Pingyao: an ancient Chinese city with no skyscrapers and traffic jams

In this amazing Chinese city there are no modern skyscrapers, business centers and multi-kilometer traffic jams, and at every step there are architectural monuments, museum buildings and specially protected objects. This Pingyao is the only city in modern China that has been preserved almost unchanged over the past centuries.

Pingyao City is located in the north-east of China, in Shanxi Province (Jinzhong City District). Most of the buildings of this city boast a venerable age of about 600 years. At the same time, the city of Pingyao itself is much older and was founded, according to historians, in the 9th-8th centuries BC. Initially, the city was called Pintao and was built as a defensive point. Here, the city wall of brick has been preserved, its length is 6 kilometers, and in height it reaches 10 meters. Later, the city acquired important political significance, and there was a government residence, the buildings of which are perfectly preserved.

The city has several Taoist and Buddhist temples and monasteries, which are of great historical value. Another attraction of the city is the Market Tower, which has been preserved unchanged since 1668. This is the tallest building in the ancient city, which is located in its central part. In addition to temples and historical buildings, the city of Pingyao is notable for the fact that it was here that in 1824 the first bank in China was opened, the building of which has also been preserved to this day.

Most of the residential buildings in which the locals live are also a historical heritage; they have been preserved almost in their original form. The houses have a tiled roof of a characteristic shape, and the walls are made of brick. Dwellings of noble citizens are decorated with columns and decorative elements made of stone. Buildings are inherited, and most residents live in houses in which their ancestors lived for centuries.

Pingyao is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and its unique architectural appearance is under state protection. For this reason, there are no roads in the city, and cars are very rare on the narrow streets of Pingyao, paved with stone. The locals, numbering about 45,000, mainly ride bicycles, scooters or on foot. Due to its status, the city is a key point in many tourist routes, so travelers are not uncommon here. The restaurant and tourism sector is developed here, there are many souvenir shops whose sellers are ready to offer products for every taste, from original handmade products to intricate trinkets.