PINGYAO, CHINA

Ancient ChinaI went to Pingyao on a side trip after a poetry convention in Beijing. No smog in Pinyao.I went with my Beijing guide on the night train. Very nice to arrive in Pingyao in the quiet of the morning. The people of Pingyao are warm and friendly. Beautiful art and wonderful hand crafts. The first large bank where one could draw funds while in another city. is there. Very ancient estates beautifully preserved. Many very nice little hotels. Good food. I stayed in a 300 year old house that was converted into a hotel without destroying the original architecture. My Beijing guide and I had a local guide who was very knowledgeable. When I had a spell of heart palpitations he took me to his home where his wife fed me and put me to bed until I felt better. I understand that Pingyao is a heritage sight and will not be modernized. Thank goodness.! Beijing is nothing more than another big crowded smoggy city that is so modernized it could be in the USA or anywhere. Very disappointing. People very nice though. Pingyao has it's own interesting historic wall. Not commercialized as part of the great wall is outside of Beijing. If you get the chance go to Pingyao. A two or three day trip is long enough. I was there two full days. Take cash. When I was there credit cards were not being accepted. Check. Maybe now they will take credit cards. It was a great experience that I will always remember. I loved Pingyao and it's people.Submitted by: Alisha Rodrigues

We visited Pingyao mid December 2007 as part of an individual trip in Shanxi province from Beijing.We used a car guide and driver to get there and came back to Beijing with an overnight train(sleeping car) leaving from Tayuan. At night Pingyao is magical lit by red lanterns it seems out of a movie by Zang Himou...most of the old city within its fortified walls is protected from traffic cars are banned and the city seems untouched by the passing of time. Today the area is obviously very poor but Pingyao was a rich and vibrant commercial center until the early 1900s. the merchants' mansions and the many banks bear witness to that wealth. Since being listed as \Treasure of Humanity\ by Unesco the city is decidedly turning its hopes towards tourism in order to revive its fortune. Old buildings are being repaired and rehabilitated turned into lovely small hotels.... without destroying the charm of the place. We recommend the Financier's club Hotel an old mansion with 3 courtyards the rooms are decorated with traditional antique chinese furniture but the bathrooms are new and comfortable. The traditional and intricate red Folk Paper cuts are what you should bring back as souvenir.