UNESCO World Heritage SiteNational 5A Scenic AreaNorth China
Pingyao Ancient City
平遥古城 · Shanxi, Jinzhong
A remarkably preserved Ming–Qing walled city, cradle of China's draft banks (piaohao).
Pingyao is one of China's best-preserved ancient walled cities, its 6-kilometre ramparts enclosing a grid of traditional courtyard houses, shops and temples. It was the financial centre of Qing China, where the Rishengchang draft bank pioneered the nation's remittance system. The old town retains its original urban fabric almost intact.
Founded in the 14th century (1370) on earlier foundations, Pingyao flourished as a merchant and banking hub in the Ming and Qing dynasties. It was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1997 as an exceptionally complete example of a traditional Han Chinese city.
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