Pingyao Ancient City was something else. From the moment the little golf cart dropped us off, a five-minute walk from Chang Yi Feng Inn…View image… – our “home” for the next three nights – until we left, Pingyao Ancient City was completely engrossing and fun. The Lantern Festival, held 15 days after the Chinese New Year, is possibly the only event that could have made Pingyao beyond perfect. Pingyao is one of the only complete walled cities left in China and an outstanding example of Chinese Han nationality cities during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. It is located on an old route between Beijing and Xian and became a thriving merchant town.

All the hotels within the city were once old houses that have been turned into guesthouses. Our room’s decor was typical Chinese-style with the mattress laid over a brick foundation. In olden days, hot coals would have been placed in the bricks at night to heat the room. We sure could have used them the first night since our modern heater didn’t work. Buried under three extremely heavy quilts, I slept in all my clothes. We had surprisingly comfortable buckwheat filled pillows and a very modern bathroom. (They changed our room the next day to one with a working heater.)

Chang Yi Feng Inn, our guesthouse, in Pingyao, China
Two main places of interest inside Pingyao are:

- The ancient Ming and Qing Streets, the main drag inside the walls filled with inns…View image…, shops… View image…and restaurants; and

one of Pingyao’s streets, China 

selling “stuff” in Pingyao, China 

a typical Pingyao ancient courtyard in China - The City Wall, originally erected between 827-782 BC, expanded and rebuilt in 1370, that completely surrounds the old city. …View image… It is possible to walk the entire 6.4k/4m perimeter of the wall with the exception of a short section that had collapsed during a big storm and was being rebuilt.

Pingyao’s city wall and towers, China 

Pingyao map by the city walls, China
There were maps at each important intersection, and directional signs pointing to the various museums and sites. Part of the enjoyment was just wandering up and down whatever street took your fancy, watching the people, looking into the courtyards and try not to get run down by the tourists and locals on bicycles….

a local bicyclist in Pingyao, China 

Pingyao locals playing cards in China 

Pingyao map portion, China 

…and then at night, the town’s red lanterns glowed in the dark and we could re-stroll the streets in peace and quiet…

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nighttime in Pingyao, China