Pingyao, the Walled City of Antiquity 2008-6-22 14:52:58

lings; the Red Gate Castle has only one gate, the door of which is painted red, and Ancestral Temples . The streets in the compound form a patrem similar to the Chinese character "Wang" for the family name. The buildings of Wang compound have an eye-popping array of sculptures and carvings on wood, brick and stone.

After 600 years, the family fortunes started to decline, and several residences within the compound were sold outside the family. When the Japanese forces came, the owner Wang Yirang sold offall the family shops and moved out. Since then, several houses in the compound have been lived in by non-Wangs or converted into showpieces. Shuanglin Temple , a musty monastery 7km south of Pingyao, has traditional paintings and some 2,000 terracotta figurines dating back to the Song and Yuan dynasties. Other temples include Zhenguo Temple 15km north of Pingyao, which features Buddha figures and Dacheng Hall , located southeast of Pingyao. It's the only Confucian temple built during the Song dynasty and has an 800-year history.

Practical Tips
If you visit during the Lantern Festival, 15 days after the Chinese New Year, there's an annual parade on Liugen Lu. The streets are dolled up with pretty red lanterns and street performers awe the crowds with tightrope walks, lion dances and other displays. You get to sample a Chinese New Year snack of yuanxiao, made round to symbolize the moon. It's a glutinous rice ball with sweet sesame and walnut paste inside, served in a sweet soup. But if you don't like crowds, avoid the May and October national holidays.

Transportation
Airport - The closet airport is in Talyuan, about 90km away.

Bus - Getting to Pingyao from Talyuan by bus will take about an hour, tickets are about RMB 10. The Talyuan bus station is next to the train station on Yingze Da Jie. The bus station in Pingyao is also beside the train station.

Pedi-cab - RMB 2 to 5 for distances up to 2km, if you're going further than 2km, you'll have to discuss a price with the driver.

Taxi - Compact taxis are RMB 6, full-sized taxis are RMB 12.

Train - Pingyao is well-connected by trains.
Trains aiso go to the Qiao Family Courtyard House in Qi County.

The Best of Pingyao
The Ancient City of Pingyao
Add: inside Pingyao
Open Time: 7:30am to 7:30pm, peak-season
            8am to 6pro, off-season
Charge: 85, for access to all sights within Pingyao

Qiao Family Courtyard House
Add: Qiaojia Bao, Dongguan Town, Qi County, 40km from Taiyuan and 20kin from Pingyao
Tel: 532 1045
Open Time: 8am to 5:30pm
Charge: RMB 35

Shuanglin Temple
Add: Qiaotou Village, Zhongdu Town, 6km west of Pingyao
Open Time: 8am to 6pm, peak-season
            9am to 5pm, off-season
Charge: RMB 18

Hotels
Shihua Hotel   ��
Add: 29 Shuncheng Lu
Charge: 360 - double room, peak-season
         260 - double room, off-season

Zhongdu Hotel ��
Add: 1 Shuncheng Lu
Charge: 280 - double room, peak-season
         120 - double room, off-season

Pingyao Hotel
Add: 23 Shaxiang
Charge: 200 - double room, peak-season
         120 - double room, off-season

Yunfeng Hotel
Add: 190 Shuncheng Lu
Charge: 380 - double room, peak-season
        288 - double room, off-season

Food �� Retaurants
Pingyao offers traditional northern China cuisine and specializes in various noodle dishes and pastries. Locals will tell you they have over I08 kinds of noodles and pastries,try wantuoze , it's a famous noodle dish. Also sink your teeth into Pingyao's beefy dishes. Pingyao's stewed is slow cooked in its own gravy and mouthwatering tender - it's known throughout China. The street food menu includes fried pork-stuffed buns called shuijianbao, pancakes topped with string beans called doumian fianbao and steaming bowls of dumpling called kaolao . Pingyao doesn't have ritzy high-end restaurants; the food here is rustic and homey. All the restaurants here are open from 8am to 9:30pm. For beverages, try yellow millet wine.

RESTAURANTS
Changxingiong
Add: 29 Longmiao Jie

Dejuyuan Kezhan
Add: 43 Xi Da Jie

Guifu Restaurant
Add: 3 Shuguang Lu

Juguang Ju
Add: 20 Shuncheng Lu

Tianyuankui Kezhan
Add: 73 Nan Da Jie

Yide Kezhan
Add: 16 Shaxiang Jie

Yuantaichang
Add�� 54 Xi Da Jie

Yunjincheng
Add: 29 Nan Da Jie Tel: 568 0944

Souvenirs
Lacquerware is the local specialty with lacquer jewelry boxes, which cost around RMB 200, being the local hot item. Check out the traditional paper cuttings, complex patterns are cut into the paper using scissors. Try on a pair of handmade cloth shoes. They're very comfy and only cost RMB 30 to 50. Old coins, antique furniture, jade jewelry and other goodies are available. Lots of shops along Ming Qing Street offer similar wares, so take your time browsing.

Memorable Experience
Watching the city folk play card games and hang out at the Temple of the City God gates.
Sampling the street snacks: sugarcane, nuts, candied and dried fruit.
Enjoying tea with the locals, who spend lazy after

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