Pingyao
A Ming-Qing City With 2700 Years of History
What to see in Pingyao
Pingyao, also known as Ping Yao, is a famous ancient city situated in Jinzhong, Shanxi Province, in northern China, approximately 600km from Beijing. With a history spanning 2700 years, it was first established during the reign of King Xuan (827-782 BC) of the Western Zhou Dynasty. However, it saw its major growth and development as an important city during the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties.
The city is known for its formidable architectural preservation but it was not always like this. In the 1970s, Pingyao was in a state of full decay with only 3 of its original 72 watchtowers still standing and a major part of the historic buildings and city structure in collapse and being destroyed having more than 30 Ming and 100 Qing constructions razed for houses constructions.
By the 1980s, the town was set to be razed to the ground by authorities, but the process was stopped by Ruan Yisan pressure, a professor and fierce protector of ancient Chinese architecture, who believed that this heritage should be saved and preserved. Due to his efforts and activism, Pingyao gates, walls, residences, shops and governmental buildings were kept to it’s original state. He was able to protect not only Pingyao but also other historic Chinese cities and villages from destruction like Zhouzhuang, Tongli, Luzhi, Nanxun, Wuzhen e Xitang Suzhou, Yangzhou and Shaoxin.
This formidable endeavor transformed Pingyao into an excellent example of ancient city preservation in China, catalyzing tourism growth in the region and inspiring similar efforts nationwide. Designated as a Historic and Cultural City of China in 1986 and recognized as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site in 1997, Pingyao stands as a testament to successful heritage conservation.
Traditional residences have been repurposed into hotels, restaurants, tea rooms, and wine houses, providing tourists with an authentic experience of the local lifestyle. Additionally, homes belonging to historical figures have been converted into museums, showcasing the heritage of prominent families. Through these restoration efforts and tourism investments, visitors can now glimpse into Pingyao's unique past.
Top Attractions in Pingyao
How to Get to Pingyao
China has an impressive railways network so trains are usually the fastest and most convenient means of transportation. They are affordable and easy to use and can be booked in advance with Trip.com. Booking at least a few days in advance is advisable as they tend to get full, particularly on weekends and around the holiday period.
By Public Transportation
If you're travelling from Beijing, which is approximately 600km away from Pingyao, you can take the speed train. The trains depart from Beijing Fengtai train station and typically take between 3h40 to 4h15 to reach Pingyaogucheng train station. Prices vary from 226 CNY in 2nd class to 698 CNY in business class. If you are on a budget sleeping trains are also available. They can cost as little as 169 CNY for a bed but take up to 11h to reach Pingyao train station.
Another common way to get to Pingyao is from the city of Xian. High-speed trains to Pingyaogucheng train station depart from the Xi'an North station. The journey takes about 3 hours and costs between 150 CNY and 450 CNY in business class. Similarly, a sleeper train is also available once a day. It takes about 9 hours to arrive at Pingyao train station and the harder bed is priced at 142 CNY.
Once at Pingyao, you have several options for transportation: you can take a taxi, catch the bus, or use the Didi app (available within WeChat superapp) to request a ride. We usually prefer Didi over a taxi because it makes it a lot easier to communicate locations and prices if you do not speak the language.
If you opt for the bus to Pingyao Ancient City, it's both easy and affordable. After exiting the train station, head down the main entrance stairs to reach the bus stop. It's advisable to ask the bus drivers for assistance and show them a map of your destination. There are only a few bus options, so choosing the right one is straightforward. It's important to note that the bus will not stop inside the ancient city, requiring a 5 to 10-minute walk to reach the inner part of Pingyao Ancient City.
By Organized Tour
For a seamless and stress-free experience, consider a guided tour that includes transportation from and to the train station. Below are some suggestions to help you plan your trip:
Where to Stay in Pingyao
Pingyao has a wide range of accommodation options both in the inner and outer parts of the city wall. Inside the Ancient City Walls, you will find many options in the beautiful ancient Chinese style which will add to your experience in the city.
One place we recommend is Pingyao Yiheju Inn. This is where we stayed while in Pingyao and we loved our time their. The room was very comfortable and beautifully decorated in the ancient Chinese style. The hosts were very kind and caring, providing helpful information and always ensuring that we were enjoying our time there. They even lent us their electric bike so that we could go out of the city wall and explore the Shuanglin Temple.
Top Hotel Recommendation in Pingyao
What to Eat in Pingyao
Finding a good place to eat in Pingyao is not hard however, you might find it hard using maps services like Google Maps or Apple Maps, or even recurring to websites like TripAdvisor. We recommend using Trip.com as your go-to app when in China which might give some clues about the places to eat with reviews and photos.
When strolling through the ancient streets of Pingyao you will find a wide range of delicious restaurants that offer the traditional delicacies of the Shanxi province. As a rule of thumb, when in doubt, choose the places that are full of locals. That typically means that the restaurant is good or famous. The Ming and Qing Street is a great place to start looking for your perfect dinner. Keep an eye out for local delicacies such:
Pingyao Braised Beef (平遥牛肉): Dating back to the Han Dynasty (220B.C.-202A.D.) and known nationwide Pingyao beef is renowned for its tender texture and strong fragrance. For this dish, the old ox is selected, salted in local salt for up to three months, and rinsed through alkaline well water for about twelve hours. You can find this dish in the most of the restaurants of the Ming and Qing Street.
Pingyao Wantuoze (平遥碗脱则): Invented during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) by Chef Dong Xuan, Wantuoze is a chewy and savoury dish made of white wheaten flour and steamed. Perfect with wine, it combines the best of bean jelly and sausage.
Make sure to drink the famous regional wine. A great place to try is in Changshengyuan, a century-old shop famous for its Yellow Wine. It is made from yellow sticky rice and wine yeast a perfect complement to Pingyao's flavours.
How many days to visit Pingyao
If you want to limit your exploration to the inner wall, then one to two days are enough to visit Pingyao’s Ancient City Wall, the main historic streets, shops, museums and the multiple temples and restaurants. You may also have time to visit other attractions in the city such as Shuanglin Temple, Wang's Family Compound or The Qiao Family Compound.
But Pingyao can also be an excellent base to further explore the Shanxi region highlights such as the Mianshan (Mount Mian) or Datong. If you plan to extend your visit to these magnificent locations, staying at least 4 days is recommended.
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