Pingyao Ancient City

UNESCO describes Pingyao as an exceptionally well-preserved example of a traditional Han Chinese county city of the 14th to 20th centuries. The city was expanded in 1370 under the Ming Hongwu Emperor and surrounded by a massive defensive wall; the walls are about 12 metres high, with six barbican gates, four corner towers and 72 watchtowers.

In the 19th and early 20th centuries Pingyao became a major financial centre of China. Rishengchang, founded in 1823, is widely regarded as the country's first draft bank, pioneering a remittance system that allowed merchants to move funds across China without carrying silver, and dozens of similar banks followed. Pingyao was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1997, together with the Shuanglin and Zhenguo temples outside the town.

Pingyao is still a living town, with residents in courtyard houses within the walls. Shanxi is famous for noodles and vinegar, and the town is known for Pingyao beef, a cured local speciality. Muslim travellers should note that Pingyao beef is prepared locally and is not necessarily halal, so ask before ordering.