A weekend in Pingyao - Travel planning:
For visiting the historic old town of Pingyao and visiting the Wang Compound I have planned one weekend. The trip started on a Friday out of Beijing I returned on Sunday afternoon.
Several tour operators now offer weekend trips to Pingyao from Beijing.
With the train coming from Beijing, it takes about 4 hours to get to Pingyao Railway Station. There are now fast direct connections from Beijing to Pingyao, but these should be booked early enough. Alternatively, there are slower connections, but a transit in Taiyuan is necessary.
You can easily take a taxi from the train station to the historic city center. The old town itself is car-free, so the last few meters to the accomodation you have to walk by yourself.
Stopover in Taiyuan:
I booked a ticket with a stay for dinner in Taiyuan. Then the journey continued with a slow “night train” to Pingyao. Travel time takes about 6-7 hours.
Arrival and accommodation in Pingyao:
When we arrived in Pingyao, it was already late in the evening and the streets and buildings have been stylishly illuminated.
There are a number of small and relatively simple hotels and hostels in the old town of Pingyao. These are directly in the historic old town and ensure an absolutely authentic lifestyle.
Numerous restaurants can be found within walking distance along the streets and alleys. Here you can enjoy traditional dishes in a local atmosphere. In addition, some cafes invite you to linger in the afternoons.
The old town of Pingyao:
The old town of Pingyao is part of the UNESCO world cultural heritage. Pingyao has been founded in the 14th century and counts to the most preserved historic cities. Pingyao has been between the 19th and 20th century the financial center of China.
Parts of the significant history of the city are still preserved today and can be visited and discovered in the form of open-air museums.
During an evening stroll, you can explore Pingyao in peace on the empty streets. The stylishly illuminated and excellently preserved old buildings are an absolute eye-catcher. You really feel like you've been transported back in history.
Walking alone in the streets of Pingyao you feel like you are at a location for a historical film.
In the morning life slowly comes back to the streets. You can get around here by walking or on two-wheelers. Food, fruit, spices and the like are sold at small stalls along the streets.
Well-preserved courtyards can be found all over the historic city center. These still bear witness to the former influence and prosperity of the city when it was still the financial center of China.
The houses and buildings in the typical Asian architectural style characterize the entire cityscape. With their special decorations, each one is virtually unique.
The mostly symmetrical arrangement of the houses around the courtyards is also special.
In addition to the courtyard houses, there are also a number of small, quiet temples in Pingyao. With their construction they also integrate seamlessly into the cityscape and invite you to linger in their little gardens.
There is no boredom in Pingyao. The locals meet in one of the quiet side streets to play cards together. Alternatively, numerous cafes and restaurants along the streets invite you to linger and enjoy.
From the drum tower you have a wonderful view over the old town, the hustle and bustle on the streets and the surrounding mountains.
A wonderful twilight view over the curved roofs of Pingyao's ancient houses. In particular, the gathering clouds illuminated by the sun create a very special atmosphere.
An absolutely fantastic moment when the sun slowly sets behind the city tower of Pingyao and turns the sky deep orange.
The Wang Compound:
On Sunday morning there was planned an excursion to the Wang Compound which is located nearby. The family estate is the largest of its kind in the Shanxi Province and is almost as big as a small village. It comprises 231 courtyard houses with 2078 rooms on an area of 8 hectares. The property has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2008 and is truly worth visiting it as an open-air museum.
The Zhangbi Underground Castle:
In the afternoon the exploration of the underground Castle Zhangbi was planned. Here we went through the underworld in a stooped position. The exploration is a bit horrible and fascinating at the same time, but it should not be missed.
Return via Taiyuan to Beijing:
In the late afternoon we took the train back to Beijing via Taiyuan.
Conclusion:
During this weekend in Pingyao I got to know a new side of China. The old, traditional and calm lifestyle. Without the stress and the restless hustle and bustle of modern cities.
For me, the trip to Pingyao was a great experience to learn about the contrast between life in the big city and life in the country. Pingyao is also the ideal place to discover original, very well-preserved Chinese architecture.
This report is part of my series China travel reports – there you will find an overview of all regions.
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