| A Brief introduction to Pingyao |
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The ancient county town of Pingyao, 90 kilomerers southwest of the city of Taiyuan, is a famous historical and cultural town in China. It is also known as the Turtle Town because turtle symbolizes good luck, longevity and rock-like steadfastness. Pingyao is one of the few ancient towns with a relatively long history and in better preservation. It is a major historical monument under provincial protection. The ancient city was first built during the reign of King Xuan between 827 and 782 B.C. in the Zhou Dynasty. The Town wall of bricks and stones we see today was built in 1307, the third year of the Hongwu reign of the Ming Dynasty, when the town wall was reconstructed and enlarged for defense on the foundations of the Western Zhou Dynasty. This county town wall was repaired 26 times during the Ming and Qing periods. The ancient square town wall of Pingyao is 6157.7 meters in circumference and 6-10 meters high, which were built in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). There are towers on the six gates, 3,000 crenels and 72 castles on the walls surrounded by moats, all typical of ancient Chinese architecture. Inside the city, the streets, residential quarters with courtyards and shops all preserve their ancient Ming and Qing styles. Inside the town, there are a large number of residential buildings and temples built at the end of the Qing Dynasty. The ancient town of Pingyao is made up by these old building together with the ancient town wall.
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