China (Pingyao, Shanxi) Sept 2009 D-19

Map of Pingyao, Shanxi, China

After Luoyang, I took a sleeper train departing 20.02 ( CNY164) to Pingyao in Shanxi province. This 2,700 year old ancient walled city, a UNESCO heritage site is very well preserved since the Yuan, Ming & Qing dynasties. Upon arrival in the early morning at the railway station, I had a bowl of noodles from a nearby food stall and then took a bicycle rickshaw (CNY5) to the old city of Pingyao. I stayed one night at Zhengjia International Youth Hostel (CNY10 dorm) - the cheapest hostel I had stayed for this China trip. This old courtyard hostel was fully booked when I checked in. Most of the hostels in Pingyao are of the courtyard style guesthouse, retaining the old world charm and the traditional Qing outlook. As the hostel prices here were so cheap, most travelers stayed on for additional days to unwind themselves and enjoyed the slow pace of life here.

" Pingyao" is one of the oldest city in China. It's 2,700 yr old walled city still survives today ! Best preserved traditional architecture, gray-brick courtyard homes, extravagant family mansions & a Ming city wall, Daoist & Buddhist temples, China's first commercial bank, Yamen - Pingyao's old charm will take you back to the memory lane of the good old days.

1) Pingyao Ancient City, Shanxi (entrance fee CNY120) - There are some 20 tourist sites for you to visit and explore in the old city - so take your time as most sites are close to one another and within walking distance if you are staying in Yamen street. one of the four main streets. However, the ancient city wall (built in Zhou dynasty 827-728 BC) is 6km long so you may have to hire a motor rickshaw to ferry you around. The Bell Tower is located in Ming Qing Jie, the town center where you find most of the tourists.

2) Xianya Shu or Yamen magistrate court, Pingyao Ancient City - Well preserved and worth a visit. I really enjoyed watching a mocked old Yamen court proceeding or trial conducted by a few local officials impersonating a district court judge acting as a persecutor and one acting as an accused. The trial was conducted in a modern day context and the conversation between the prosecutor and accused was very amusing and comical !

3) The old Securicor house, Pingyao Ancient City - Offered protection and escort large sums of money from one province to another and this sort of service was well sought after by wealthy business people during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Robbers and bandits were notorious during that period.

4) Risheng Chang Financial House Museum and Bai Chuan Tong, Pingyao Ancient City - China's first bank or financial house in the 18th century. The concept of cheque and money deposits were first introduced here.

5) Chenghuang Mia, Caishen Miao & Zaojun Mio, Pingyao Ancient City - Three Taoist Temple in a row honoring the City God, God of Wealth & the Kitchen God.

The Secret of Life - No point using limited life to chase unlimited money"