Keeping interiors warm
by albaaust
One of the practices I had not seen before (coming from a warm country) is material being put in front of doorways to keep the cold from getting in. At our hotel a blue nylon "blanket "(with probably down in it) was used. It then became a game to discover hidden rooms tucked behind this material.
Later, we discovered shops using the same device this time with thick plastic sheets. If we had not known about this we would never have entered certain shops thinking they were closed.
Polished Lacquer Ware
by easysunshine01
There are many souvenir shops selling polished lacquer ware along the streets of Pingyao. Polishe lacquer ware is a kind of high quality lacquer craft named for its hand polished luster. You can find all kinds of lacquer items include jewelry boxes, bowls, large and small size folded screens and plates. I bought a plate lacquer ware sized 40cmX40cm. The owner charged at 399RMB and I finally got it at 260RMB.
Walk the most complete city wall!!
by albaaust
The Pingyao City Wall is said to be the most perfectly preserved wall in China. It was first built by Xizhou Xuanwang between 827-728BC. It was expanded around 1370AD.
It has a total length of 6.4km, is 10m high and 5 m wide. There are 6 gates, altogether 72 towers (some of which you can climb up) and 3,000 crenels.
Depending on where you try to climb up the wall you may or may not need to pay. You can walk the full length of the city wall if you wish. For us, it was very interesting in terms of seeing the back of very traditional buildings, everyday life of the inhabitants, corn being dried out on the roofs. We entered at Gongji Gate and got off Yingxun Gate.
XianYa Youth Hostel
by easysunshine01
I was very happy to see there was a youth hostel just next to the County Office and it reminded me all my old memories when I was as a backpacker travelled around in the UK and northern Europe.
The youth hostel named "XianYa Hotel" with the logo of youth hostel at its windows. I visited the lobby of the hotel, it was cozy, warm and amiable. I loved it at once. There was a blackboard on the wall with the travel information. I left a note to look for the partners to Wangjia Da Yuan next day, unfortunately, it didn't work. Maybe, 20:00 p.m. was too late for finding partners renting a van together. The van was charged at 600 RMB, capacity is 6 people.
I met an American young man at the hotel who was teaching English at a university in Shanghai. He took his vocation time travelling around China. Even he stayed at the other hotel, he liked coming the youth hostel to meet and talk with people. He luckily found the partners going to Wangjia DaYuan yesterday.
The charge of hostel is 160 for a single room and 40 per person for the room of 7 people.
First draft bank-Ri Sheng Chang remittance bank
by albaaust
This bank was the first draft bank in China (1823)and was the beginning of a nation wide financial system ending the syetm of escorting silver currency by armed escort agencies.
This building consists of three yards: the business hall, accounting room/information room, reception hall and at the back offices for the managers, clerks, apprentices as well the kitchen and banquet hall.
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Cave dwellings
Garden at the rectangular castle
Incense sticks burning aplenty from worshippers
View on Pingyao from the town wall
