Ping Yao  - is an integral and well-preserved ancient Chinese city from the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911). Its urban plan and defensive line have not significantly changed since. It is located in Shanxi Province.

Pingyao History

Pingyao County, known in ancient times as the place of Tao, was where Emperor Yao was first enthroned. So the location of Pingyao County today belonged to Tao in the ancient times. It was under the jurisdiction of Bing Prefecture in the time of Yushun in about 2600 BC. After the conquest of the flood by Dayu (an emperor in about 2270 BC ) it belonged to the jurisdiction of Ji .It became a part of Bing Prefecture in the Western Zhou Dynasty. In the Spring and Autumn Period it belonged to Jin State and in the period of Warring States to Zhao State. In the Qin and Han Dynasties it was under the jurisdiction of Taiyuan Prefecture. In the period of Three Kingdoms it belonged to the kingdom of Wei and was under the jurisdiction of the prefecture of Xihe. It belonged to the State of Taiyuan in the Western Jin Dynasty. During the period of Taiwu in the Northern Wei Dynasty, Pingtao County ( established in the Han Dynasty and under the jurisdiction of Taiyuan State), which lied in the southwest of today’s Wenshui County, was changed to Pingyao County to avoid the name of the Emperor Tuo Batao and Pingtao City was also changed to Pingyao City along with it. Later on, because of the invasion of another ethnic group, Pingyao County moved from the southwest of today’s Wenshui County into the boundary of Jinling County, then Jinglin County was cancelled and combined with Pingyao County. Thus Pingyao City, as the seat of the county government, was located here. From then on, through the Tang Dynasty, the Five Dynasties, the Northern Song Dynasty, the Jin Dynasty, the Yuan Dynasty, the Ming Dynasty, and the Qing Dynasty to the present time(from 610 AD-nowadays),the name of Pingyao County has remained unchanged. The long history of the ancient city of Pingyao leaves relics of the ancient civilization in many places and numerous ancient buildings which reveal much about the historical time. Upon the pages of history, are recorded many historical facts that show the importance of Pingyao County in the history: Emperor Kanxi of the Qing Dynasty paid a personal visit to Pingyao on his tour to the west; Emperor Guanxv and his queen mother Cixi stayed for a night in the ancient city when they escaped to the west; President Jiang Zeming inspected the ancient city in the first year of the new century.

Pingyao Attractions

City Wall
Among the Three Treasures of Pingyao, which includes the Pingyao Ancient City Wall, Zhengguo Temple, and Shuanglin Temple, it is the City Wall that rates the highest among locals and visitors alike.

Rishengchang Draft Bank (Sunrise Prosperity Draft Bank)
During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, merchants organized commercial groups that engaged in business nationwide, with Shanxi Province having some of the most important ones and the city of Pingyao as the center.

The Qiao Family Courtyard House
The Qiao Family Courtyard House was built in the late 1700s by the influential Qiao family. With their successful business, the Qiao family enjoyed a prestigious status in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) during the reign of Emperor Qianlong (1735-1796).

Ming and Qing Street
Today, Pingyao looks much the same today as it did when it was the bustling economic center during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Ming Qing Street, also called South Street or Nan Da Jie, was the main commercial street in Pingyao.

The Wang Family Courtyard House
The Wang Family Courtyard House is a luxurious residence built during 1762-1811 by the descendants of the Wang Family, one of the Four Families of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) in Shanxi Province.

Pingyao Travel Tips:

1. There is no charge to enter into the Pingyao Old City.
2. Most of the historic buildings (like the exchange shops and the County Government Office) in the Old City need tickets, but most of them do not sell tickets separately. If you would like to visit most of the spots here, a joint ticket is necessary and it can be bought at the gates of the Old City.
3. Price of the Joint Ticket: CNY 120 (20 spots are included like the City Wall, the County Government Office, the Temple of the City God, the Rishengchang Exchange Shop, and the Ancient Ming and Qing Street)

Related Tours: Pingyao Taiyuan Tour      Pingyao Tour