World Cultural Heritage: The Ancient City of Ping Yao (2)

Introduction:

The Ancient City of Ping Yao is located in central Shanxi Province in Northern China and dates back to the period of Emperor Xuanwang during the Western Zhou Dynasty (827 BC – 782 BC). It was further expanded during the third year of Hongwu in the Ming Dynasty (1370) and has a history spanning over 2,700 years. At present, the city still preserves its look from the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368 — 1911), and is thus hailed as the best preserved ancient Han Chinese city.

The Ancient City of Ping Yao has three valuable treasures, among which, is the ancient city wall. The city wall was established in the third year of Hongwu during the Ming Dynasty (1370), and is 6.4 kilometers around. It is the largest city wall that has a relatively long history in Shanxi Province. The city wall was repaired in the Ming and Qing dynasties, but the style and structure of the early Ming Dynasty has been preserved. The wall is square, and is about 12 meters tall, and is made of bricks with crenels built on the wall. There is also a moat outside the wall, which is four meters deep and wide. There are six doors, two in the east and west respectively, and one in the south and north. A small town was built in the east and west respectively for defense and there are 3,000 crenels and 72 towers, which are said to represent Confucius’ 3,000 disciples and 72 sages. Despite more than 600 years of ups and downs, the city wall remains well preserved.

The streets, stores and houses in the Ancient City of Ping Yao still retain the traditional layout and look. The streets are gridded, and the stores are built alongside. Stores are sturdy and tall with color pictures below the eaves and colored sculptures above the beams, looking very antique like. The houses behind the stores are all courtyard houses with a clear axis and are bilaterally symmetrical. The entire ancient city presents a very old look.