Introducing Píngyáo
Possibly the best-preserved ancient walled city in China, Píngyáo has a movie-set charm that makes the hearts of even the most hardened expats skip a beat. But it’s not just the superficial beauty of red lanterns swaying against grey-brick walls that makes Píngyáo special; it’s the fact that the entire town is still in existence – and unmarred by bathroom tiles. Wander at random through the cobbled, dusty streets and you’ll come across government offices, residences and temples, offering rare insight into various aspects of life in imperial China.
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It should be no surprise that Píngyáo is mobbed with megaphone-wielding tour groups on weekends and holidays, particularly when the weather is nice. But get beyond the main souvenir strip and it remains very much a real town: the locals are still hanging laundry in courtyards, careening down alleyways on bicycles or sunning themselves in doorways, unchanged even in fame.
Last updated: Feb 17, 2009
Thorn Tree forum discussion
Recent posts
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RE: Need Itinerary advice for travel in China !!
by china1979 13 September 2011
Add Datong to itinerary: from there go to Hanging Temple (yes, 2-3 hours by car); next Wutaishan (Tibetan Buddhist temples) then Taiyuan…
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RE: travel during national day holidays
by fluffydragon 13 September 2011
Yes, it is difficult, especially from Xi'an as that's a really popular tourist route. Maybe you could make your way toward Beijing by…
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RE: That question again...
by manchurianexile 07 September 2011
One of the great problems for a history-buff travelling in China is deciding what *NOT* to see. I don't know how many times I've been…
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