Pingyao Ancient City

Pingyao Ancient City

South Street of Pingyao Ancient City
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Coordinates 37°12′13″N 112°10′35″E / 37.2035°N 112.1764°E / 37.2035; 112.1764Coordinates: 37°12′13″N 112°10′35″E / 37.2035°N 112.1764°E / 37.2035; 112.1764
Criteria Cultural: (ii) (iii) (iv)
Reference 812
Inscription 1997 (21st Session)
Map

Pingyao Ancient City is located at the Pingyao County, central Shanxi Province, it is an exceptionally well-preserved example of a traditional Han Chinese city, founded in the 14th century.[1]

In 1997, Pingyao Ancient City was included as a World Heritage site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on the basis of Cultural Criteria (ii)(iii)(iv) [2] and The New York Times listed it on The 41 Places to Go in 2011 for its beautiful traditional architectures.

The history of Pingyao Ancient City

Pingyao Ancient City was established during the King Xuan of Zhou period (B.C.827~ B.C.782). and it was primarily used for military purpose.

Pingyao Ancient City then was used as the capital city for the relatives of emperor. In the Spring and Autumn period, it belonged to Jin. And in Warring States period, belonged to Zhao(State).

The wall of Pingyao Ancient City was built in Ming Dynasty to resist the invaders. And the extension was made during KangXi Emperor period. (A.D. 1703)

The Draft Banks of Pingyao

From the 19th century to the early 20th century, the Ancient City of Ping Yao was a financial center for the whole of China. There were over twenty draft banks’ headquarters located at Pingyao ancient city and it was called “the Wall Street of ancient China”.[3] The nearly 4,000 existing shops and traditional dwellings in the town which are grand in form and exquisite in ornament bear witness to Ping Yao’s economic prosperity over a century. One of these banks, the Rishengchang was established in Qing Dynasty(1823) and is the first and largest draft bank in China. At its peak period, it controlled almost half of the economy of the China and its branches were distributed widely around the whole country even in some western and southeastern countries. Rishengchang was famous for “Hui Tong Tian Xia” and is regarded as the precedent of modern Chinese banks.

Pingyao City Wall

The wall of Pingyao Ancient City was built in Ming Dynasty and extant parts include six gates, four turrents, 72 watch towers and 3000 crenels. It is one of the well-preserved ancient city wall in China and core part of Pingyao Ancient City. The wall is ten meters high, 6163 meters around, and three to five meters wide at the top. The west and east sides of wall have two gates while the southern and northern walls have one gates only. Each gate has a barbican entrance with an inner and an outer door with a tower above it. 72 watch towers were built every fifty to one hundred meters along the top and 3000 crenels for shooting were distributed on the two-meter-high wall. These numbers represent the 72 disciples and 3000 students of Confucius.

Comment from UNESCO

Pingyao was listed on the World Cultural Heritage by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, with remarks, "The ancient city of Pingyao is an outstanding example of Chinese Han Nationality cities in the Ming and Qing dynasties, displaying all the features of those periods. Pingyao, in particular reveals a picture of unexpected cultural, social, economic and religious development in Chinese history".

References

  1. ↑ "Pingyao Ancient City". Retrieved March 28, 2016.
  2. ↑ "UNESCO website". Retrieved March 28, 2016.
  3. ↑ "Pingyao Ancient City Website". Retrieved March 28, 2016.
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