Speaking of Shanxi, everyone may think of Pingyao. Pingyao Ancient City is one of the four ancient cities in China and one of the two ancient cities that have been successfully applied for World Heritage. It has a history of more than 2,000 years. Such a well-preserved ancient city with a long history is a must-see when you go to Shanxi. This is a guide to Pingyao attractions. Come and take a look.

1. Introduction to Pingyao Ancient City

Pingyao Ancient City is located in Pingyao County in central Shaanxi Province. It is one of the four well-preserved ancient cities in China. It was first built in the period of King Xuan of the Western Zhou Dynasty. Pingyao was called "Gu Tao" in ancient times, also known as "Ping Tao". It was the fiefdom of Emperor Yao. During the Northern Wei Dynasty, the country name of Emperor Wu Tai of the Northern Wei Dynasty was Tuoba Dao, which is homophonic with "Tao", so it was renamed Pingyao County.

The ancient city of Pingyao has gone through vicissitudes of life and become the most complete prototype of an ancient Chinese county during the Ming and Qing Dynasties.

This is the whole picture of this ancient city. If you observe carefully, you will find that the entire ancient city is in the shape of a turtle, with six gates, one in the north, one in the south, two in the east, and one in the west. The south gate of the city is the head of a ghost, and the two wells outside symbolize the eyes of a turtle. The north gate of the city is the turtle's tail, which is the lowest point of the city. The accumulated water in the city flows out through here.

There are four Barbicans on the east and west sides of the city, facing each other. The gates of the Upper West Gate, Lower West Gate and Upper East Gate all face south, like a turtle's claws extending forward. Only the outer gate of the East Gate Urn opens to the east. It is said that when the city was built, in order to prevent the turtles from crawling away, their left legs were straightened and tied to the foothills twenty miles away from the city.

This shows that the ancients respected turtles. The turtle is a symbol of longevity and auspiciousness. It is as sacred as a god in the hearts of the ancients. The architectural style of the ancient city naturally hopes to use the power of the Turtle God to make the ancient city of Pingyao as solid as a rock, as solid as gold, and everlasting. In addition, there are 72 watchtowers on the city wall, and 3,000 battlements on the outside of the top of the wall, representing the 3,000 disciples of Confucius, and 72 sages guarding the ancient city from generation to generation.

2. Recommended attractions

Pingyao Ancient City Wall

Pingyao City Wall is located in Pingyao County in central Shanxi Province. It is one of the four most intact ancient city walls in China. . In 1988, the Pingyao City Wall was announced by the State Council of the People's Republic of China as one of the third batch of national key cultural relics protection units. In 1997, the ancient city of Pingyao, including the Pingyao City Wall, was included in the World Heritage List.

Pingyao Ancient City is the most complete ancient county town in China and an outstanding representative of traditional Chinese cities in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. In the historical development of China, it shows people a complete picture of extraordinary cultural, social, economic and religious development.

Confucius Temple

Pingyao Confucian Temple is located in the southeast corner of Pingyao County, Shanxi Province. It was built in the early years of Zhenguan in the Tang Dynasty. Its Dacheng Hall was rebuilt in the Jin Dynasty and still maintains its original appearance. It is the oldest of all existing Confucius temples in China and the only remaining Jin Dynasty building in the country.

The temple faces north and south. The total area is 35,811 square meters, the temple area is 8,649.6 square meters, and the construction area is 3,472.3 square meters. There are four existing courtyards, arranged on the central axis, including: Xingmen Tower, Dacheng Gate, Dacheng Hall, Minglun Hall, Jingyi Pavilion, Sutra Pavilion and other buildings.

On June 25, 2001, it was announced by the State Council as the fifth batch of national key cultural relics protection units.

City God's Temple

Pingyao City God's Temple is located in the middle section of City God's Temple Street in Pingyao, Shanxi. The City God is an important deity widely worshiped in Chinese religious culture. Most are played by famous ministers and heroes who have made contributions to the local people. They are the city-protecting gods of Chinese folk and Taoism. It was built in the early Hongwu period of Ming Dynasty and rebuilt in Chenghua. In the Qing Dynasty, Zheng Banqiao massacred the city of Weixian, rebuilt the City God's Temple, and wrote the "Inscription of the Creation and Construction of the City God's Temple". According to the etiquette system of "harmony between man and nature", with the South Street in the city as the axis, symmetrical to the Pingyao County Government Office, the City God's Temple takes the first place. Pingyao City God Temple is an official Taoist temple with a long history, rich historical and cultural connotations, and complete religious regulations. It is centered on the main hall of the City God's Temple and consists of four parts: Caoliu Mansion, Tutu Hall, Zaojun Temple, and Caishen Temple (affiliated to Zhenwu Tower). Its architectural scale is grand and the temple buildings are well-preserved. It is a treasure among the county-level Town God's Temples in China. The Chenghuang Temple has rich historical and cultural connotations, integrating traditional Confucianism, Taoism and folk culture. These cultural connotations are not only reflected in clay sculptures and murals, but also interestingly in the architectural forms of temples, platform music architecture, wood carvings and brick carvings, etc. The architectural structure of the City God's Temple is also very unique. The wooden structure, width, ceiling, wooden bird replacement pattern, and use of glazed components of each temple strictly follow the feudal etiquette of the time, with superior craftsmanship and unique characteristics. Every pavilion and pavilion is exquisitely carved and exquisitely crafted. From one aspect, it illustrates the degree of development and strong financial resources of Pingyao County during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. and the resulting demand for high culture. It is a landmark building of the wisdom of the working people in ancient China.

Ma Family Courtyard

Ma Family Courtyard covers an area of ??nine acres. It is the first of the "Four Rich Businessmen" in Pingyao and the former residence of Ma Zhong, a giant businessman in the Qing Dynasty. It was first built during the Tongzhi period of the Qing Dynasty. After decades of continuous construction between Tongzhi and Guangxu, it gradually formed a magnificent and exquisite building complex. Majia Courtyard covers an area of ??6,000 square meters, with 197 rooms in 3 courtyards and 6 courtyards. It combines residential architecture, customs and culture, the lives of wealthy families and the rise and fall of merchants.

The overall layout of the compound looks like a big "horse" from a bird's-eye view, as a warning to future generations not to forget their roots, and as a metaphor for the Ma family's career of "successful, rapid progress". Throughout the entire hospital, the exterior is tall and majestic, surrounded by plain brick walls, and the interior is gorgeous, exquisite and orderly, representing the living model of Chinese feudal families. When it's closed at night, it's like an "independent kingdom" isolated from the world. This is the gate of Ma's courtyard.

North China Escort Bureau

The North China First Escort Agency Museum is located at No. 22 East Street Road, Pingyao Gucheng. It is the first museum in China to comprehensively display the history and culture of the escort agency. The entire museum has a total area of ??more than 1,000 square meters and is divided into four parts: front, middle, back and floor. There are six exhibition halls and two exhibition areas, which comprehensively and truly reproduce the unique style of the Chinese escort agency since the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty. The first escort bureaus in North China refer to the Tongxinggong, Taifen and Changlong escort agencies established by Wang Zhengqing, Dai Erlu and Zuo in Pingyao, Qixian and Wenshui during the Daoguang period. Wang, Dai and Zuo, one of them is famous for his martial arts. The second is high martial arts. The establishment of the Escort Bureau, either for cash delivery, payment, or freight forwarding, met the needs of cash settlement in commercial trade at that time, so it prospered for a time. The ticket number was born, and the business of the escort agency dropped sharply. The most prosperous period was when the domestic situation was chaotic in the late Qing Dynasty. During the Republic of China, various military and police escort bureaus appeared, and the escort bureaus declined one after another and withdrew from the stage of history one after another.

:3. Transportation Guide

1. Public transportation

Pingyao County currently has three bus lines, namely No. 1, No. 2, and An Road.

The starting price is 5 yuan from 21:00 pm to 6:00 am. The starting price is two kilometers, and 1.2 yuan is charged for each kilometer beyond two kilometers (including 20% ??night shift fee).

Tips:

The price of tour buses is quite confusing, generally 20-30 yuan. If the price is too high, be sure to bargain.

3. Bicycles

Most inns and travel agencies in Pingyao provide bicycle rental services, including single rides, double rides, folding double rides, large and small wheels and other models.

Generally, more people rent single rides.

Price: Single-person riding prices are generally 5 yuan/hour, 15 yuan/half day (4 hours), and 30 yuan/full day (10 hours). Other models are slightly more expensive than solo riding.

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