CN · Shanxi · 37.20°N 112.15°E

pingyao

Intact Ming-era walled city with old banks, courtyard inns and noodles galore.

Best time
April to May and September to October are mild. Summers are hot, winters drop well below freezing, and the town is packed during the October Golden Week.
How long
1–2 days
Getting there
Fly from KL to Xi'an (about 5 hours) or Beijing (about 6 hours), then take the high-speed train to Pingyao Gucheng station, about 3 hours from Xi'an or 3.5–4 hours from Beijing. A short bus or taxi gets you to the walls.
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CN · Shanxipingyao37.20°N 112.15°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Intact Ming-era walled city with old banks, courtyard inns and noodles galore.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingPingyaoCN, Shanxi
KLpingyao
≈ 3,935 km from KL, as the crow flies
平遥市楼 —— 北面

Photo: Zhangzhugang · CC BY-SA 3.0

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

One of the best-preserved walled towns in China, in central Shanxi, with its old street plan, shopfronts and courtyard houses still standing. In the late Qing dynasty it was the country's banking centre, and some of the old exchange houses are now museums. It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site and easy to explore on foot.

Makan

  1. Pingyao beefSalted, slow-cooked beef, the town's best-known product.Map ↗
  2. Knife-cut noodlesNoodles shaved straight into boiling water, a Shanxi classic.Map ↗
  3. KaolaolaoOat noodles rolled into little honeycomb shapes and steamed.Map ↗
  4. Shanxi aged vinegarDark, mellow vinegar that goes on almost everything here.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. The city wallWalk part or all of the six-kilometre wall for views over the grey-tiled rooftops.Map ↗
  2. RishengchangThe exchange house said to be China's first draft bank, founded in the early 1800s.Map ↗
  3. Ming-Qing StreetThe main street of old shopfronts, now full of snack stalls and shops.Map ↗
  4. The old county yamenA huge old government compound with courtrooms, offices and a jail.Map ↗
  5. Shuanglin TempleA temple outside town filled with around 2,000 painted clay figures.Map ↗

Good to know

  • One combined ticket covers most of the sights inside the walls. Keep it handy, as it's checked at each one.
  • Bring your passport. You'll need it for train tickets and to check in.
  • Most places expect Alipay or WeChat Pay. Link your card to one before you fly and keep some cash as a backup.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.