Pingyao Things to Do

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Fengshui Tower is located on Zhengfujie, east of the County Government Office's main Gate. The entrance to the tower is through a door on the east side of the County Government Office. You can get a good view of Zhengfujie, being the most popular street in Pingayao with most of the YHA guesthouses are located here. I still puzzle myself with the name of this tower. The signboard on the East side shows " Ting Yu Lou 听雨楼"，means Listen the Rain Tower. On the West side tower, the signboard shows " 观风楼 , Guan Feng Lou"，means Fengshui Tower. Anyway. I think you should not skip the views from here.

In Chinese: 观风楼 (Guan Feng Lou)

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I passed through a narrow ally to the East of County Government Office. Basically, it is a garden with Chest Pavilion, Flower Hall, Grain Hall, and a Song Dynasty Well. The Song Dynasty Well is interesting as it was dug early in the Song Dynasty. The inscription above it was destroyed during war. It is said that a common carp once appeared here.

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On the west side of the County Government Office, there is a county prison. The prison includes male and female prisons for both civil and homicide cases. The Department of Supervision is on the north of the prison, being a place for the official of the prisons like living and dinning area. Temple of Ten and Temple of Horse are also located on the west side of the County Government Office, but unfortunately I miss it during my visit. There is a empty square right outside the prison, I believe it was the exercise place for the prisoners.

In Chinese Prison: 监狱 (Jian Yu)

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Pingyao County Government Office is located on the middle of Zhenfujie Street. This is the biggest attraction in ancient Pingyao City. This 26,600 square meters government office compound was built in symmetrical layout. On the main axis includes The Gate, The Ceremonial Gate, The Court Hall Complex, The entryway to a large old style house, The Civil Court, and The County Magistrate's Residence. On west side of the office compound includes a county prison and the Department of supervision. On east side of the office compound includes a garden with Flower Hall, Grain Hall, Chess Pavilion, Song Dynasty Well.

The Gate: It is also called " Yamen 衙门 " in Chinese. It is facing South with a screen wall opposite it. It played an important role in exorcising evil spirits. The gate has a Fengshui Tower on the east and was a theater tower on the west.

In Chinese: 大门 (Da Men)

The Ceremonial Gate: This gate was usually closed, only used when there was a ceremonial of welcoming new high ranking official to the office or special events. There were two side gates on each sides, the eastern door was the one normally used, the western door was for those condemned to death.

In Chinese: 仪门 (Yi Men)

The Court Hall Complex: Facing South, this Ming Dynasty building was the principal building at the government office complex and served as the courtroom where important cases, including homicides were tried by the county magistrate and major activities were held.

In Chinese: 大堂 (Da Tang)

The Entryway to Magistrate's Residence: No outsider allowed to enter this door. There was a "Doorman" who was responsible to pass legal documents, letters, and other items to the magistrate through this entryway.

In Chinese: 宅门 (Zhai Men)

The Civil Court: The county magistrate worked and mediated civil disputes in this Ming Dynasty building. The east side held the secretary room and records room is on the west. The secretary's office handled the county magistrate's correspondence, names cards, and invitations The records office kept track of documents, letters, and files regarding judicial lawsuits.

In Chinese: 二堂 (Er Tang)

The County Magistrate's Residence: The main room is his bedroom, meeting room and study room. There are living halls and guest rooms on east and west side of the courtyard. On the normal day, he was the only one who stayed here. Based on the rule in Qing Dynasty, magistrate did not allow to stay here with his family.

In Chinese: 内宅 (Nei Zhai)

The Tower of the Fox Immortal: It was built during Yuan Dynasty. The Fox Immortal was celestial being who protected the official seat.

In Chinese: 大仙楼 (Da Xian Lou)

County Government Office: 县政署 (Xian Zheng Shu)

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Ying Xun Gate is one of the main entrances to the Pingyao Wall. Outside the gate, it is a big square, and most of the events like traditional dancing, parades are held in here. I did not go into this gate because I already entered Gongji Gate in the morning. The ticket is only applied to enter a gate to the wall. I took some pictures outside the gate.

In Chinese: 迎薰门 (Ying Xun Men)

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Taihe Gate is located southeast of the ancient Pingyao, nearby the Temple of Confucius. After visiting the Temple of Confucius, I walked toward east to the wall, and passed by an ancient Catholic Church. I was trying to look for the main entrance to the Church, but it was closed. Anyway, the catholic building with the cross that built in this ancient neighborhood looks great! I walked along the wall, then I saw Taihe Gate. It is neither an attraction nor entrance to the wall. It is a passageway allowing people in and out of the city. It was very quiet and nice here. The 凸 shape gate looks amazing from outside the wall.

Don't miss..

In In Chinese: 太和门 (Tai He Men)

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Pingyao Theater is located on Temple of City God street, next to Temple of Confucius. This theater was called Li Le Tang 礼乐堂, during Qing dynasty. It was an ancient entertainment center for the City of Pingyao. It was a resting place for merchants to the city, with dancing and singing performances. It is a theater now having local folk art and traditional performances to the tourists.

In front of the theater is the Nine-Dragon Wall, it was similar to the one I saw in Forbidden City, Beijing. This Nine-Dragon Wall was made early Ming Dynasty. It was originally located in Temple of Prince of Pingyao, and was destroyed during Chinese Revolution. It was repaired during restoration of the City.

In Chinese:

Pingyao Theater: 大戏堂 (Da Xi Tang)

Nine-Dragon Wall: 九龙壁(Jiu Long Bi)

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In a small section of the Temple of Confucius is the museum of Chinese Imperial Examination. It is also called Choa San Academy, 超山书院， was built in 1844 during Qing Dynasty. During Ming Dynasty, there were no college or university in Pingyao, but only school for religious education. Pingyao has long history of religious study of temple of many great thinkers. Only till Qing dynasty during the reign od Emperor Kangxi (1700), they started to have teaching of Confucius. Many famous great Confucius thinkers had taught here before including Xu Ji Yu 徐继畲 (1795-1873). He was a thinker of modern China, governor of Fujian Province before serving as the president of Chaoshan Academy for as long as 10 years. His book, Ying Huan Zhi Lue, was famous as it took the lead to introduce westerm learning into China.

Amazing courtyard!!

In Chinese: 中国科举博物馆 (Zhong Guo Ke Ju Bo Wu Guan)