Photo: Zhangzhugang, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
UNESCO World Heroitage List, AAAAA Tourist Attractions of China. Founded in the reign of King Xuan of the Zhou Dynasty and expanded during the time of Emperor Hongwu of the Ming Dynasty, Pingyao has a history of more than 2,800 years. The central axis of the ancient city is the south street, east of the ancient city, Pingyao County Office, the left side of the ancient city is Liwen Temple, right side Liwu Temple, Dongdao Buddhist Temple, layout is very symmetrical.The old town of the Ming and Qing dynasties is still largely intact and is regarded as the most complete ancient Han Chinese town in China. Pingyao is also known as one of the “Four best preserved ancient cities in China”, and it is one of only two ancient cities in China that have successfully applied for world cultural heritage status for an entire ancient city. UNESCO described the ancient city of Pingyao as an outstanding example of an ancient Chinese city during the Ming and Qing dynasties, with all its features preserved.
Pingyao, officially Pingyao Ancient City, is a walled city in central Shanxi, China, famed for its importance in Chinese economic history and for its well-preserved Ming and Qing urban planning and architecture. It is the only walled city seat in China to survive with both its historic street plan and its original building fabric substantially intact. The greater part of the city's courtyard dwellings, shopfronts and temples are ancient structures surviving in situ rather than modern reconstructions. Administratively, it comprises the town of Gutao in Pingyao County, Jinzhong.
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渠家大院
The Qu Family Compound is another extended family residence built near Pingyao Ancient City by a successful Shanxi merchant clan over a number of generations. This 300-year-old compound was very unusual in having five layers of courtyard, and the entire compound has 8 large courtyards, 19 smaller courtyards, and 240 rooms overall. One enters the compound from a street built in the Ming and Qing Dynasties and which retains the architectural feel of that period. Despite its great size, it is said that what is seen here represents only about one-fifth of the Qu family's estate. The Qu family was a very successful example of the Shanxi merchant, and their estate used to occupy most of the eastern half of Qi County. Overall, they owned 10 compounds containing over 1000 rooms. During the Sino-Japanese War, the Japanese occupied the compound, and the family had to temporarily relocate their head office to Chengdu. A Japanese observation post built above the roof of one of the buildings in the complex remains. A few blocks away from the main compound is the Changyuchuan Teahouse, which also belonged to the Qu family. The ticket to the Qu Family Compound also includes entrance to a series of six museums in the area, including those dedicated to rulers, scales, mirrors, and vessels for measuring rice. The most interesting one is an abacus museum which includes a pagoda built completely from 668 abacuses.
介休城隍庙
A city god temple dating from the Ming Dynasty. Like other city god temples, Jieixu's city god temple is used to worship the local city god.
张壁古堡, Zhangbi Fortress
Zhangbi Castle was founded in the Sixteen Kingdoms period with a construction area of 12,000 square meters. It is based on the traditional Chinese horoscope and the concepts of Earth and earth. The castle has a north-south gate, a brick north gate, and an outer gate. The outer gate was used to fortify the barbican and was topped with religious temples. The Barbican Gate opens to the northeast and forms two gateways with the north gate. The two gates are not on the same axis, which not only follows the principles of ancient military defense, but also implies the use of geomancy. Nanbao Gate is a stone gate with a carved stone dragon head. Outside the gate, there are nine red stone paved roads, symbolizing the dragon's beard.
曹家大院, 三多堂 Sanduo Hall
绵山, Mianshan
Mian Shan (or Silky Mountain) is noted for its natural scenery, especially for its cultural and religious relics. AAAAA Tourist Attractions of China. It is also the birthplace of the Qingming Festival (Grave Cleaning Day), which is one of China’s most important traditional festivals and items of intangible cultural heritage. The mountain is located in Jiexiu City, 40 km south of Pingyao. Tours often combine this with the Wang Family Compound and Zhangbi Ancient Castle as they are close together. Ticket packages include multiple bus tickets, which seem necessary to buy in order to get to the mountain's many attractions.
孔祥熙宅园, 孔家大院 Kong Family Compound