounds and 1,118 rooms and took about half a century (1762-1811) to build.
Zhangbi Ancient Castle is located in Zhangbi Village, which is about 10 km southeastward to Jiexiu City. The village is back against Mianshan and facing green fields with the altitude of 1040 meters. The ancient castle is built depending on the topography. The south part is higher than north part. Overlooking from the North Fort, you will find there is a groove extending downward on left, center and right respectively.
The tunnels are found everywhere under the castle, extending in all directions. There are three floors underground. the top layer of the tunnels is just 1 meters under ground. The middle one is about 8-10 meters from the ground. The bottom one is about 17-20 meters under ground. The tunnels are 2 meter high, 1.5 meter wide, of soil structure. They are blending under the castle of reticular structure. It is one of the existing best-preserved ancient fortresses, combining military defense, housing, production and religion in China.
It is easy to take direct bus from Jiexiu Railway Station to Zhangbi Ancient Castle.
Changs is the leader family in the Shanxi Merchants. From Qing emperor Kangxi to Emperor Guanxu, Chang Family Compound was built and extended in the past 200 years, includig south-north street and east-west street. The building stand on both sides row upon row, which looks spectacular. There are dozens of buildings and thousands of houses in Chang Family Compound at that time. It is said that that Qiaos have a courtyard, well Changs have two streets.
The Chang Family Compound open for tourists are only one fifth of the largest size in the history, but it still look large. When you visit in this courtyard, you will find it not a private manor, but a town. It is very easy to visit Chang Family Compound. Tourists get into the scenic area from the Northeast entrance, you will find a street in front of you. The major attractions of the courtyard are just on both sides of the street, such as Chang’s Ancestral Hall, Exhibition Hall of Chinese Civilization, Chang’s History Museum, ect. There is a lake (Zhaoyu Lake) behind the major buildings, which enhances the attraction of this northern manor. There are three highlights of Chang Family Compound: the wooden structure archway in the middle of the courtyard; there are gardens and vegetable gardens after most courtyards, connected with the courtyard with small door. The gardens look like southern gardens; The painting art on the brick carving, wood carving, stone carving and wooden structures which are seen everywhere in each courtyard.
Except tourists visit, Chang Family Compound is also an important film base, in which there are nearly 30 TV series are shot.
Shuanglin Temple is an ancient temple listed as World Heritage with Pingyao Ancient Town, Zhengguo Temple, ect, It is hard to verify when it was built, but it was re-built in 571 AD. The whole buildings in Shuanglin Temple are from Ming Dynasty or Qing Dynasty. Besides, There are more than 2, 000 painted clay statues existing in the temple, which are made in Song, Yuan, Ming, Qing dynasties.
Shuanglin Temple complex is divided into east part and west part. The temple visited by tourists is mainly located in west part. There are three courtyards on the axis, consisting of 10 halls. The Buddha Hall and Buddhism scriptures are both in the east part.
It is always amazing to visit Shuanglin Temple. The 3-meter Four Guardian Warriors in the Hall of Heavenly Kings are tall and mighty. The mural paintings on the walls of Sakya Hall show the Sakyamuni’s life. The Avalokitesvara in Thousand Buddhas Hall looks peaceful, charming and natural.
In addition, there are many mural paintings of Ming dynasty remained on the eave walls of Thousand Buddha Hall and Buddha Hall. There are Bell Tower and Drum Tower on the both sides of Sakya Hall.
More famous attractions in Pingyao please click Pingyao Attractions
Highly Recommended Tours: Pingyao Tours
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