Things to do in  Pingyao

About 1,500 years old, the Shuanglin Temple complex is home to China’s largest collection of painted Chinese clay sculptures, which are intricately decorated and well-preserved. To place each collection of sculptures in context, each chamber is painted with dramatic backdrops depicting China’s varied landscapes.

Considered China’s first bank, the 19th-century Rishengchang Exchange sits at the heart of UNESCO World Heritage–listed Pingyao, a city that was once one of China’s financial centers. The low-rise courtyard complex is now a museum, with more than 20 rooms devoted to banking history. The vaults contain safes where gold and silver were stored.

Set in the village of Jingsheng, not far from the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Pingyao, the Wang Family Courtyard is one of China’s largest non-royal historic residences. The sprawling complex, built by the Wang family in the 17th to 19th centuries, spans more than 60 acres (25 hectares), with ancestral halls, a temple, castles, a museum, and courtyard homes.

This is one well-preserved city wall. Built around 1370 during the Ming Dynasty, it was incredibly important for the defense of Pingyao, which was once the main banking center in China. The wall has six gates, resembling a turtle from above, so Pingyao has been nicknamed the “Tortoise City,” a city of immortality.

The Ancient City of Pingyao is one of the best-preserved ancient cities in China, dating back to the Zhou Dynasty, and rebuilt in 1370. Over the centuries, it served as a financial center during different dynasties, kind of like the Qing Dynasty’s Wall Street. The architecture here dates to Imperial China, and there are photo opportunities at every turn in this UNESCO-protected ancient city.