Pingyao — The Best Representative of a Traditional Chinese Han City

Traditional Dwellings in The Ancient City of Pingyao in Shanxi Province of China

Definition

What Is the Ancient City of Pingyao?

The Ancient City of Pingyao is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with great architectural, historical, and cultural values.

Firstly constructed between 827 BC to 782 BC as a military site garrisoned by general Yin Jifu and his soldiers, it gradually developed into a typical city for civilians to live in.

In 1370, Pingyao was rebuilt and expanded, and its city wall was reconstructed and solidified, which stayed basically the same for the next six centuries.

The city's prosperity peaked in the 19th and early 20th centuries when Pingyao was the financial center of China.

Pingyao experienced its ups and downs, together with the history of China. Still, all the building complexes of this city barely changed much over time, and together, they are showing people what a traditional Han county-level city in history looks like.

Courtyard of A Traditional Dwelling

Shape

What Is the Turtle-shaped Architectural Layout of Pingyao?

In ancient Chinese culture, the turtle is an auspicious animal that represents longevity, peace, health, eternity, and luck.

Therefore, many ancient cities' layouts look like a turtle, and Pingyao is one of them:

The city has six gates;

One gate in the south is the turtle's head, and one gate in the north is the tail;

Two gates on the east and two on the west represent the turtle's four legs;

The four main streets, eight roads, and 72 lanes inside the city wall look like patterns on the turtle's shell.

Together they form a giant turtle, protecting people living inside the city.

A Gate on City Wall of Pingyao and The City's Panoramic View

Data

Important Data of Pingyao.

The Ancient City of Pingyao is 225 square kilometers large;

Its city wall is 6163 meters long and about 12 meters tall;

There are about 4000 dwellings and shops inside the city wall;

Zhenguo Temple has buildings and painted sculptures that date back to the Five Dynasties (907 — 960);

Shuanglin Temple preserved over 2000 painted sculptures of the Yuan, Ming, and Qing Dynasties (1271 — 1912);

The first modern bank in China, Rishengchang, was built there in 1824.

Exquisite Roofs of Building Complex of Pingyao

Exquisite Roofs of Some Building Complex

Center

Why Pingyao Was the Financial Center of the Qing Dynasty and How Did It Decline?

In 1368, Emperor Shundi of the Yuan Dynasty fled from Beijing and established a nomadic regional authority in Mongolian Plateau.

At the same time, the Ming Dynasty (1368 — 1644) was established as a national regime, strengthened Great Wall, and sent strong armies garrisoning on borders.

Some people in Shanxi, the middle-north province of China where Pingyao was located, started to do business on nearby borders by transporting and selling food and daily necessities there.

During Emperor Longqing's reign (1566 — 1572), with the assistance of great ministers Gao Gong and Zhang Juzheng, the Ming empire agreed to open up trade on the northern borders.

Afterward, more businessmen carried their goods up north, crossed borders to Russia, and accumulated more and more fortune through their diligence and courage.

Weapons of Armed Escort Troops (Biaoju), the Professional Security Companies of Merchants During These Periods

Weapons and Armor of Escort Troops (Biaoju), the Professional Security Companies of Merchants During These Periods — Museum of The Service Guard of China in Pingyao (Photo by Dingding)

In Qing Dynasty (1636 — 1912), businessmen from Shanxi Province (or Jin Shang) became China's most successful merchant group.

With their growing business and longer transportation distance, carrying a large amount of money became more dangerous.

Therefore, the first draft bank (in Chinese Piaohao), Rishengchang, was built in Pingyao in 1823, when over 20 other banks opened there, and thousands of branches were launched in other Chinese cities and countries.

Their advanced management system ensured their successful businesses kept growing, and then they served as Qing's financial department and acting treasury.

Underground Treasury of Rishengchang in the Ancient City of Pingyao

Underground Treasury of Rishengchang, Photo by Dingding.

Since the late 19th century, Qing had lost in a series of wars against western countries and paid many war reparations, which cost the banks there to suffer significant losses.

In 1912, the Qing Dynasty was overthrown, with many warlords arising, the whole society falling into chaos, and more western capital and institutions rushing in; Pingyao and their business empire declined and perished after decades of difficult struggles.

Today, history, their ambition, prosperity, fight, and decline lie in those well-preserved buildings in this historic city.

Plaque of Rishengchang "Huitong Tianxia", Meaning To Provide Service Worldwide, Photo by Guo Hui.

Sites

Important Cultural Sites

City Wall

Rebuilt in 1370 under the command of the Hongwu Emperor, the City Wall of Pingyao is one of the best-preserved city walls in China.

It is 6163 meters long, about 12 meters tall, and has 72 fighting towers (Dilou) and 3000 crenels (Duokou).

Fighting Towers (Dilou) and Crenels (Duokou) on the City Wall

Confucius Temple or Wen Miao

This is the most ancient Confucius Temple in China, whose main hall was rebuilt in the year 1163.

Other buildings were built during the Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368 — 1912).

Together, they formed the 35811 square meters large Confucius Temple of Pingyao, which had been used as a national academy in history besides worshiping Confucius.

Main Hall of the Confucius Temple or Wen Miao of Pingyao

Exquisite Details on Dachengdian that was Built in the Year 1163, the Main Hall of the Confucius Temple or Wen Miao.

County Government or Xian Ya

Rebuilt in 1370, the over 26,000 square meters big government of Pingyao is China's largest and best-preserved ancient county-level government.

Its layout, buildings, and relics inside explicitly show the local government's authority, responsibility, daily work, and lives.

Governor's Working Desk in the County Government or Xian Ya

Ancient Dwellings

Inside the City Walls are about 4000 traditional dwellings and shops from Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368 — 1912).

The structure and layout of these buildings and the exquisite decorative carvings are exceptional showcases of people's culture, economic activities, daily lives, and history.

Traditional Dwellings of the Ancient City of Pingyao

Architectural Details of Traditional Dwellings, Photo by Gaozheng.

Zhenguo Temple — Precious Ancient Timber Buildings

Located in the northeast of Pingyao city, Zhenguo Temple is an exceptional treasure whose main shrine and many sculptures date back to the Five Dynasties (907 — 960).

Besides being one of China's most ancient, valuable timber structure buildings, Zhenguo Temple also preserved bell, frescoes, and stone inscriptions from the recent few centuries.

Main Shrine and Ancient Tree of Zhenguo Temple

Shuanglin Temple — Gallery of Painted Sculptures

In the southwest of Pingyao, the Shuanglin Temple has been known as the “Oriental Art Gallery of Painted Sculptures”.

Rebuilt in the year 571, the Shuanglin Temple has a stone tablet established in 1011, buildings, and frescoes from Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368 — 1912).

The most precious treasure of Shuanglin Temple is the over 2000 painted sculptures of the Yuan, Ming, and Qing Dynasties (1271 — 1912) preserved inside, which hold extraordinary artistic values.

Extraordinary Painted Sculptures in Shuanglin Temple of Pingyao

Extraordinary Painted Sculptures in Shuanglin Temple, Photo by Dongmaiying.

Specialty

Famous Food and Specialties

Beef — Ancient Cooking Method

Originating from a historic local beef shop, Pingyao's beef uses traditional pickle, braise, and stew procedures and is used to serve as a royal tribute in the late Qing Dynasty.

Push Light Lacquerware or Tuiguang Qiqi — Handmade National Intangible Cultural Heritage

Originating during the North and South Dynasties (420 — 589) and reaching prosperity in Tang Dynasty (618 — 907), Push Light Lacquerware has been one of the most popular and exquisite lacquerware crafts for over 1000 years.

As China's national intangible cultural heritage, making Pingyao lacquerware needs to use hands to varnish and draw, making the lacquerware smooth, lustrous, and beautiful.