Location: Pingyao County
Top Things to do in Pingyao County
Countries
Top 10 Things to do in Pingyao County, China
Pingyao County is a county in Jinzhong Prefecture in central Shanxi Province, China. Pingyao, its eponymous seat of government, is a AAAAA-rated tourist attraction, preserving a great deal of architecture from the Ming & Qing dynasties. As of 2010, it had 502,712 residents.
Restaurants in Pingyao County
1. Ancient City of Pingyao
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1 reviews
Reviewed By Haelen - Voorburg, The Netherlands
Having travelled all over China, no city beats Pingyao. Most of the old building in old city have been preserved and restored. You get a feeling of being back to the 19th century. You have to share however this experience with thousands, if not ten thousand Chinese tourists. I jogged the 6 km city wall which was a marvellous experience.
2. City Wall of Pingyao
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 342 reviews
Reviewed By Ana L - Boliden, Sweden
Though the view from the walls might be quite nice, specially if the weather is good, there is one bad thing about the walls: you can only climb up on 2 points, though you can exit on several. This means that you have to go around for a long time (2 km or more) and it is not so interesting to go around for such a long bit...
3. Qiao's Family Compound (Qiao Jia Dayuan)
Overall Ratings
4 based on 235 reviews
Reviewed By Lady_Snowhawk - England, United Kingdom
Featured in a film, Qiao's Family Compound is filled with hundreds of rooms and siheyuans, all with their own sections of history. Seeing the types of punishments people would receive in those days-the actual equipment located in the palace-like compartment-, as well as the bedrooms for the concubines, and decent information on their religions and education, was pretty incredible and well preserved for its time. There is a small, beautiful little garden in the heart of the compound, with a small Fountain and temple as well giving the area a relaxing vibe. After about two hours of hard walking with no seats in sight, this halfway point is a good place to take a break and just enjoy the scenery.
One issue with this place is the sheer number of market stalls as you (attempt) to exit the site afterwards. About ten minutes of walking through very similar stalls all trying to con people into buying random pieces of merchandise, or off-putting food. Don't feel the need to get anything from these places-they aren't part of the site, and are probably just going to scam you.
4. Pingyao Confucian Temple
Overall Ratings
4 based on 126 reviews
Reviewed By David A - Nottingham, United Kingdom
Our guide told us this was the site of her high school but when the school was moved it was rebuilt and opened as a tourist attraction.
It was a large compound of buildings with exhibits and temples to Confucious. The locals clearly believed as there were many tokens left hoping for good fortune,
It was interesting to see and understand and as it had originally been the Confucian temple but knowing the work to renovated etc took some of the shine off it.
5. Pingyao Ancient Government Office
Overall Ratings
4 based on 99 reviews
Reviewed By latestfilly - West Yorkshire
This museum is good however you need a private guide to fully appreciate it, otherwise you will look at things and have absolutely no idea what they are or what they were used for as there are very few western translations.
With a guide you can fully appreciate the museum which is actually quite good, probably the best in Pingyao...
6. Shuanglin Temple
Overall Ratings
4 based on 101 reviews
Reviewed By davemartin3 - Wolverhampton, United Kingdom
One of the many architectural sites in the town. Traditional and relatively quiet given the throngs on the Main Street.
7. Rishengchang Former Bank
Overall Ratings
4 based on 123 reviews
Reviewed By yipjcs88 - Hong Kong, China
This is the oldest private bank in China and is fascinating. In those days, it was just book-keeping and the technology was the abacus. The manager (big boss) had the luxury of a horse-drawn carriage. Interesting to find guestrooms in the bank, presumably because customers from distant places had to spend days to travel to the bank. Walking through the bank was very interesting.
8. Ping Yao Temple of the City God
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 71 reviews
Reviewed By Ashok-Seenu - Singapore
If you don't have Chinese, you should either have a guide or give the Temple of the City God very little (or no) time. It is a fairly pretty setting and the sculptures are interesting but there's so much else in Pingyao! It's much better with a guide as the city's history is put in context with the belief system, and worth a short visit.
9. Ming and Qing Dynasties Street
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 31 reviews
Reviewed By BijanTehran_Iran - Tehran, Iran
These street may be the best part of the city at all.Very busy at afternoon and early night ,the best time for taking pictures.Everybody did so,thus don't worry if somebody taking your picture too.
At night colorful light of buildings make the area more interesting. Every thing related to old China could be find here.Posters from Chairman Mao,Antiques,clothes,food,bars,.....
10. Gushi Tower
Overall Ratings
4 based on 30 reviews
Reviewed By Jarko2015 - Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Right in the centre of walled city, where north, west, east and south streets meet, alas, you can no longer enter the tower and climb for views, but it's still worth seeing as you stroll through the hectic busy streets. A great piece of architecture and worth seeing. Completely free of charge.
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