Pingyao Travel Guide: Plan a Cultural Trip to Explore the Thousand-Year-Old Ancient City
Located in the central part of Shanxi Province, China, Pingyao, also known as Pingtao, is an ancient county-level city under the administration of Jinzhong City. It has remarkably preserved Ming and Qing architecture and is considered one of the “Four Best Preserved Ancient Cities” in China, along with Lijiang Ancient City in Yunnan, Langzhong Ancient City in Sichuan, and Shexian Ancient City in Anhui.
Pingyao City features a unique traffic network, which is composed of four main streets, eight smaller streets, and seventy-two lanes. Once a thriving financial center, it has over 300 historical sites, such as China’s first modern bank named Rishengchang Draft Bank, the oriental treasure house which is Shuanglin Temple, and Wang’s Courtyard with traditional architecture.
Chinese: 平遥 píng yáo
Location: Central Shanxi
Population (urban area): 448,000
Why Visit Pingyao?
- Architectural Marvel: Pingyao offers a great chance to experience the authentic layout and style of traditional Han Chinese architecture with a history spanning over 2,700 years and is remarkably well-preserved from the Ming and Qing dynasties.
- Rich Financial History: Pingyao has a splendid financial history, which can be seen from the Rishengchang Draft Bank, the first modern bank in China, and the South Street, also known as China’s Wall Street, where many banks and merchants operated.
- Artistic and Cultural Heritage: Pingyao greets visitors with valued artistic and cultural heritage, including the Shuanglin Temple, Zhenguo Temple, Wang’s Courtyard, and more.
- Delicious Food: Famous for its Shanxi flavor food, Pingyao treats visitors to many delectable dishes like Pingyao beef, noodles, vinegar, and a variety of snacks famous for their distinct flavors, which are must-try on your Shanxi tours.
Top Attractions in Pingyao
Top Things to Do in Pingyao
Explore the Ancient City Wall
Being the best-preserved city wall in China, Pingyao Ancient City Wall is grand in scale and it shows the excellence of ancient military defense and architectural techniques. It is roughly square in shape, with a length of 6.2 kilometers, consisting of the wall body, horse faces, horse-blocking walls, crenellations, city gates, and gate towers. Take a stroll along the City Wall of Pingyao, which is a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site, and you’ll be amazed by this architectural marvel.
Visit the Rishengchang Draft Bank
Established in the fourth year of the Daoguang reign (1824), Rishengchang in Pingyao is the first draft bank in China. Over a century of ups and downs, it achieved remarkable success, leading the nation’s financial industry. The former site of Rishengchang has now been transformed into the China Draft Bank Museum. Here, you can experience the past century and more of financial history.
Admire the Traditional Architecture
Pingyao has preserved many uniquely characteristic ancient buildings, among which residential architecture is especially distinctive. For instance, there are many grand-scale Jin Merchant Courtyards, such as the Wang’s Family Courtyard, the Ma’s Family Courtyard, and Lee’s Family Courtyard. Besides, the Ming and Qing Dynasties Street is also worth visiting. Lined on both sides with high, adjoining roofs, there are 78 ancient shops densely packed along the street.
Discover the Shuanglin Temple
Visiting the Shuanglin Temple of Pingyao and admiring the collection of more than 2,000 painted clay sculptures must be a meaningful thing to do during your Pingyao tours. Included in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List, it is a typical Sinicized Buddhist temple known for its exquisite colored sculptures, earning it the title of the “Treasure House of Oriental Colored Sculpture Art.”
Sample Delicious Local Cuisine
Pingyao is heaven for food enthusiasts because of its diverse and unique local delicacies of Shanxi flavors. Pingyao Beef, Puffed Oil Cake, and Hehe Rice are must-try food on your Pingyao tours. Besides, you can enjoy the long-standing fried chicken on West Street, explore a variety of local snacks outside the West Gate, and taste traditional Jin dishes such as vinegar pork and braised chicken at Hongwuji.
Read more about the Top Things to Do in Pingyao
Pingyao Weather & Best Time to Visit
Pingyao of Shanxi has a temperate continental monsoon climate characterized by four distinct seasons. The annual average temperature is 10.60°C, with an average temperature of 24.50°C in the hottest month of July and -5°C in the coldest month of January. Besides, the annual rainfall is about 415.9 mm, usually concentrated from July to September.
The best time to visit Pingyao is in autumn from September to November, during which the climate is pleasant for touring and outdoor activities. What’s more, Winter, though cold, is also a good time for visitors to enjoy the snow-covered ancient city and experience the local customs.
Pingyao Hotels
Most Pingyao hotels are transformed from local residences with the Ming and Qing styles, which are in great demand, so book a hotel for your trip to Pingyao in Shanxi in advance. If you prefer to stay inside the ancient city, Pingyao Harmony Hotel, Water Hotel Pingyao, Jing’s Residence Pingyao, and Yide Hotel Pingyao are good options, all provide Chinese-style rooms with hand-made fine wood fittings and artwork, and offer luggage storage service, laundry service, and more.
Tips for Traveling in Pingyao
- Located in the Loess Plateau region, Pingyaois known for its big winds and sandstorms, especially during the spring season. So you should better bring appropriate headwear such as hats and scarves to prevent winds and sandstorms.
- Pingyao International Photography Festivaland Pingyao International Film Festival take place annually in late September or early October. If you are fond of photography and films, never miss them.
- It’s free to enter the ancient city and explore the main streets and valleys, but entry to specific attractions requires a ticket, which costs 125 RMB per person and is valid for three days.
Pingyao Transportation
How to Get to Pingyao
By Flight: Pingyao does not own an airport. But if you prefer to travel by flight, you can fly to Taiyuan, which is 100km from Pingyao. Then take a train to Pingyao from Taiyuan.
By Train: There are two railway stations in the city, that is, Pingyao Railway Station for normal trains and Pingyao Gucheng Railway Station for high-speed trains. It’s easy for you to reach Pingyao by train from Beijing (4 hours), Xi’an (3 hours), Datong (3.5 hours), Taiyuan (1 hour), and other cities.
Recommended Beijing Pingyao Xi’an Tours
- 9 Days China Cultural Tour of Beijing-Datong-Pingyao-Xi’an
- 10 Days Historic China Tour of Xi’an-Pingyao-Datong-Beijing
By Bus: If you find yourself in nearby cities like Taiyuan, you can also take a long-distance bus to Pingyao, which takes about 2 hours.
How to Get around Pingyao
Pingyao bus system is now well-improved, which allows you to get to tourist attractions easily. Most buses can take you to Pingyao Ancient City, including Buses No. 15, 17, 21, 22, 108, 302, 204, 209, and 211. Besides, you can take Bus No. 209 to Zhengguo Temple and Bus No. 108 to Shuanglin Temple.
