Located in the central part of Shanxi province, Pingyao is a cultural city with a history of over 2,700 years. It lies about 715 km from Beijing and 80 km from the provincial capital, Taiyuan. During the Qing Dynasty, Pingyao was a financial center of China. It is now renowned for its well-preserved ancient city wall, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The well-preserved Ancient City of Pingyao is an outstanding example of traditional city of the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911). It provides an extraordinary complete picture of cultural, social, economic, and religious development during one of the most seminal periods of Chinese history.
Considered as the best ancient walled city in all of China, Pingyao Ancient City is a 2.6 square kilometer (1 square mile) inhabited and mostly car-free city. Popular tourist attractions in Pingyao Ancient City include County Government Office, Shuanglin Temple and Rishengchang Exchange Shop.