Pingyao offers a glimpse into Medieval China and a good opportunity for tourists to imagine how life would have been there. Indulge yourself with local delicacies and learn about history in this magnificent town which was once an economic and trading hub of the Empire.

In this guide, we share how to make the most of a trip to Pingyao, covering everything from getting there, the best places to stay, to what you shouldn’t miss while exploring.

Overview

Our journey to Pingyao, located in Shanxi Province, gave us the chance to experience the charm of one of China’s well-preserved ancient towns. Known for its rich history as a former financial centre during the Ming and Qing dynasties, Pingyao offers tourists a unique glimpse into China’s past.

Walking its cobbled streets felt like stepping back in time, with the surrounding architecture offering a glimpse into a bygone era.

Read more about why you should also consider Pingyao as part of your China itinerary.

Travel to and Around Pingyao

Travelling to Pingyao

Getting to Pingyao is quite straightforward, with options that cater to different travel styles and budgets. We opted for a high-speed train from Xi’an, which was efficient and allowed us to take in the scenery along the way.

Note: the station for high-speed trains is called Pingyaogucheng. Booking train tickets via Trip.com was easy and straightforward.

We chose this option as we were heading to Beijing later that day and found the right timing to allow for a day in Pingyao.

If you are coming for a day trip by high-speed train, note that the train station does not have a luggage storage facility, which is fairly surprising considering the grand scale of the construction.

However, we were able to leave our luggage with the local police officers for the equivalent of a few dollars. They do close around 8pm, but that worked well for us as we had a train at 7pm.

There’s also the option of taking a bus from nearby cities or even flying into Taiyuan and travelling to Pingyao by road.

Travelling Around Pingyao

Once in Pingyao, you’ll find that the best way to explore is on foot. The ancient city is pedestrian-friendly, and part of the experience is taking in the sights while wandering.

There are also electric carts available for around $1.50 if you need a break from walking, but we found that walking really let us absorb the atmosphere.

Taxis are also widely available and not at all expensive, which offers a great way to go from the high-speed station to the old town. We found that this was the best way to go into town considering the relatively tight schedule we had.

Where to Stay in Pingyao?

We didn’t stay overnight as we opted to just do a day trip and head later that day to Beijing by train. If you are considering staying, there are plenty of options, ranging from budget-friendly inns to more upscale boutique hotels, all of which capture that distinctive Pingyao style.

It’s worth staying within the old city to truly soak in the atmosphere after the day-trippers have left.

We would recommend booking your accommodation through an aggregator such as Booking.com or Trip.com to get the best rates. Use the widget below to find the best accommodation in Pingyao for your specific dates.

Best Time to Visit Pingyao

We visited Pingyao in the autumn, and we’d recommend it for the cooler temperatures and the vibrant atmosphere. Having said this, on the day we visited temperatures were in the mid 20s, so fairly warm.

Spring is also a great option, as the weather is quite pleasant, while winter can be chilly but charming in its own way, with fewer tourists.

Things to do in Pingyao

One thing you must note about China in general, which is that most state owned museums and touristic spots require advance booking either on the website of the venue or via WeChat.

In Pingyao, you will have to buy a general city wide ticket which covers all attractions in the old city. It can be bought online through WeChat or Trip.com, we opted for the latter.

Overall, you will find that the attractions are fairly small but, as a whole, give you a sense of what medieval China might have looked like. It’s one of the best-preserved medieval cities in China and an excellent way for foreigners to see a different side of China.

To see how you can book your Pingyao tickets and to understand more about what apps are allowed in China and how you can pay for your attractions and make reservations read our dedicated Essential China Apps article.

Card payments aren’t widely accepted, and we found that China is a cashless sociey, using Alipay or WeChat Pay is therefore paramount. We linked our 0% fee cards throughout this trip to make sure we always got the better rates. Read more here about managing your finances when travelling.

1. Step Back in Time at the Pingyao Confucian Temple

We started our journey by visiting the Pingyao Confucian Temple, one of the oldest in China. The tranquil courtyards and intricate details offer an insight into traditional culture, making it an ideal introduction to the history of the town.

The temple is a modest one, offering a good insight into Confucianism and its teachings.

2. Explore the City God Temple of Pingyao

Next, we headed to the City God Temple, which is a vibrant and colourful complex with plenty of spots to discover. Inside the complex, there are plenty of shrines and opportunities to go up to the first floor to see the inner courtyards of each shrine.

The last shrine, which is also the nicest and full of gold ornaments, is very beautifully decorated and deserves a moment or two to truly observe and appreciate it.

3. Stroll Along South Street

South Street is the main thoroughfare of Pingyao, bustling with activity and lined with shops, restaurants, and street food vendors. We loved strolling here, browsing local crafts, and soaking in the atmosphere of this historic marketplace.

You will find that Pingyao is popular for dates and various by-products such as date vinegar. The whole street smells of vinegar, and many tourists buy locally produced bottles to take home.

We also bought several cookies and bakes, which we wanted to sample on the train on the way back. We took a sample of various bakes, some with red beans, others with dates, and so on. Overall, they had nice flaky crusts with generous fillings.

4. Discover the Museum of The Service Guard of China

One of the highlights of our visit was the Museum of The Service Guard of China, which gave us an interesting glimpse into the role that security guards played in the past.

While there aren’t too many exhibits here, it’s worth taking your time to learn about the history behind this unique aspect of Pingyao’s culture.

5. Learn About Ancient Banking at the Museum of Chinese “Xietongqing” Ancient Bank

Pingyao was an important financial hub in ancient China, and the “Xietongqing” Ancient Bank Museum showcases this history well. We spent some time learning about the origins of banking in China and the systems they had in place.

6. Visit the Museum of Chinese “Rishengchang” Ancient Bank

Similarly, the Rishengchang Museum, considered the first draft bank in China, was quite captivating. The building itself is charming, and it’s incredible to think about how financial operations were carried out here hundreds of years ago.

Inside, you will see the various offices, kitchens, guest halls, and so on, which helped the bank become one of the most prominent banks in all of China.

7. Walk Along the Pingyao Ancient City Wall

No visit to Pingyao would be complete without a walk along its ancient city wall. The views from the top are great, giving us a full perspective of the old city below.

We took our time to walk a stretch of the wall, appreciating the scale of Pingyao and imagining what it must have been like centuries ago.

8. Visit Zhenguo Temple

Zhenguo Temple, located about 12 kilometers northeast of Pingyao Ancient City is one of China’s most significant and well-preserved ancient temples. It was originally built during the Northern Han Dynasty in 963 AD and is renowned for its unique architecture and exquisite Buddhist statues.

The temple is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site that includes Pingyao. We did attempt to visit it, but we we weren’t allowed in even though we had 30 minutes left till closing.

There is another temple Shuang Lin on the other side of the city for which you would need to allocate more time too or visit on another day.

Top Restaurants in Pingyao

Enjoy a Traditional Meal at Hong Wu Ji – Hotel

When it comes to dining in Pingyao, we found Hong Wu Ji, a restaurant located in a historic hotel, to be a memorable spot.

The local dishes were flavourful, and the setting added to the experience. We particularly enjoyed trying the Pingyao beef, which is a local specialty.

The Pingyao beef is a stew cooked with reduced date vinegar (a local speciality) and offers a very deep and rich flavour to the beef.

We also had another local delicacy, salted beef, which is a cured beef cut into slices. It was very good, tasty, and tender.

Another interesting dish we had was the cold rice cake dish which was a glutinous style rice served cold, mixed with dried fruit in a honey-like sauce with other fragrant herbs.

It was a sweet dish but it accompanied our Pingyao beef stew perfectly. It was something very new for us but also very interesting with every bite we took.

Overall, we really enjoyed the service and the food, and we would recommend it to anyone visiting Pingyao.

Final Thoughts

Our time in Pingyao was a step back into China’s storied past, and we were captivated by the old-world charm of the ancient city. It’s a destination that invites you to slow down, wander, and truly appreciate its history and culture

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