Overview:

: Pingyao Ancient City is an ancient walled city located in Shanxi province, China. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997 and has been well-preserved since the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. The city is surrounded by a well-preserved 6km long city wall, eight city gates and 72 watch towers which have stood the test of time and the ravages of war. Inside the walls, the streets and alleyways contain a marvel of traditional Chinese architecture and artefacts from the Ming and Qing dynasties. Also within the walls are traditional Chinese shops, residences, temples, and teahouses, making Pingyao Ancient City a unique and quite remarkable place to visit and explore. It is one of the most beautiful monuments in China
Prominent Features:

1. Built around 1300 AD, the city wall of Pingyao Ancient City is the oldest and best-preserved walled city in China. 2. Standing at a height of up to 12 meters (40 feet) and stretching for over 6 kilometers (3.7 miles), the Pingyao city wall is ensemble of walls and watchtowers built to protect the city. 3. The wall is divided into two inner and outer walls while the northern and eastern sides are connected by wide and tall gates. Access to the city is monitored by the city gates, and a deep moat outside the walls further ensured security. 4. Although the city had been destroyed several times, the wall was surprisingly preserved due to the skillful planning and construction. 5. Today, the Pingyao city wall is a key tourist attraction in Shanxi province. Tourists are encouraged to walk along the wall to admire the city’s ancient architecture, get a sense of its importance and experience its charm. You can learn history, culture, and heritage through these magnificent monuments in China.

History:

Pingyao Ancient City Wall is a city wall built to protect the ancient city of Pingyao, located in present-day Shanxi, China. Constructed in the late 14th century during the reign of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644), the wall completely encircled a small town which was no bigger than a few square kilometers. The wall was nearly 6 kilometers long with six gates, each of which was constructed in the style of a miniature cities with murals, sculptures, and eaves carved with beautiful patterns. Originally, Pingyao Ancient City Wall was constructed with a crenelated brick wall 6 meters high, 8 meters wide at the base and at 1.5 meters at the top, with battlements and horseshoe shaped gates. For protection, Pingyao had three layers of walls. The inner layer was made with pinkish mud, and the middle stele was made with clay and bricks. The outer layer was made with large, square-cut stones, and the whole wall was held together with a strong lime mortar. Later on, thousands of watchtowers were added to protect the city wall. The city of Pingyao has remained mostly isolated for centuries and many of its historical treasures remain intact, including its city walls, temples, and merchants’ mansions. Today, Pingyao Ancient City Wall is a popular tourist destination and is protected by the Chinese Government as a National Historic and Cultural Heritage Site. It is also one of the best-preserved city walls in all of China. Visit one of the famous monuments of China with your friends and family.

Interesting facts:

1. The Pingyao Ancient City Wall is over 600 years old and considered one of the best preserved city walls of Ancient China. 2. It is still 6 metres high, 12 metres wide at the base, and up to nearly 7.2 kilometres long. 3. The four corner towers are made from brick and have a height of 33 metres. 4. The walls were built for defence as well as to show the power of the city during the Ming Dynasty. 5. There is a 62 metre long bridge and a 78 metre long gate across the wall. 6. The city walls have 72 watchtowers and 72 gates. 7. The walls also have over 60,000 battlements, watchtowers, gates and passages which make up the entire city. 8. The city of Pingyao was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. One of the historical monuments of China, it tells the story of a bygone era