Travel is fun, pursuit, and waves... There are four ancient cities in China, Pingyao Ancient City is a quarter, and the other three quarters are Lijiang Ancient City, Pingyao Ancient City, and Huizhou Ancient City. I didn't force myself to go all the way, including Lijiang twice, but I'm going to that ancient city
Official profile
The ancient city of Pingyao is located in the central part of Shanxi Province. It was first built in the period of King Xuan of Zhou and expanded in the third year of Hongwu in the Ming Dynasty (1370). It has a history of more than 2,700 years. It also relatively well retains the basic style and features of the county town in the Ming and Qing Dynasties, and is the most complete ancient city in the Han nationality area of China.
Pingyao, Shanxi is known as one of the "four most well-preserved ancient cities", and it is also one of the only two ancient cities in China that successfully declared the world cultural heritage with the entire ancient city.
According to the description of the World Heritage Center: Pingyao Ancient City is an outstanding example of ancient Chinese cities in the Ming and Qing Dynasties, and Pingyao Ancient City has preserved all its characteristics. Moreover, in the development of Chinese history, it shows people a complete picture scroll of extraordinary cultural, social, economic and religious development.
It's the weekend, and the warm wind from the north is blowing towards the south, making people itchy. After a yawn, it's time to relax and go to a suitable place to spend time with your family.
It is not the peak season in Pingyao now, so there is no need to book a room in advance. I stopped at a decent inn and asked for a triple room, which costs 180 a night. It feels very good.
In fact, there are many unique inns in the ancient city. I have been there once before, and they are all quaint. Staying here is very old-fashioned. Appreciate the picture above~
There are many scenic spots in the ancient city of Pingyao, I can’t remember a few, and it counts where I go~ There is an ancient city pass on the Internet, 125 tickets, and you need to make an appointment. I have never been to a scenic spot before I came here. As a superficial person, I just need to eat, go shopping, and just have fun.
Along the way, you will see all kinds of beef, old vinegar shops, and various snack bars. You feel overwhelmed, but there are really only a few that you can eat. Personally, I feel that the snacks in scenic spots are similar, so I still have to try the real ones. Local specialties.
The three-day itinerary was just right. The introduction of the ancient city is not perfect, but I remember all the feelings, and I have not been with my parents for a long time. . It's time to go home. The scenery on the road is not beautiful, but the direction to go home is always yearning. Life lies in change, in creation, in perception. The life you want is the life you have now, don't disappoint Chunguang!
1. Go to Pingyao
Since going to the epidemic, due to various reasons, I have not taken a step out of my hometown. I feel that I have not been able to relax for a long time, and I feel a little panicked. Just after the Spring Festival, I decided to take a walk around. where to? Without hesitation, I chose the ancient city of Pingyao that I have been wanting to see for more than ten years. Now the transportation is convenient, and it only takes half an hour to take a train from Taiyuan.
1. Pingyao Ancient City Homestay
Imprint·Slow Life B&B
There are quite a lot of homestays in the ancient city of Pingyao, and the range of choices is relatively large. Looking for accommodation, after comparison, I feel that the imprint·slow life homestay is located in the ancient city
: It is close to the county government, and has a good reputation on the Internet. More importantly, after reading the introduction and photos, the homestay is antique and full of charm. If you are tired from walking and don’t want to move, you can stay at the hotel and drink tea, which is the favorite of parents.
Most people travel to Pingyao and stay for two nights at most, and more only for one night. The family stayed here for three nights so that the elderly would not feel too tired. That's it.
Deshenglou Inn
In the ancient city of Pingyao, there are countless B&Bs of different sizes and different historical origins. I heard from the landlord of the inn that the compound has undergone various changes, and the owner of the compound is no longer a member of the original family. If you have time, you might as well take a look at these inns. You will always know some architectural features of Shanxi folk houses, and you will naturally compare them with courtyard houses in other places in the north. This is an indispensable part of visiting the ancient city.
The courtyard is surrounded by guest rooms. The wooden tables and chairs in the courtyard provide a unique place for drinking tea, chatting and resting in Pingyao for the guests staying in the courtyard. Basking in the warm spring sunshine and drinking the tea provided by the landlord, you will feel comfortable and relaxed. casual.
The green plants and flowers in the courtyard add a bit of charm to the small courtyard, and there are some small goldfish in the stone bonsai under the wall.
When we walked in several courtyards in Pingyao, we could only take a quick glance, at most the first courtyard inside the gate. In fact, these courtyard hotels are very large, at least they are all courtyards with two entrances. Pingyao is a well-known ancient city in China, and the hardware facilities of these courtyard inns are also very good.
2. Specialties of Pingyao
When you enter the ancient city of Pingyao, you don't need anyone to introduce you. You only need to walk a few tens of meters to know what the special products of Pingyao are.
Push gloss lacquer
Pingyao lacquerware has a long-standing reputation. Pingyao push lacquerware is to use refined lacquer to decorate wooden furniture and delicate utensils. After lacquering, it is finely ground, and then painted again. Painting and decorating landscapes, flowers and birds, pavilions, towers and pavilions or stories of characters, the process is meticulous and complicated. The appearance is simple and elegant, the structure is fine, the lacquer surface is smooth and clean, the painting is resplendent, the handle is delicate and smooth, it is environmentally friendly, non-toxic, insect-resistant, heat-resistant and moisture-proof, durable, and it is a fine product among lacquerware.
Although Pingyao lacquerware is very famous, there are not many lacquerware shops in the ancient city. The threshold for making lacquerware is high, and ordinary people do not have this craft. The more famous "Yonglonghao" on South Street is a specialized lacquerware brand. shop.
In addition to selling lacquerware products, this store also displays the process of lacquerware production and the machines and tools needed for production. It's just that I don't know anything about it, so I can only watch the excitement.
vinegar
Walking in the streets and alleys of the ancient city of Pingyao, the most memorable thing is its countless vinegar shops.
In my impression, buying vinegar at home is nothing more than Zhenjiang balsamic vinegar, Shanxi old mature vinegar and Shanxi old mature vinegar.
Shanxi Old Mature Vinegar is very famous, sometimes even more famous than the ancient city of Pingyao.
Vinegar shops in Pingyao are equipped with small paper cups for tourists to taste various kinds of vinegar, which is extremely thoughtful.
Many shops use real scenes of the vinegar making process to attract tourists' attention. The open vinegar jars exude a burst of vinegar fragrance, permeating the streets and alleys of the ancient city. Smelling the aroma of vinegar, I always think that the residents living in the ancient city probably seldom get sick. Because in winter, some doctors will advise you to fumigate vinegar at home to prevent colds, and it also has the effect of sterilization and disinfection.
Pingyao Beef
Pingyao Beef is a famous specialty of Pingyao.
Pingyao beef, unique in traditional production technology, has a ruddy color, fresh and tender meat, fat but not greasy, thin but not sticky. In addition to being eaten as a cold dish, it can also be served as a side dish with stir-fried vegetables, which is very convenient.
3. Attractions
city building
The city building is also called Jinjing building. The whole ancient city is centered on the city building. There are four straight streets in the east, west, north, south, and north of the ancient city, leading to various alleys and houses in the city. For my obsession with direction, I can only judge by the direction of the sun. This should be the middle of South Street, the landmark building of Pingyao Ancient City.
Ancient City Wall
The next morning we went to the ancient city wall. The city buildings and city walls of Pingyao Ancient City are must-see attractions for tourists
Climbing up to the south gate tower, you can see the city tower not far away. There are crenels on the outside of the tower, and the inner wall is relatively low. For the safety of tourists, try to walk as close to the outer wall of the city wall as possible.
Pingyao Confucian Temple
This building is located in the southeast corner of Pingyao County, Shanxi Province. It was built in the early years of Zhenguan in Tang Dynasty. Preserved Jin Dynasty buildings. This trip to Pingyao, my interest seems not to be in the few historical attractions in Pingyao, and I am always a little absent-minded.
Pingyao County Government
There are many tourists visiting the Pingyao County Government, most of whom are retired old people participating in tour groups, with tour guides explaining. There are many plaques in front of several main halls in Pingyao County Government Office, and I only took a picture of the following one. I don't know which hall I came to
Town God's Temple
City God is an important deity that is generally worshiped in Chinese religious culture. Most of them are performed by famous ministers and heroes who have contributed to the local people.
4. Qiao Family Courtyard
We spent three days and three nights in the ancient city of Qiao Family Courtyard, so we have enough time to visit slowly. In addition to the ancient city of Pingyao, we also visited Qiao’s Courtyard on the second day. The owner of the inn arranged a car to Qiao’s Courtyard on the second day in Pingyao. Chartered cars for the family are also very cheap.
We walked into the tall courtyard wall of the Qiao Family Courtyard, where we seemed to be able to experience the peace and tranquility of ancient life.
Because there were not many people there
There is no noise in the street and crowds of people in the compound, it is quiet and leisurely.
The scene of the red lanterns hanging high in the courtyard is unpretentious.
The green plants under the front window make the eyes clearer
The compound makes people feel more breath of life
5. Restaurants to visit during the trip
Most inns do not provide breakfast, and Chinese dinner is eaten in the ancient city. I really forgot where I ate a few meals, just remember this restaurant we ate at.
We are old and young, we can't eat skewers, hot pot, etc., we can only find home-cooked restaurants.
We ate two meals at this Hongwuji restaurant. Her braised beef with aged vinegar and sliced noodles taste really good.
Because the hotel is the closest to the inn, near the city building. In terms of scale, it is larger than the ancient city's Tu Restaurant, and the decoration style is also very good.
We don't eat spicy food, so we ordered four dishes and one soup. The taste is not bad, and it's not expensive, less than 130 yuan. There is also a balsamic egg that is tender and delicious.
Liang Xiansen Yogurt Shop
There is also a yogurt shop that children especially like——Liang Xiansen Yogurt Shop. Seeing that many people on the Internet are recommending this store, I took my children there. Not surprisingly, the children really like it, especially the old vinegar yogurt. Many adults love it. It is a novel flavor that I have never seen before, and the elderly also like it very much.
Qiao's Old House
Finally, I ate at the Qiao’s Courtyard, where I really felt the hospitality of the Shanxi people. You can add unlimited noodles at the old Qiao’s restaurant, and you can eat for 10 yuan, which is very conscientious in the scenic spot. And many noodles in Shanxi are also very delicious, especially the red noodles, the noodles are just right, and the side dishes are also very refreshing.
leave
After returning to the city for half a day, I returned to the inn to rest and live in a quiet courtyard.
On the afternoon of the fourth day, leave Pingyao and go home. Goodbye, Pingyao, an unforgettable ancient city!
