Pingyao is one of the best-preserved walled towns in China, and the old city has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since the late 1990s. The walls, which date largely from the Ming dynasty and run for around six kilometres, enclose a grid of narrow streets lined with grey-brick courtyard houses, shops, temples and old merchant buildings. In the nineteenth century, Pingyao was a centre of early Chinese banking, and the Rishengchang draft bank, now a museum, is often described as the country’s first. That financial history explains why a town so far from the sea has such grand houses. A visit is about wandering rather than ticking off a list. You can walk along the top of the wall, look into courtyard homes and shops, enter museums set in former banks and merchants’ houses, and eat the local noodles and dishes of Shanxi province. The town is touristy in places, with souvenir stalls and Ming-style costume photography, but the core of the old streets is real and atmospheric, especially in the early morning and in the evening when the day visitors thin out. It is a quieter and more human-scale alternative to the big sights of Xi’an.
How to visit
The high-speed train from Xi’an to Pingyao takes roughly two to three hours each way, depending on the service, with a short taxi or shuttle ride between the station and the old town. A day trip is therefore long but doable, and most visitors go with a guided tour that books the train and the entry tickets. A private tour is more flexible, but an overnight stay inside the walls is much more rewarding if you can spare the time. Bring your passport, which is needed for the train.
What to expect
Spend your day walking the main streets and visiting two or three of the museums or old buildings that interest you, with a section of the wall as the highlight, and allow time for lunch of local noodles or other Shanxi specialities. Distances inside the old town are walkable, though cobbles and steps can be tiring. Weather is cold in winter and hot in summer, and the wall has little shade. Check what opens on which days, and be prepared for crowds on weekends and holidays.
Making the most of it
Choose Pingyao if you have four or five days in the region and like historic towns, and consider an overnight stay inside the walls for a more atmospheric experience. If you only have a day, begin with the wall and the draft bank, then wander the back streets. It is less suited to young children who may tire of walking, and with just two or three days in Xi’an you will be better off focusing on the city and the Terracotta Army first.
Carry some small change for the stalls and cart-sellers, and wear comfortable shoes, as the cobbled lanes are uneven. In the evening, the red lanterns along the main streets are lit, which is another good reason to stay overnight rather than rush back to the station. Guides can also point out the details most visitors miss, such as the stone lions at doorways and the carved beams of old merchant homes.
What to expect
The experience
A day of walking inside and along the walls of a Ming-dynasty town, with museums in old banks and merchants houses, reached by high-speed train.
Best time
Spring or autumn, on a weekday, or an overnight stay to see the town after the day visitors leave.
How long
A full day, around twelve hours door to door.
Tips
Carry your passport for the train, wear flat shoes for the cobbles, start early, and consider staying overnight.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Travellers who love old towns and want a contrast with Xi’an’s big monuments.
- Families
- Older children can enjoy walking the wall, but the train time makes it long for the young.
- Couples
- An atmospheric stop for couples, especially with a night inside the walls.
- Pair with
- Longmen and Shaolin for another high-speed rail day, or the Xi’an City Wall at home.
- Time needed
- A full day, or two days with an overnight stay.
Good questions
Why is Pingyao a World Heritage site?+
It is one of the best-preserved walled towns of the Ming and Qing periods in China, with intact city walls, street layouts, courtyard houses and historic banking buildings.
How long is the train from Xi’an?+
Roughly two to three hours each way on the high-speed line, with a short transfer to the old town. It is a long but feasible day trip.
Is it better to stay overnight?+
Yes, if you can spare the time. The old town is much quieter in the early morning and evening, and an inn inside the walls gives a better sense of the place.
Can I walk on the city walls?+
Yes, visitors can walk on top of the wall, which runs for about six kilometres around the town. A section of it is plenty for a day visit.
What should I eat in Pingyao?+
Try the local wheat noodles and other Shanxi dishes, and the famous beef of the region. A guide or your hotel can suggest places.
