The Introduction of Pingyao

Pingyao is a tiny ancient city (about 2km across) located in central Shanxi Province, about 100 kilometers (60 miles) south of Taiyuan, capital of the province. Originally built in the Western Zhou Dynasty (1045-256 BC), it boasts a history of over 2,700 years.

There are three Key National Protected Relics in Pingyao, namely Pingyao City Wall, Shuangxiu Temple and Zhenguo Temple. Due to its sound preservation of the urban landscape in China's Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties, Pingyao was added to the UNESCO's World Heritage List on December 31st, 1997.

"The Ancient City of Pingyao is an outstanding example of a Han Chinese city of the Ming and Qing Dynasties that has retained all its features to an exceptional degree, and in doing so provides a remarkably complete picture of cultural, social, economic, and religious development during one of the most seminal periods of Chinese history."- World Relics Committee of UNESCO.