Ping Yao: Relive centuries-old charm in this ancient Chinese city

Once the financial hub of China, the city still captivates travellers with its majestic architecture.

Long known as the land of silk, ancient China – a remote powerful empire – has fascinated explorers for centuries. While much of that past has been swallowed by the tides of time and breakneck modernisation, there are still places where you can taste what life used to look like.

One of these unique places is the 14th century city of Ping Yao in central Shanxi Province, which is an outstanding example of a Han Chinese city of the Ming and Qing dynasties, and only one of four well-preserved ancient settlements in all of China.

Covering an area of some two kilometres across, picturesque Ping Yao features massive ancient walls, narrow streets and lanes, small shops, old houses and temples, all reflecting architectural style and urban planning of the Han cities over more than five centuries.

THE ‘WALL STREET’ OF ITS TIME

Nearly 4,000 shops and exquisitely decorated traditional houses, protected by imposing stone walls with typical watch towers, bring back the past might and prosperity of the city, a financial centre for the whole of China from the 19th to the early 20th century.

South Street, the central axis of ancient Ping Yao, once controlled more than half of the financial institutions in the country, resembling New York’s famous Wall Street. It still remains the most thriving place in the city.

In the upscale area of West Street, the fist financial street of the Qing dynasty, do not miss a charming museum devoted to the glory of Chinese banking in a building housing former Rishengchang Draft Bank. Founded in 1823, Rishengchang rose to become the first bank chain in China.

Offering the best views of Ping Yao with clusters of old houses tucked together in between numerous temples, a 6-kilometre-long city wall is one of the best preserved defensive structures of its kind in China. 

Climb up steep stairs for a charming walk at sunset before myriad of lights pop up across the old city, making the journey back in time feel even more spectacular.

And you cannot leave this ancient gem of a city, a part of the UNESCO's World Heritage List since 1997, without exploring Shuanglin Temple, a unique oriental art gallery with more than 2,000 painted clay sculptures made in the Ming and Qing dynasties.

BEST TIME TO VISIT 

The annual Lantern Festival, two weeks after the Chinese New Year, is a great, if busy, time to experience the ancient city with houses decorated by scores of traditional red lanterns.

Weather-wise, the best time to visit Ping Yao is between May and October, but consider off-season months if you do not mind cold as prices are lower and you can avoid some of the seasonal crowds. 

Consider staying in one of the atmospheric old quarter hotels with everything within walking distance. For a taste of local food, do not miss beef, the city’s culinary delight. 

Cars are not allowed to enter the ancient city, which is about four hours by a bullet train from Beijing. The nearest airport is Taiyuan Wusu, a two-hour drive away from Ping Yao. The airport pick-up and drop-off can be easily arranged by your hotel.

ATTRACTIONS NOT TO BE MISSED

Out of the city some 15km to the northeast, Wanfo Shrine, the main shrine of Zhenguo Temple, dating back to the Five Dynasties, is one of China’s earliest and most precious timber structure buildings in existence.

Another prime attraction is Wang Family Grand Courtyard, about 35 km away. Built during the reign of the Ming and Qing dynasties, the family’s prominence lasted for more than 300 years. 

The large medieval fortress compound with roofs covered in grey tiles includes 123 residences and 231 courtyards in an area of about eight hectares.