US EUROPE AFRICA ASIA 中文

    A portal to an ancient world

    By Yang Feiyue ( China Daily ) Updated: 2015-07-11 08:15:44

    A portal to an ancient world

    A live reenactment of the panoply when Emperor Kangxi came to visit in the Prime Minister's Palace in Jincheng. [Photo by Wang Zhuang Fei/China Daily]

    From aged city walls to Ming dynasty-era buildings, Pingyao and its surrounding scenic areas provide a glimpse into China's past.

    Go to Shanxi if you want to get a good measure of China's ancient civilization.

    While the rest of China aims to present the world a new face, Shanxi wants nothing but to showcase Chinese culture that dates back 5,000 years ago, says Wang Wenbao, deputy director of Shanxi tourism bureau.

    Myriads of densely-populated ancient buildings viewed from the top of the Pingyao ancient city wall can easily take one's breath away. The city sits in Jinzhong city, which is half an hour away from Shanxi's capital city Taiyuan by high-speed train.

    "There are roughly 4,000 well-preserved residences of Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911) within the city wall," says Cao Xin, a local tour guide.

    What makes Pingyao special is its intact city wall that runs approximately six kilometers, Cao claims. It takes one two hours to walk the full circle of the wall and enjoy a bird's eye view of what's inside.

    "Unlike other historical sites under strict protection but suffer the loss of the human touch, the ancient city is very much alive, thanks to its inhabitants," Cao says.

    One can find ancient government offices, banks and temples in the city, and give free rein to their imagination of how Chinese ancestors go around their daily life.

    The place that houses ancient torture tools and displays photos showing how criminals were punished boggles the mind. It makes me realize that ancient justice did know how to knock the stuffing out of the convicted and let them suffer till sweet death came.

    The World Heritage Committee has rated the city as the best-preserved ancient county in China and an outstanding example of Han nationality cities of Ming and Qing dynasties. The committee held that the city offers a complete picture of cultural, social, economic and religious development in ancient times.

    Those who want to shop shouldn't miss yellow rice wine, local lacquer and Chinese yams, the three treasure of the city, Cao says. She explains that although some products cost more in the scenic spots, they are well worth it.

    "The Changshengyuan yellow wine that was loved by Empress Dowager Ci Xi (1835-1908) and Yonglong lacquer are only available for sale here. You can't buy them elsewhere."

    The city takes on the look of Beijing's Nanluoguxiang when night falls. The street here is wider and more comfortable for one to walk through.

    Red lanterns hanging from the eaves are lit. Bars and restaurants bustle with business.

    A ticket to Pingyao costs 120 yuan from March to October and will drop to 90 yuan for the rest of the year, Cao says.

    Previous Page 1 2 3 Next Page

    Editor's Picks
    Hot words

    Most Popular
    ...
    99无码人妻一区二区三区免费| 国产中文字幕乱人伦在线观看| 中文字幕视频在线| 精品亚洲A∨无码一区二区三区| 日韩精品无码一区二区中文字幕 | 小SAO货水好多真紧H无码视频| 中文字幕无码日韩专区免费| 色AV永久无码影院AV| 中文字幕亚洲一区二区va在线| 天堂网www中文在线| 97性无码区免费| 亚洲AV无码久久| 中文字幕在线看日本大片| 中文字幕丰满伦子无码| 99久久精品无码一区二区毛片| 亚洲AV无码国产精品色午友在线 | 中文字幕无码久久精品青草| 中文无码vs无码人妻| 久久久久无码精品国产| 亚洲AV无码一区东京热久久 | 色婷婷综合久久久久中文字幕 | 中日精品无码一本二本三本| 精品国产毛片一区二区无码| 久久精品国产亚洲AV无码麻豆| 无码人妻一区二区三区在线| 亚洲欧洲美洲无码精品VA| 久久精品中文无码资源站| 麻豆国产精品无码视频| 中文成人无码精品久久久不卡 | 在线播放中文字幕 | 佐佐木明希一区二区中文字幕| 中文字字幕在线中文乱码不卡| 少妇极品熟妇人妻无码| 无码国产成人午夜电影在线观看| 免费无码婬片aaa直播表情| 高清无码在线视频| 国产精品无码素人福利不卡| 日韩乱码人妻无码中文视频| 国产 日韩 中文字幕 制服| 中文字幕精品亚洲无线码二区 | 91中文字幕在线|