Pingyao Self-Guided Walking Tour, Pingyao, China

A regional trading settlement since ancient times, the town of Pingyao in China’s central Shanxi province had become known as a regional financial hub by the 16th century and hit a boom period during the late Qing dynasty in the 19th century, when a number of influential banks and financial institutions sprang up in the area. By the end of the 19th century, the small town of Pingyao was said to be the financial hub of the entire Qing Empire, filled with prosperous banks, financial speculators, wealthy merchants and renowned martial artists who worked as security guards to protect the town’s financial establishments and riches within. The period of prosperity lasted roughly until the fall of the Qing dynasty in the early 20th century, and Pingyao reverted to a sleepy settlement for several decades before attracting renewed attention due to its Ming/Qing-era urban planning and plethora of heritage buildings. The walled ‘ancient town’ of Pingyao is considered to be one of the best-preserved heritage towns in China, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997 and a 5A-rated tourist attraction as designated by the Chinese government. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).