Pingyao Ancient City

Shanxi Pingyao Ancient City is a timeless marvel nestled in the heart of China. 🇨🇳 With a history dating back more than 2800 years to the Zhou Xuan Wang period, this ancient city stands as a testament to China's rich cultural heritage and architectural legacy. 🏰 Enclosed within its well-preserved walls, Pingyao Ancient City offers visitors a captivating journey through time. Stepping onto its cobblestone streets feels like entering a living museum, where ancient traditions blend seamlessly with modern life. 🕰️ The city's imposing walls, adorned with watchtowers and gatehouses, evoke a sense of grandeur and strength, showcasing the architectural prowess of its builders. Climbing these walls provides a panoramic view of the cityscape, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the timeless beauty of Pingyao. 🌆 Within the city's confines, narrow alleyways wind their way past traditional courtyard homes, ancient temples, and bustling market squares. Each corner holds a story, each building whispers tales of bygone eras, offering a glimpse into the daily lives of generations past. 🏘️ Pingyao Ancient City is not merely a relic of the past; it is a vibrant community where history and modernity converge. While preserving its cultural heritage, the city has also embraced tourism, welcoming visitors from around the world to explore its treasures and experience its charm. 🌟 For those seeking to immerse themselves in China's rich history and culture, a visit to Shanxi Pingyao Ancient City is an unforgettable journey through the annals of time. #PingyaoAncientCity #ChinaHeritage #HistoricalWonders #CulturalJourney

The Ancient City of Pingyao, standing on the Loess Plateau in Shanxi, is one of the most well-preserved ancient cities in China. After more than 2800 years of history, the 2.25 square kilometers ancient city houses over 300 cultural relics and nearly 4000 traditional buildings. Within the ancient city of blue bricks and black tiles, a large amount of traditional culture is actively passed down in daily life. In 1997, it pioneered China's inclusion of an entire ancient city into the World Cultural Heritage list.

It was founded during the reign of King Xuan of Zhou😎, and has a long history of more than 2800 years👏. The entire ancient city is composed of city walls, shops, streets, temples, and residential houses, forming a vast and magnificent architectural complex🤩. Its overall layout strictly follows the Bagua orientation🧐, ingeniously forming a Bagua pattern with four main streets, eight small alleys, and seventy-two winding lanes👀, while the South Street, East Street, West Street, Yamen Street, and Chenghuang Temple Street form a unique 'T'-shaped commercial street😜. Standing on the ancient city walls👣, accompanied by the beautiful sunset in the evening🌇, one can overlook the magnificent panorama of the entire ancient city🧐, as if traveling through a thousand years of time in an instant😍! The city walls are towering and majestic😃, witnessing the vicissitudes of time👀; the streets are narrow and winding😄, filled with an ancient charm🤓; the residential houses are well-arranged😉, displaying a unique architectural style🤗. Pingyao Ancient City🤝, is not only an architectural complex with profound historical significance🤜, but also a brilliant treasure of Chinese culture🤛. It carries the wisdom and emotions of people over thousands of years😇, showcasing the glory and heritage of the Chinese nation to the world🤝!

Highlights of the trip Datong Ancient City Wall: Stroll on the ancient city wall and feel the accumulation of history. 🗿 Yungang Grottoes: A treasure of Buddhist art, breathtaking. ⛩️ Huayan Temple: Quiet and peaceful, purifying the soul. 🐲 Nine Dragon Wall: Feel the charm of Chinese traditional culture. ⛩️ Shanhua Temple: An ancient temple, a good place for blessings. 🌁 Hanging Temple: Thrilling and breathtaking. ⛰️ North Hengshan: Climb high and look into the distance, feeling relaxed and happy. Ying County Wooden Pagoda: A thousand-year-old pagoda with a long history. ⛩️ Jingtuzi Temple: Quiet and peaceful, purifying the soul. 🏺 Datong Old Street: Stroll around the specialty shops and taste local snacks. 🏮 Pingyao Ancient City: Antique, as if traveling through time and space. Average consumption Datong-Pingyao tour, the average budget is about 500 yuan. Among them, the ticket cost is about 300 yuan, the transportation cost is about 100 yuan, and the dining cost is about 100 yuan. 🍽️🍽️Food recommendation🍽️🍽️ Yellow rice cake, Shumai: Kaige Restaurant, average consumption is about 50 yuan. Specialty noodles: Dongfang Shuomian, average consumption is about 20 yuan. 🥟 Snowflake Shumai: Longjuxiang Shumai Restaurant, average consumption is about 30 yuan. Special snacks, lamb miscellaneous powder: Hunyuan Liangfen, Flavor Powder Lamb Miscellaneous, average consumption is about 25 yuan. In summary, the Datong-Pingyao tour is a journey full of historical and cultural atmosphere, which is unforgettable.

Shanxi Pingyao Ancient City, which has endured more than two thousand years of vicissitudes, the architectural style and market life of the Ming and Qing dynasties, walking through the ancient streets and alleys, the years are peaceful, as if a cup of aged wine, exuding a rich Shanxi charm. Of course, the commercialization here is also very serious, with tourists everywhere, but if you like the history, ancient architecture, and snacks of Shanxi, then Pingyao Ancient City is still and definitely worth it. - 🚉How to get to Pingyao There are Pingyao Ancient City Station (high-speed rail station) and Pingyao Station, Pingyao Station is very close to Pingyao Ancient City, about a 10-minute walk; Pingyao Ancient City Station is about 6 kilometers from Pingyao Ancient City, you can take a taxi or bus route 108. - 📷Recommended travel route Enter from the South Gate➡️Nan Dajie➡️Wenmiao (Confucian Temple)➡️Chenghuang Temple➡️Pingyao County Office➡️Biaoju Museum (Escort Agency Museum)➡️Shilou (City Tower)➡️Majia Courtyard➡️Qingxu Guan (Taoist Temple)➡️Rishengchang Piaohao➡️Climb the city wall at Xi Xi Men➡️Descend the wall at Yingxun Gate➡️Exit from the South Gate. The ancient city is very crowded with tourists during the day and at night, walking is very crowded, but before 7:30 in the morning, there are few tourists in the streets and alleys, which is comfortable to walk around and convenient for taking photos. - 🎫No ticket is required to enter or exit Pingyao Ancient City To visit the 22 scenic spots inside the ancient city, you need to buy a ticket, which costs 125 yuan per person. The spots are crowded with tour groups, which is not a great experience. On the contrary, I really like to walk slowly in the ancient city. 'Again Seeing Pingyao' is a must-visit theater performance when coming to Pingyao Ancient City, and if time permits, it should not be missed. The theater is located outside the west city wall of Pingyao Ancient City. - ⭐️Pingyao Ancient City Scenic Spot Check-in ♦️Ancient City Wall, the time mark of Pingyao Ancient City, climbing the city tower to watch the sunset is very nice. ♦️Majia Courtyard, once the residence of the head of Pingyao, with Ming and Qing architectural styles, great for photography, and you can also overlook the entire Pingyao. ♦️Rishengchang Piaohao, the ancestor of Chinese banks, with a gold vault, silver vault, and even a secret passage. ♦️Pingyao County Government Office, originally built during the Northern Wei Dynasty, with a six-entry courtyard and more than two hundred rooms, it is like a miniature version of the imperial palace. ♦️Confucian Temple, originally built in the early years of the Tang Dynasty's Zhenguan period, it is the earliest surviving Confucian temple. ♦️Qingxu Guan, originally built during the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty, contains buildings such as the Hall of the Three Purities, Jade Emperor Pavilion, and Hall of the Three Officials. - 🍭There are many delicious snacks in Pingyao Ancient City ✅Pingyao Beef✅Pingyao Bowl Coaster✅Knife-Cut Noodles✅Youmian Kaolao ✅Shanxi Guoyou Meat✅Bubble Oil Cake✅Changshanyao (Chinese Yam)✅Tofu Brain ✅Shuijianbao (Water-Fried Buns)✅Cat Ears✅Sea Buckthorn Juice✅Red Noodle Paste ✅Herb Meat✅Cao Family Smoked Meat.

Pingyao Ancient City is located on Kangning Road in Pingyao County, Jinzhong City, Shanxi Province, situated in the central part of Shanxi Province, about 85 kilometers away from Taiyuan City. It is one of the most well-preserved ancient county towns in China. Pingyao Ancient City consists of a large architectural complex that includes city walls, shops, streets, temples, and residential houses, all arranged in a symmetrical layout. The ancient city has six gates. There is no admission fee to enter the ancient city, but individual tickets are required to visit the small attractions within the city, or a through ticket can be purchased. The ancient city is not very large and can be explored on foot. For those who have difficulty walking, electric carts are available. Main attractions: Pingyao City Wall, Pingyao County Government Office, Pingyao Confucian Temple, Pingyao City Tower, Lei Lvtai's Former Residence, Rishengchang Former Site, Baichuan Tong Former Site, Qingxu Guan, Weitai Hou's Former Residence, City God Temple, Huiji Bridge, Zhenguo Temple, Shuanglin Temple, Tianjixiang Museum, Ancient Residential Expo Garden, China Chamber of Commerce Museum, Rare Newspaper Exhibition Hall, Baichuan Tong Jin Merchant Museum, Pingyao Martial Arts Exhibition Hall, Xietongqing Money Exchange Museum, Tongxinggong Armed Escort Agency Museum, etc. Pingyao cuisine: Pingyao beef, Shanxi handmade vinegar, Pingyao bowl stands, red noodle paste, etc.

🧡Pingyao, this ancient city with a history of more than 2800 years, is like a thick history book📕. Each page tells a story of the past🏮, and every corner exudes an ancient charm. 👣Walking on the bluestone streets of the ancient city, it feels like traveling back in time. Since you're here, of course, you should play the role of a Jin merchant's young lady~ There are photo studios everywhere in the ancient city🏮, where you can change into costume immediately, which is quite convenient~ On snowy❄️ days, whether you're in the alleys or stepping into👣 ancient houses, touching those bricks and stones that have withstood the test of time🧱, you can feel the sediment of the years🕐, and everything becomes so peaceful and beautiful. In the Pingyao County Government Office, I also met a lovely big orange cat🐱 that was playing in the❄️ snow. It's not afraid of strangers at all and will even come up to you for cuddles, which is quite adorable☺️ 📝There are many attractions in the ancient city of Pingyao, and the following essence route can be referred to, hoping to be of help to you~ 💕Start from the South Gate of the ancient city wall of Pingyao, walk north along South Street, passing by attractions such as the City Tower and Xietongqing Money Exchange Museum. 💕Continue north to visit the Pingyao County Government Office. 💕Then turn to the west side of West Street to tour the former site of Rishengchang Piaohao.

Taking advantage of the break, I went on a tour of ancient Shanxi architecture🌿 This is a special feature on Pingyao, where I'll tell you about the sightseeing and dining route, as well as tips for purchasing tickets and watching the show 'Once Again Pingyao'🌵 【Tickets🎫】 ① Available for purchase on all major platforms, 125 yuan per person ② Free admission for those aged 60 and above, just swipe your ID card for free entry‼️ Let me tell you a secret, if you're just a few months shy of 60, you can also get in for free, I've tested it myself🤫 ③ Ancient city attractions opening hours: 8:00-18:00, friends take note of the time! 【Tour Route】 West Gate→Majia Courtyard→the entire South Street (including Rishengchang, City Tower, Xietongqing, Escort Agency...)→City God Temple→Confucian Temple→County Government Office to watch the 15:30 court session performance→Dinner on South Street→19:30 'Once Again Pingyao' theater 【Must-Visit Attractions🌸】 ①Majia Courtyard | A niche spot for photography📸 Climb up to the viewing platform to overlook the entire Pingyao ②Rishengchang Piaohao | The ancestor of the Bank of China, with a gold vault, silver vault, and even a secret passage🙈 ③Pingyao County Government Office | With a history of 600 years, it's the largest existing one in the country👍🏻 ④Tongxinggong Escort Agency | Founded by the nationally renowned master Wang Zhengqing in 1855, 'Once Again Pingyao' also tells the story of escorting valuables💖 ⑤Confucian Temple | A school for worshipping Confucius throughout the dynasties🏫, suitable for taking children to experience, it's the only Confucian temple from the Song Dynasty in the country❗ ⑥City Tower | You'll see it as you walk along👀 【County Government Office Court Session Times】 Weekday performance times: 9:30, 11:00, 15:30 An additional session on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays: 16:50 ❗For those who enter in the morning, you can first visit the City God Temple and Confucian Temple, then head back to the County Government Office, just in time for the 15:30 session. After watching the performance, head to South Street for dinner, and then catch the 7:30 show of 'Once Again Pingyao' 【Once Again Pingyao】(Highly recommended🧡) ①Tickets 238 yuan per person, a must-see❗ ②Performance times: 14:00-15:30, 19:00-20:30 ③It's an immersive theater experience, where you're not just a tourist, but also an extra😍 There's a lot of NPC interaction, and the actors are fantastic ④Important‼️ Important‼️ Important‼️ There will be 2 waves of entry at the start, make sure to enter in the second wave❗ Because those in the second wave get to choose seats first There's no need to crowd into the theater, you can see clearly from any position, and if you want to get closer to the performance, you can move towards the front of the stage 【Delicacies🍜】 ①I ate at the 'People in the North' restaurant, the taste was very good, and there was a group discount, with free tea oil🍵 ②'People in the North' and 'Mother's Vinegar Workshop' are the same establishment, and you can get discounts at both ③🍝 Bowl holders, Pingyao beef, sweet and sour meatballs, long dragon eggplant, yellow rice cake, beef kaolao, fragrant vinegar eggs, various vinegar braised pots, tea oil...

✅Must Experience: Pingyao Ancient City does not charge an entrance fee, but there is a charge for the small attractions within the city, which can all be visited with one through ticket. Recommended attractions include the Ancient City Wall, County Government Office, Rishengchang, Confucian Temple, City God Temple, and the China Escort Agency. 🚉Transportation Tips: Cars are not allowed inside the ancient city, and electric carts are the main mode of transportation. 🏨Hotel Recommendation: Xingshengjiu Inn is recommended, priced at less than two hundred, you can stay in a century-old house, including breakfast and free shuttle service. The inn offers picturesque views at every turn, and the rooms are designed with an antique charm, making for a warm and comfortable stay. 🍽Dining Recommendations: There are also many delicacies in Pingyao Ancient City, such as Pingyao beef, Pingyao bowl truss, Pingyao tofu brain, etc. 🌟Highlights: In Pingyao Ancient City, time seems to flow backward, and the years settle here. Each stone slab tells an ancient story; each ancient building carries the weight of history. Stepping into this ancient city is like entering a yellowed scroll. The towering city walls surround the sleeping past. The ancient streets wind and twist, like the veins of time. The ancient streets of Pingyao Ancient City are filled with a strong sense of life. The shops along the street, with a dazzling array of handicrafts, make one feel as if they have traveled back to the prosperous ancient times. As night falls, the ancient city is brilliantly lit. The light of the lanterns, warm and peaceful, adds a touch of mystery to this ancient city. In Pingyao Ancient City, you can feel the sediment of time, the charm of history. Every plant, every brick and tile here exudes a unique charm. It is not just a city, but an epic, an ancient melody, waiting for you to listen, to perceive.

💢Away from home, choose a new place to spend the Spring Festival. ❗️The New Year's Eve dinner in a foreign land has a strange taste, but it has the warmth of home. ❗️Looking for local temple fairs and traditional activities, immersed in the joy of different cultures. ❗️On the streets of a foreign land, we set off fireworks together, taste local delicacies, and feel the unique atmosphere of the New Year. ❗️Change a place, the laughter of the family is still the warmest melody, making the Spring Festival not only a moment of reunion, but also a wonderful moment of discovery and sharing. 💢Destination recommendation First: Visit Langzhong, the origin of the Spring Festival: 📌This is an ancient city with a long history, bathed in the light of a thousand years. 📌The Jialing River is gurgling, carrying the story of the years. 📌The stone slab streets extend like a time tunnel, witnessing the alternation of princes and generals. 📌The ancient city wall stands tall, watching the changes of history. 📌Langzhong Temple Fair, shows the rich folk culture, the annual worship established the root of the Spring Festival. 📌Here, ancient porcelain, bluestone lanes, traditional buildings interweave into a historical scroll, immersing people in the long river of time. 📌Langzhong, not only a city, but also a witness of time, an ancient land, carrying countless springs and autumns. Second: Walk into Pingyao Ancient City through the long river of history: 🚩Spend a Chinese New Year in Pingyao Ancient City. Under the old city wall, red lanterns hang high, and the old streets are filled with traditional New Year flavors. 🚩The lights of the ancient city are dim, fireworks bloom, and the old wooden window lattices are filled with warm light. 🚩Walking in the bluestone alley, I heard the old New Year music and saw the red lanterns. 🚩At the end of the street, every household is decorated with lights and colors, emitting beautiful wishes. 🚩In this ancient city, spend reunion time with loved ones, feel the warmth of the years, and travel through the long river of time. Third: Spend a warm and romantic Chinese New Year in Sanya, Hainan: 📍Spend the New Year in Sanya, Hainan, where the sun is shining and the coconut breeze is blowing. 📍The family gathers in a tropical paradise, and laughter echoes on the beach. 📍A rich tropical seafood New Year's Eve dinner, delicious. 📍Bathing in the coconut grove, feeling the southern style. 📍When night falls, the lights are brilliant, the fireworks of Sanya Bay are dazzling, and the fireworks in the sky reflect happy smiles. 📍The joy of family reunion is integrated into the favor of nature, becoming the warmest moment of the year. 📍On this hot land, we welcome the New Year and leave a full sense of home and country. Fourth: Spend a different Chinese New Year in Altay, Xinjiang: ✅Spend a different Chinese New Year in Altay, Xinjiang, with the unique Kazakh horse riding music in the cold wind. ✅On the snow-covered plateau, the sheep pass leisurely, and the Xinjiang folk colors float in the air. ✅The family sits in the warm felt room, enjoys the delicious roasted whole sheep, and spends reunion time. ✅When night falls, the starry sky is brilliant, and traditional ballads are sung around the bonfire. ✅The New Year's flavor of Xinjiang is the strong aroma of milk tea, the quietness and peace of the snow field. ✅On this vast and beautiful land, have a unique Chinese New Year, and it becomes an unforgettable journey. Have you thought about where to go for this Spring Festival?

✅ I made plans with my bestie to go to Pingyao this weekend to take a set of photos unique to Shanxi's Jin Merchant mansions. After doing some research online, we set off. Many sisters mentioned Xitang Travel Photography, so I booked a package for 298 yuan, which includes retouching of six photos, makeup and photography, and it felt like a good deal. ✅ The studio was easy to find. After leaving the train station, I entered from the Lower West Gate of the ancient city and walked straight for about 12 minutes to get there. Sisters who can't find it can locate Rishengchang, and Xitang Travel Photography is right across from Rishengchang (after the shoot, you can go to the scenic spots in costume to take pictures, which feels more atmospheric). ✅ There were many Jin Merchant costumes in the store, not just Jin Merchant clothing, but I also saw ethnic styles and many hairpins that are popular recently. I suggest that sisters choose bright colors for their clothes to create a stark contrast with the ancient houses, which makes for great photos! ✅ The makeup took about twenty minutes to complete. A young lady did my makeup, and I felt her aesthetic sense was very much on point. She helped match the jewelry with the color scheme of my clothes, which was very considerate~ Another important point! False eyelashes! They really enlarge the eyes, and if you have your own favorite style, you can bring it~ ✅ For the post-production, I chose 6 photos to be retouched. Overall, I felt the retouching was very detailed, and I was satisfied that they didn't blindly slim down the photos, retaining the original feel. If you want a more dramatic effect, you need to communicate with the editor, but they are generally accommodating. - 🌟 Little tips: ① To avoid crowds, go early. The number of people starts to increase around noon, and if you want to take street scenes, there will inevitably be passersby in the shots. ② Some spots along Nanda Street included in the ancient city pass are suitable for taking photos (the City Tower is very photogenic). ③ Personally, I think the most photogenic spot is the Ma Family Courtyard, which looks especially beautiful in photos. When I went there, I also saw many 'young mistresses'.

🌟Today I bring you a detailed Pingyao travel guide! I hope it can help friends who are about to come to Pingyao Ancient City. If you plan to come to Pingyao Ancient City in the near future, hurry up and collect it! 💥Preparation before departure 📸Electrical appliances: necessary equipment such as cameras, selfie sticks, chargers, spare batteries, etc. 📄Documents: necessary documents such as ID cards, student cards, driver's licenses, etc. 👗Clothing: Bring cotton clothes, down jackets, and prepare a thick piece of clothing. 🎒Personal items: necessary items such as toiletries, cosmetics, etc. 💰Accommodation cost in Pingyao Ancient City 🌟You can choose to stay in a homestay in the ancient city, which is more convenient for travel, and you can also experience the unique charm of the ancient city. I stayed in a separate courtyard homestay located in the center of the ancient city, with a beautiful and comfortable environment, and it is convenient for travel. 🚍How to get to Pingyao Ancient City ✈By plane: first to Taiyuan Wusu Airport, then transfer to train or high-speed rail to Pingyao. 🚄By high-speed rail: Arrive at Pingyao Ancient City Station, you can take a bus to the vicinity of the ancient city after getting off the bus. 🚃By train: After getting off the train, you only need to walk a short distance to reach the west gate of the ancient city. 🚘Self-driving tour: Vehicles cannot enter the ancient city, it is recommended to park in the parking lot outside the ancient city. 🍽Taste the food of Pingyao Ancient City 🍔There are many foods to choose from in the ancient city. You can choose to dine in the city, or you can go to the food street outside the ancient city to experience different tastes. If you want to taste snacks, the snack street outside the west gate of the ancient city is recommended. 💛Pay attention when ordering, you can ask the waiter if the portion is large, because some dishes are quite generous. 📸Looking for a good place to take pictures 🔥In the ancient city, there are many suddenly popular travel photography shops, but be careful to step on the thunder! Walk around a few more, compare more, what suits you is the best.