Pingyao is located in the central part of Shanxi Province, 100 kilometers from Taiyuan. It is an ancient city with a history of more than 2,700 years. The present city wall was built in the 3rd year of the Ming Dynasty (1370 A.D.), making it the most complete surviving Ming and Qing dynasty county town in China, and on December 31, 1997, it was officially inscribed on the World Heritage List by the United Nations.　Pingyao County has three national key cultural relics protection units, including the Pingyao Ancient City Wall, Shuanglin Temple and Zhenguo Temple.　At present, the city walls, streets, dwellings, stores and other buildings of this county basically maintain the original pattern of the ancient city. Pingyao's Tickets Tickets are the predecessors of banks, and China's first ticket company, Rishengchang, appeared in Pingyao.　　At the beginning of the 18th century, many merchants from Pingyao, Jiexiu, Qixian and other counties in Shanxi opened various stores in Beijing, and when they brought money back home at the end of each year, it was usually transported by dart boards, which was both costly and unsafe. Lei Cuotai and some merchants agreed to give the money to Xiyucheng in Beijing and then take cash from Xiyucheng in Pingyao. At first, they only helped some relatives and friends and did not charge remittance fee and handling fee, but later, their fellow townsmen felt that this method was convenient and more and more people requested for remittance and agreed to pay some remittance fee.　　Lei Cuotai feel that this kind of business oil and water, with the proprietor Li Daquan discussion, and West Yu Cheng renamed Rishengchang, specializing in exchange business. At the end of the Qing Dynasty, the number of ticket agencies in Shanxi increased to 33, 22 in Pingyao, and the number of ticket agencies across the country grew to more than 400, with Pingyao playing a very important role in the national financial market at that time. At that time, Pingyao played a very important role in the financial market of the country. At that time, Pingyao's larger ticket agencies also included Baichuan Tong. The former residence of Lei Cuotai and the former sites of Rishengchang and Baichuangtong are still preserved in Pingyao.　　The former site of Baichuantong is located at No. 109, South Street, with a well-built mansion, which is now the Museum of Household Furniture. The Dart Museum is located at No. 61, Ming-Qing Street, Pingyao, and introduces three influential figures of the dart industry in northern China during the Qing Dynasty, namely Wang Zhengqing, Zuo Erzhu (Iron Leg), and Dai Erlu (Fist of Intent). The Ancient City Wall of Pingyao was built in 827 BC - 782 BC as rammed earth. In 1370 A.D., it was rebuilt as a masonry wall on top of the old city. The wall is 12 meters high, 6 kilometers in circumference, the top of the wall is 3 meters - 6 meters wide.　　On January 13, 1988, the city walls of Pingyao were listed as a national key cultural relics protection unit, and on December 3, 1997, the city walls were officially recognized by UNESCO as a "World Cultural Heritage Site" and included in the World Heritage List.　　Pingyao Pushlight Lacquerware has a long history and reached its peak during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Lacquer was used to hang ash on the wooden tires, then pushed the light by hand, and then painted with patterns. It is characterized by gorgeous shapes and simple styles, as well as moisture-proof, heat-proof and corrosion-resistant properties.　　Pingyao Flavor Food Pingyao Beef has a long history of production and unique processing technology. The finished product is tender, fat but not greasy, lean but not faggot, mellow and delicious, and rich in nutrients.　　Changshengyuan's Yellow Wine and Dim Sum. Yellow wine is made from glutinous rice, with a rich and mellow flavor and a mild alcoholic nature.　　During Cixi's westward journey to Pingyao, she dined on Pingyao Beef, drank Changshengyuan Yellow Wine, and ate dim sum, and gave the store a "long" character, hence the name Changshengyuan. The store is located in front of the store and behind the factory, and the current manager, Guo Huairen, is the sixth-generation heir. The store is located at No. 41 West South Street in the county. Pingyao Bowls. Pingyao Bowls were first created by Dong Xuan, a chef at Chengnanbao in the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty, and have a history of more than 100 years. When Cixi traveled to Pingyao on her westward journey, she tasted this food and was so impressed with it that she rewarded her on the spot.　　Pingyao Bowls can be eaten cold or stir-fried, and both are very tasty.　Travel and Transportation Pingyao can be reached by train and bus from Taiyuan for 8 yuan, and by bus from the square in front of the train station for 10 yuan. Folklore Folklore of Pingyao Ancient City

Pingyao Ancient City is one of the best-preserved ancient county towns in China, and is an outstanding example of a Chinese Han Chinese city in the Ming and Qing dynasties, which presents an extraordinary and complete picture of the cultural, social, economic and religious development of the country in the course of Chinese history.

Pingyao Ancient City has preserved many traditional festivals with national and local characteristics. These traditional folk festivals include seasonal festivals, commemorative festivals, festivals for heaven and earth, ancestor festivals, festivals for gods and ghosts, and animal festivals. It fully demonstrates the ancient working people's yearning for harmony among heaven, earth, people, gods, ghosts and animals. It reflects people's traditional habits, moral customs and religious beliefs. Through these folk traditional festivals, the rich connotation and origin of the ancient city culture can be explored. [1]

Pingyao's customs are simple and far-reaching, and the inhabitants' legacy originated from Tang Yao? The people are thrifty, simple, and thoughtful; they are strong and kind, and they are martial; they are talented, and they are all-rounded in the arts and martial arts. And more generous and righteous style. The legacy of marriage, funeral, birthday, and building ceremonies is especially strong. The people of Pingyao are mostly poor in land, less in farming and weaving, more in business, and good at management. Although the legacy of Tao and Tang is ancient, Pingyao is still a place of sorrow.

Marriage

Marriage is a major event in life, which has been highly valued since ancient times. It is not only a joyous event worth celebrating, but also a process that pays great attention to etiquette, and the forms and means of expression are very metaphorical, simple but profound, clumsy but not vulgar, funny and civilized, forming a bright cultural phenomenon.

The wedding process in Pingyao is characterized by the six rituals, namely: the ceremony, asking for a name, asking for good luck, asking for a sign, inviting for a period of time, and welcoming the bridegroom.

Funerals and Burials

Pingyao County people are traditionally buried in the soil after their deaths, and many traditional rituals and objects are retained during funerals. These rituals and objects include almost all folk arts, such as blowing, pulling, playing, singing, calligraphy, tattooing, paper-cutting, folding, plate printing, dipping, knotting, paper art, noodle art, insertion art, sewing art, and so on.

The funeral program is to stop the body, report the funeral, into the coffin, burning paper, funeral, round tomb, over seven and so on. Generally in three or five days to burn paper, five, seven, nine days out of the funeral. Taboo is not suitable for the funeral, it is sent to other places, choose another burial date. On the day of the funeral, friends and relatives will attend. There are sixteen, twenty-four or thirty-two bierries.

Life Celebration

Elderly people are celebrated once every 10 years, starting from the age of 60. Grand, family and friends to present longevity peach (noodles), longevity hanging scrolls, longevity couplets, etc., in order to wish longevity. At noon, the birthday gift is set up in the hall, incense is burned, lamps are lit, the "birthday star" sits high, and the younger generation pays homage to the birthday in turn. After the worship, a sumptuous banquet is set up to entertain all the guests, and the day is celebrated. Into the 1990s, most of the birthday wishes to congratulate the gift of the ocean. Banquet held in the hotel.

He Thirteen

The custom of celebrating birthdays in Pingyao is still common today. In particular, when celebrating a thirteenth birthday, relatives and friends come to the door to congratulate the family, and the gift of congratulations is mostly a steamed "basket" with a lock on the top, and a three-foot hanging scroll made of red rope and copper coins on a string. Grandmother's family relatives as the guest of honor. At noon, facing the direction of the Niangniang Temple, set up tables in the courtyard, placing offerings and, grandmother's family bottom, other stacked on top. Lighting incense, firecrackers, by the grandmother for the grandchildren "folding yoke child" with pink, yellow and green paper wrapped around four stalks of cereal grass, three tied into a triangle, one hand holding a set at the neck, the other hand holding a stalk of cereal grass, the side of the three corners of the fight, the side of the mouth in the language of good luck recited to pray for the healthy growth of children. After playing, the yoke is set on fire together with Niangniang's flower and Niangniang's shoes. Afterwards, all the relatives and friends will be entertained.

Full Moon Celebration

Pingyao residents celebrate the birth of a child. In the old days, the birth of a boy was called a big joy and the birth of a girl was called a small joy. The full moon was celebrated for the first child, regardless of gender. The date of the full moon was 29 days for men and 30 days for women. There are also those who celebrate the full moon in the middle of the month, meaning that they want the child to stumble and hope for a long life. The full moon celebration is mainly for the mother's relatives, and the grandmother's family sends silver bracelets, jewelry, clothes, and small bedding. Other relatives give 3 feet of cloth, folded into the shape of a mountain. The host family gives back undershirts and pillowcases as a token of appreciation.

Festivals

Pingyao County people keep a lot of traditional festivals with national and local characteristics, which include seasonal festivals, commemorative festivals, festivals for heaven and earth, ancestor festivals, festivals for gods and ghosts, and festivals for animals. It fully demonstrates the ancient working people's yearning for harmony among heaven, earth, people, gods, ghosts and animals. It reflects people's traditional habits, moral customs and religious beliefs. Through these folk traditional festivals, the rich connotation and origin of the ancient city culture can be explored.

Sacrifices

Pingyao County people's sacrificial activities are divided into two main categories: God Sacrifices and Ancestor Sacrifices. In the past, the majority of people worshiped gods, and it was said that "no temple is a village". In general, families set up various shrines. Zao Wang, Zhang Gong, the family god, the god of wealth, the god of the door, the land are objects of worship. Professional artists enshrine their ancestors or gods in a prominent place in their homes to show their respect for their profession. Many people place statues of the Buddha or the Goddess of Mercy in their spare rooms, and set up offerings and burn incense on the first and fifteenth days of the year to show their devotion. Superstition reflects the good wishes of people praying for peace, wealth and prosperity.

Ancestor worship is the remembrance of ancestors. Generally in the New Year's Eve, Ching Ming, July 15, the first day of October or ancestor sacrifice.

Moving to a new house

Nowadays, there are many people in the countryside who follow the old custom of choosing a day to start the construction work and enshrining the God of the Land; during the construction period, they pay attention to the high red flag to suppress the evil spirits. When the new house is closed to the top, to stick couplets, firecrackers, and feast on craftsmen, to express gratitude. When moving to a new house, we should first "fill the house", kill a silver and red rooster, and sprinkle the house and yard with chicken blood. When moving to a new house, glass bottles, chopsticks, candles, and noodles are brought in to show "peace and safety," "happiness," and "good fortune.

Dialect

"The people of the five directions do not speak the same language," as recorded in the Book of Rites - The System of Kings ....... The Pingyao dialect is one of the counties in China that has preserved the most and richest Chinese culture and language of the Han Dynasty. The Pingyao dialect is extremely rich in overlapping nouns, which distinguishes it from the nouns that characterize Mandarin. The appellations are interesting. And this dialect is a language unique to Pingyao.