Looking through the ancient city of Pingyao, looking for me when I was a child

words written in front

"I and my motherland cannot be separated for a moment.

Wherever I go, a hymn flows out.

I sing of every mountain, I sing of every river.

Smoke from the kitchen, a small village, a rut on the road..."

The 70th anniversary of the motherland is about to be celebrated, and this song "My Motherland and Me" is deeply imprinted on the streets and alleys of every city. I have been thinking, where should I go to celebrate the birthday of the motherland while walking on the road?

"Go home, child!" Yes, go home, at this moment of national celebration, the place I should go is my hometown. When I got home, I decided to go to the ancient city of Pingyao. As a native of Taiyuan, I have of course been to the ancient city many times. An ancient city is a heavy ancient book, and this heavy ancient book quietly embeds the storms and clouds of the past between the lines. I want to read the ancient city of my hometown again, and read the changes of the motherland and my own growth from the folds of time.

A Journey | A Childhood Story

When I was a child, I still remember countless nights when I moved a small bench and sat in the yard, resting my chin on my hands, looking at the twinkling stars in the sky, chasing that arrogant and cold kitten, and my grandma Sweet songs from the lips.

"The wolf collects firewood, the dog makes the fire, and the cat sits on the kang to make a nest. Eighteen of them are squeezed out, one for you and one for me, and the elder brother who herds the sheep keeps one. The eldest brother and the second brother come to eat..."

Looking at the children doing their homework at the gate of the yard, I thought of me in my childhood in the yard, my grandma who cut paper and pasted window grilles, and the song "Cat on the Kang and Pinch the Nest".

First Encounter|Cheongsam in the house

Following the sunset from home, it took more than an hour to reach the ancient city of Pingyao. Stopped the car, pulled the suitcase, took the camera, and walked towards the ancient city. The bricks on the city wall were eroded by wind and rain and became pitted, witnessing the vicissitudes of the ancient city. The moonlight in autumn shone on the wall of the ancient city, and at the same time, it also fell on the entrance of the main street beside the ancient city.

The quaint stores and the majestic city tower complement each other, seeming to tell the prosperity of the ancient city in the past. The historic name and traditional-style buildings give people a sense of time and space as if they have traveled through the glorious Shanxi merchant era. Entering through the familiar north gate, I found a house and wanted to settle down and put down my luggage before going shopping.

In the courtyard, looking at the beautiful scene, I couldn't help but want to pat. In the wing room, I carried out some dressing and dressing. In the courtyard of Pingyao in the Qing Dynasty, walking here alone, I also want to travel back. There are no ancient costumes in the yard, but I brought the cheongsam my mother bought for me. I was lazy and didn’t go out to rent it. I thought I would wear ancient costumes tomorrow, so I’ll wear this cheongsam tonight.

In the center of the courtyard of this compound, rows of festive red lanterns decorate the traces of the whole years, and a piece of silk-like cloth flutters in front of the door. Dressed in red and yellow lights, walking in the courtyard, caressing the ancient brown railings between the arms, sections of social history in my mind came to mind.

The humanistic ancient city gives people a real sense of time travel. In the courtyard of the Qing Dynasty, walking or stopping, or watching or tasting, every scene leaves a deep impression on people, and every second gives people a unique experience.

See Pingyao | Autumn Night Street Sweeping

In fact, I am super tired and fly around every day. I feel that I should be used to and tired of seeing scenic spots or street shops. I don’t know why. I still want to go out and take a look.

The sky is not yet dark, and the ancient city is already full of lights under the dim twilight. Under the antique night lights, the street market is spacious and prosperous. The ancient city of Pingyao is like a well-mannered lady, living quietly in the land of Jinzhong, tolerantly accepting the changes of the world in the long river of history. Oh, by the way, it is currently the only ancient county in my country that declares the world cultural heritage with the entire ancient city.

The black-colored solemnity of the ancient city moistens the reserve, and my heart travels through the thick blue bricks in the long-standing folk customs. The architectural layout here is rigorous, the axis is clear, the left and right are symmetrical and the primary and secondary are distinct, the exterior is closed but the compound is deep. Exquisite wood carvings, brick carvings and stone carvings, together with paper-cut window grilles with a strong local flavor, are really lifelike. A super kind and friendly grandfather seemed to be chatting with his daughter, which made me feel familiar.

The ancient city of Pingyao in autumn at night looks peaceful and graceful. There are many shops on both sides of the Kuankuan street paved with bluestones. There are fashion jewelry stores, antique stores, clothing stores, snack bars, bars full of literary and artistic atmosphere, and there are traditional famous stores with local characteristics. Without exception, the lintels of each store All kinds of lanterns and bright five-star red flags are hung high on the top, giving people a sense of prosperity, auspiciousness and festiveness. A young lady is playing her favorite musical instrument. Although people come and go and use the camera lens to face her from time to time, they can't affect her affectionate eyes.

Similarly, you can also see a lot of foreign friends. I guess it is so lively recently because of the photography exhibition. Under the light, there are old tiles and old walls, wooden doors and windows, and painted beams. From time to time, in this bustling shop, the signs of a certain inn and a certain ticket number are caught off guard, and the whole street is deeply branded with the cultural atmosphere bred by generations, as if people have flown back to the time of the previous dynasty. Another old man was looking at his phone, but his mood was different from that one. As for what he was thinking, it was hard to guess.

In a small shop decorated with care, the warm orange color instantly gives people the illusion of dreams. The stretched or shortened figures obliquely on the broad bluestone strips seem to be the long-angle lens, which brings the passing years closer and the song-like life far away.

There are many creative small shops in the ancient city, with a strong ancient charm. Look at the unique design on the jewelry, just engraved the word Pingyao on it. The lanterns next to it are also super distinctive. I really like these artistic shops. Especially the sentence, "I'm in Pingyao, where are you"?

Years have changed, and the circles of annual rings have painted the pillars and tiles of the ancient city of Pingyao. On the sloping roof, the tiles are green and green, pulling this ancient city that has gone through thousands of years back to the smoke and dust of history.

I bought some fairy bean cakes of various flavors, and I ran into a kitten next to me. As long as I see cats on the side of the road, I can't help but feed them. I'm really worried that stray kittens are homeless and hungry. Maybe it's my love for cats, maybe it's because I've been traveling for a long time.

Walking through the streets and alleys | The sunset on the ancient road is picturesque

The dreamy and picturesque ancient city under the night lights looks more desolate and ancient during the day, probably because of autumn. The pieces of Qin bricks and Han tiles seem to be telling the story of the wars and wars, gold and iron horses in the years. The sky above the smoke-disappeared ancient city is sunny and sunny, the market under the clear sky is bustling, the goods are full, and Pingyao is busy.

North Street is not wide, and there are many people. Most of the shop signs on both sides are in the ancient style. Many small shops have no house numbers, but there are big signboards written on yellow flags: there are wine shops, there are vinegar, and there are inns. , There is Guanyun Beef... The old street was only three or four meters wide, and all kinds of handicrafts, antique shops and snack shops were crowdedly displayed on both sides of the street. I feel that the ancient city of Pingyao is a master of Chinese folk arts and crafts. No city can compare with the richness of folk arts and crafts here.

Watching the cats and dogs, as well as the grandmother feeding them, this kind of life is extremely pleasant. The warm sunshine in the afternoon covers the streets and alleys of the ancient city. The traffic network of the ancient city is composed of four main streets, eight small streets, and seventy-two winding alleys. South Street is the central axis of Pingyao Ancient City. It starts from the junction of East and West Streets in the north, and ends at Dadongmen in the south. This is one of the birthplaces of the famous "Shanxi Merchants" in ancient Chinese commerce.

Walking in the streets and alleys of the ancient city, I can meet tourists from all over the world. The ancient style and charm, the unpretentious streets, and the quiet courtyard gates bring me back to my childhood. Pingyao City in the late Qing Dynasty, Escort Bureau, Qianzhuang, County Government Office, Confucian Temple, Nine Dragon Wall... There are many time-honored shops and traditional famous shops on both sides, either delicate and elegant or simple and elegant, and the ancient buildings with a vicissitudes of life have worn-out brick carvings imprinted with the traces of time. It makes people feel as if they have traveled back to the century-old Ming and Qing Dynasties.

The famous street is called Ming and Qing Street. It is the busiest street in the ancient city. This street is also full of literary and artistic atmosphere. There are all kinds of snacks on the street, and various accessories and costumes with ethnic characteristics are dizzying. Stepping on the polished bluestone road, I slowly slowed down, and was attracted by Lijiang Xiaoqian playing an African drum not far away. The beautiful melody made people feel brighter. The most intoxicating thing is the aroma of aged vinegar, which is very refreshing. Every small town has a bar street, and the ancient city of Pingyao is no exception. The unique bars are very lively at night, and the resident singer plays the guitar and sings a different style.

Pushing open the wooden doors one after another, it seems that there are traces of thousands of years inside. Step by step, time goes by, the long alleys, the mottled gray walls, the green stone roads, the diamond-shaped window lattices are simple and exquisite, looking at the red lanterns hanging under the eaves on both sides, the memory seems to freeze at this moment, returning to the gray bricks and gray In a mansion full of Chinese charm.

I have traveled a long way, seen so many sights, visited many ancient cities, and each city has its own characteristics. Different ancient city, different me, different feelings. I have experienced the charm of many ancient cities, but there is a special feeling hidden in the bones of the ancient city of Pingyao. This kind of feeling is the feeling of hometown or childhood.

When I was young, I thought this place was very ordinary, just one of thousands of ancient cities, nothing special, nothing legendary. But now the older I get, the more I realize that there are actually a lot of auras here, but I didn't notice it, and I didn't pay attention to it.

As the sun sets, walk through the streets and alleys of Pingyao, and see the teacher painting the towers. History is used to sigh, and yesterday is used to remember. No matter what you know about the past, look at the great rivers and mountains of the motherland today , as long as we have a good expectation for the future in our hearts, I believe we will find that belonging and happiness.

Check-in place | Style Street & Yogurt Shop & Text Record Store

Yunlu Folk Custom Street is located in the southeast of the ancient city of Pingyao, with the Confucian Temple on the north, the ancient city wall on the south, and the Wenyun Kuixing Pavilion and the Guishou Yingxun Gate Tower. The 100-meter long street is romantic and charming, with the collision of modernity and history flashing everywhere. The charming lights are dotted on the antique buildings of Ming and Qing Dynasties, which is the fusion of modern civilization and historical culture, forming the most unique and beautiful scenery in the ancient city.

The decoration of the bar shop makes people reluctant to part with it. The flowers, ancient buildings, lanterns and interesting words match just right. When the sun is setting and the sun is setting, a cup of coffee and half a cup of tea can be used for a drink or a hearty drink, gathering and singing, sitting alone and meditating. Through the simple and simple window lattice, the bright moon and stars are rare, the lights and wine, red and green complement each other, making people dazzled. It's really spring breeze, why not wait for you in Pingyao. Fall in love, Fall in love with a city.

Walking into a yogurt shop called Laojie Yogurt Shop, it is also decorated with great care and beauty, and there are not only delicious yogurt and fried yogurt in various flavors, but also small jewelry with ethnic characteristics.

I ordered a scrambled yogurt with mango flavor and sat at a small table with a beautiful bouquet, enjoying the indescribable deliciousness. There is also a little white kitten with blue eyes, elegant, lovely, beautiful and charming.

On the streets of the ancient city, there is a super handsome and super cool store called Word's Record Store.

That's right, it's a store for buying records. Maybe there are very few people listening to records now, but here, you can buy any records you want, and it will bring you little surprises that you can't imagine. Seeing those records with a sense of age, one can't help but think of oneself in youth, the campuses that have passed, the records that have been heard, and the partners who laughed and laughed together.

Entered the county government | This is not a theater on the screen

Walking through the road paved with bluestone bricks, walking through a street where merchants gathered in the Ming and Qing Dynasties, and seeing the old houses with blue bricks, blue tiles, carved beams and painted buildings, I chose to visit the Pingyao County Government. The county government is located in the center of the ancient city of Pingyao. It was first built in the Northern Wei Dynasty and was finalized in the Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties. The earliest preserved building was built in the sixth year from Yuan to Zhengzheng, and it has a history of more than 600 years.

The whole government office sits north and faces south, in an axisymmetric layout. Pingyao County Government is one of the four well-preserved ancient government offices in China, and it is also the largest existing county government in the country. "Hundred years of smoke and clouds are close at hand, and the vicissitudes of the wind and rain talk about the vicissitudes of life." When standing in front of the Pingyao County Yamen and examining it, the thick red lacquer gate, the threshold more than one foot high, and the blue and white square screen wall are solemn and mighty.

Couplets and plaques are an important part of yamen culture. They integrate Fu, poetry, calligraphy, engraving, and official building art in ancient Chinese traditional culture. They integrate yamen architecture, yamen culture, and yamen couplets. Condensed sentences, exquisite calligraphy, and profound meaning. There are also some ancient cultural relics, all inheriting ancient culture and ancient art.

The main buildings in the county government are lined up along the central axis, and they are: Yamen, Yimen, Archway, Lobby, Zhaimen, Ertang, Neizai, Daxianlou. The entire building complex of the county government is orderly, patchwork, and reasonable in structure. It is an organic whole. The years are staggered, and the big lion at the gate of the government is still mighty. In the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the county yamen had judicial functions, and with such a heavy hand in power, it has always been daunting among the people that "since ancient times, the yamen opened to the south, and if there is a reason, don't come in if you don't have money". There is a big drum on the east side of the yamen, which is the place where the drums are played to cry out grievances. When the county magistrate hears the drum beating, he will be promoted to court immediately. If the case is minor, he will be punished with severe punishment, so this drum cannot be played casually.

The lobby is the main place for the county magistrate to handle official business. It has the highest standard among the buildings of the county government office, so there is a platform in front of the hall. The lobby is the hall with five couplets, the three couplets in the middle are the public hall, and the horizontal plaque "Qinmin Hall" hangs under the eaves of the lobby. In order to meet the needs of tourism, the performance of "Shengtang" is now held every day.

Behind the lobby is the second hall, which forms a quadrangle courtyard and communicates with the inner house behind, so the gate of the second hall is also called the gate of the house. The second hall is the place where the county magistrate handles daily business and meets visitors. The east and west side rooms in the second hall are respectively "Jianfang" and "Zhaofang", which are the offices of the county magistrate and Dianshi.

Passing through the second hall is the inner house, which is the living area of ​​the county magistrate. The last building on the central axis is the "Great Immortal Building", on which is enshrined the Great Immortal of the Seal, that is, the Fox Immortal. This Daxian Tower is the only remaining Yuan Dynasty building in the Pingyao County Government. The lower floor is a cave-style building and the upper floor is a pavilion. Originally named Guanyun Tower, it was renamed Daxian Tower in the Qing Dynasty.

In addition to the main building complex on the central axis of the county government, there are also some "supporting" ancillary buildings. In the west of the courtyard, there are prisons, public houses, and supervision halls, etc., and in the east of the courtyard are Zhangying Pavilion, Chuan Tower, Ditu Temple, and Marquis Feng. Ancestral hall, grain hall and garden.

A small prison temple was also built in the prison, and a row of prison cells was of course reconstructed. Seeing ancient instruments of torture makes people shudder and shudder.

The grain hall on Xianya East Road is the place where the county government stores grain, and the gate is written with "Changping Cang"; Fenghou Temple is the Yamen Temple, and "Fenghou" is the founding prime minister of the Western Han Dynasty, Xiao He, who was respected by the rulers of all dynasties At that time, shrines were set up in the yamen of various prefectures and counties to commemorate him, and he was called "the god of yamen". There is a dedicated pavilion in front of the main hall of Fenghou Temple, which is now a place for tourists to relax and drink tea.

On the street outside the county government office, there is a first floor, standing on a high platform, where you can see the street view. It was built during the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty. On one side of the building, there is a plaque "Guanfenglou", and on the other side is "Tingyulou". There is also a Tiger Roaring Pavilion with a fierce wall.

Rishengchang|The originator of modern banks

Historically, there were 51 ticket offices in the Qing Dynasty, 43 in Shanxi, and 22 in Pingyao. As the saying goes: "When you enter Pingyao City, silver ingots will trip you up." The spirit of Pingyao stems from Shanxi merchants, and the seeds of modern finance flow in the stories of Shanxi merchants.

In the ancient city of Pingyao, my country's first private financial institution, Rishengchang Bank, was born. Here, there are many banks and shops, money piled up, traffic is busy, and it has been prosperous for a hundred years. Known as "Pingyao City is the city that can't be stretched and filled", the people of Pingyao have created the miracle of "connecting the world" on such a barren land.

Rishengchang Bank was established in the third year of Daoguang in the Qing Dynasty. The three characters "Ri Sheng Chang" became "Ri Ri Sheng Ri Ri" to win the prize. It was co-founded by Li Dajin, a wealthy businessman in Xidapu Village, Pingyao County, Shanxi Province, and the general manager Lei Lutai. The head office is located in the south of Xidajie Road, a prosperous market in Pingyao County, Shanxi Province. It is the first of its kind in my country's national banking industry, and once controlled the economic lifeline of the entire Qing Dynasty in the 19th century. Its semicolons spread over more than 30 cities across the country, as far as Europe, America, Southeast Asia and other countries, and it is famous for "connecting the world".

No wonder Mr. Yu Qiuyu called him the "country grandfather" of various banks in China. Then it was imitated by Jiexiu, Taigu, Qixian and other places. I stopped in front of the golden signboard of "Rishengchang", and I couldn't help my thoughts. I flipped through the spring and autumn of the ancient city, and saw the financial center of the Qing Dynasty making a not-so-glamorous curtain call on the stage of the years.

It is hard for you to imagine how such a small county can become my country's Wall Street, thanks to his founder Lei Lutai, the founder of my country's bank, who is capable and talented, and has won the title of shopkeeper. Thanks to his appreciation, he entrusted him with the Prime Minister. Under Lei Lutai’s hard work, Rishengchang’s bank account business has reached all over the country and the world. Therefore, his strict management and honest management strategy are still worthwhile. Today, business people such as my generation have studied and borrowed seriously. In addition to Rishengchang, Pingyao also has a lot of various ticket companies and trading companies. Each company has its own business philosophy. These valuable business ideas are the world's businessmen. Come to Pingyao Ancient City to learn and inherit precious wealth.

See how the simplicity hundreds of years ago mended the scarred love of human beings for nature. I saw a little barrenness, and saw the financial center of the Qing Dynasty make a not-so-glamorous curtain call on the stage of the years. In front of the golden signboard of "Rishengchang", I couldn't hold back my thoughts, which stubbornly rolled with the ancient city in spring and autumn.

Synergy Celebration | The largest bank treasury

Synergy Qing is also a unique ticket number in my country's ticket industry. It was founded in the sixth year of Xianfeng in the Qing Dynasty and closed in the second year of the Republic of China. The wealth owner is the surname of Wang in Niedian, Yuci, and the surname of Mi in Wangzhi Village, Pingyao. The operating characteristics of Synergy Qingpiaohao are very distinctive, mainly as follows: first, it is people-oriented, knowing people well; second, it pays attention to flexible allocation of funds; third, it highlights key regional operations, which has the important characteristics of a modern successful enterprise.

Synergy Qingpiaohao is now the largest bank courtyard in Pingyao. There are five courtyards before and after, and each courtyard has different functions. After completing the formalities, go to the Beilan cabinet to withdraw cash, which is equivalent to the current cashier's room; the assistant room, sacrificial room, and manager's room of the third courtyard are the office space for the management personnel, and the fourth courtyard is the living area for the employees. Up to the shopkeeper, down to the employees must live in the ticket number. The fifth courtyard is where the treasury is located, and has very advanced anti-theft measures, among which the underground cellar (underground vault) is close to the current bank vault.

Under the yard of Synergy Celebration Bank is the largest underground treasury in Pingyao, which stored a large amount of gold and silver back then, as well as the treasure of Pingyao's town: a dragon pillar carved from camphor wood, and a cultural relic from the period of Ming Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang. This dragon pillar was built in the very center of the entire ancient city of Pingyao.

The ticket number has now been opened up as a Chinese bank museum, which houses thousands of coins that were circulated and issued at that time.

Ancient Insurance Industry|North China First Escort Museum

The North China First Escort Museum is located on the East Street of the ancient city of Pingyao. It is divided into four parts: the front, the middle, the back, and the courtyard. It fully and truly reproduces the unique features of the Chinese Escort since Qianlong in the Qing Dynasty.

The six major darts of the Escort Bureau are: letter darts, silver darts, ticket darts, grain darts, material darts and personal darts. Escorts used to be martial arts practitioners, and weapons were indispensable. 

Dart, look at the characters, next to the gold character on the left, it means 18 kinds of weapons, and the character on the right represents the ticket number, silver and gold tickets combined into a dart, which is to use force to ensure the safety of money.

Escort office, on the left is the account room, which is equivalent to the current financial department. The eight screens hanging on the opposite wall are the original ones, and they are also the treasures of the Escort Museum. They were embroidered with needles and threads one by one. It is piled up layer by layer with cotton, which looks three-dimensional. It is called Dui Jingxiu in Pingyao, which is very rare. The bottles and mirrors placed on the noodle machine below imply peace and tranquility. I hope Mr. Accountant can be calm and peaceful. Do every account calmly, without any carelessness.

Escort, as an early insurance industry in my country, developed with the development of commercial trade in the Ming and Qing Dynasties, and its function was to transport cash and silver to industrial and commercial customers. According to "Wushu Huizong", Zhang Heiwu, a Shanxi native who is known as the invincible fist, opened the "Xinglong" bodyguard bureau for the first time in Qianmenwai Street, Beijing during the Qianlong period.

North China No. 1 Escort Agency introduces the life stories of three outstanding figures in the bodyguard industry in North China in the middle of the Qing Dynasty, namely the sharpshooter Wang Zhengqing, the iron leg left two, and the famous Xingyi boxing master Dai Erlu, and the three bodyguards where the three bodyguards belonged data of. The Escort has a martial arts practice field in the backyard, where contemporary martial arts enthusiasts often practice here, and tourists often participate in activities.

Escort is a very special industry, but with the development of society, the opening of ticket offices, banks, railways, postal services, and ships, the Escort, which was active for more than 300 years in the early years of the Republic of China, gradually withdrew from the stage of history.

Outstanding Business Reputation|Tongxing Escort Bureau Museum

Tongxing Escort Bureau was founded in the 29th year of Daoguang in the Qing Dynasty. At that time, Pingyao's business was prosperous, and various companies had a large amount of valuable goods, money and silver that needed to be transported over long distances. Along with Dai Longbang of Qi County and Zuo Changde of Wenshui, martial arts master Wang Zhengqing, known as the "Three Heroes of North China", returned home from other places. He was invited by many merchants to establish the Tongxing Public Escort Bureau to provide escorts for Pingyao merchants.

The cabinet room is the business place of the bodyguard bureau, where commercial activities such as negotiation, contract signing, collection of darts, inspection and delivery of bodyguards are all carried out here.

In the chief bodyguard room of Tongxing Public Escort Bureau, there is also the treasury of Tongxing Public Escort Bureau, which is the place where the bodyguard bureau temporarily stores silver. In the conference hall, the historical scene of the conference hall of the Tongxing Public Security Bureau is displayed in the original scene. The conference hall is the place where the Tongxing Public Security Bureau meets for meetings. Here is the poster style of Zhang Xikui of the Tongxing Public Security Bureau to worship Wang Shumao, the teacher of the Tongxing Public Security Bureau in the eleventh year of Guangxu. This information is very precious, and it is the only teacher apprentice post preserved by the Escort.

The credit and social status of the Escort depends on the reputation of the Escort Master in the martial arts world. Therefore, Tongxing Public Escort Agency has been listed as one of the most famous escort agencies in the country since its birth. Tongxing Public Escort Bureau has lasted for more than 60 years, and has never missed a dart, and has a good reputation in the business world. The Tongxing Escort Bureau was closed in the second year of the Republic of China, and its entire history spanned the two periods of the late Qing Dynasty and the early Republic of China.

Town God's Temple | Beliefs Worshiped

On the Town God's Temple Street in the ancient city of Pingyao, there is a Town God's Temple built in the Northern Song Dynasty. Like the Town God's Temples in other places, the God of Town God, the God of Wealth, and the Stove Lord are enshrined in the temple. The Town God's Temple is indispensable in ancient cities, but only the Town God's Temple in the ancient city of Pingyao is a "temple within a temple" that integrates the Town God's Temple, the God of Wealth Temple, and the Zaojun Temple. The strange scenery of "receiving incense".

In front of the gate of the Town God's Temple, stands a tall gate archway. Walking through the archway, you will enter the inner court of the Pingyao Town God's Temple. The main hall of the Town God's Temple is built in the traditional palace style, with blue and green glazed tiles, solemn and grand, and the main hall in the hall. The city god is enshrined. On both sides of the hall are guards of honor from the four-rank official office. On the walls on both sides are pictures of the city god going out on tour day and night.

The Pingyao Town God's Temple building complex faces south from the north, and enters four courtyards from front to back. The archway, mountain gate, theater building, dedication hall, town god's hall, and bedroom are built on the axis. The functional division of sleeping" is very obvious.

Because the God of the City God is a Taoist god, there are many Taoist priests in the Temple of the City God who manage everything here. Taoism emphasizes "the unity of man and nature", and the Temple of the City God is consistent with this ritual system in terms of architectural style and geographical location. A major feature of Chenghuang Temple is that the "God of Wealth" and "God of Stove" are also invited to the temple to accept offerings from the local people. These two so-called vulgar gods can bless those who pray for prosperity and safety.

I quietly visited every building and temple. Although I am not a believer, I just walked and watched and felt the life of Pingyao people for hundreds of years. In a pool, a flower attracted me, pink The fragrance is fragrant, and the green round leaves set off each other, floating on the water. In fact, it is difficult to see flowers in many temples, but in the Chenghuang Temple, this flower smells fragrant throughout the courtyard.

Pingyao is a relatively well-preserved county seat. Although the ancient city wall has vicissitudes, it is still majestic. The various businesses in the ancient city are still the same, the county government and the Town God's Temple are still the same as before. Walking in the ancient city, it seems that nothing has changed. This is Pingyao, that is, the charm of Pingyao.

Pingyao Confucian Temple|The soul of the ancient city

If we regard Pingyao Ancient City as a complete and rich life body, then Pingyao Confucian Temple is its soul.

Pingyao Confucian Temple was built in the early years of Zhenguan in Tang Dynasty. It is located in the southeast of the ancient city of Pingyao. The southeast is the location of "Kui Xing", which is the main cultural movement. On the north-south central axis of the Confucian Temple, there are Lingxing Gate, Panchi, Dacheng Hall, Minglun Hall, Zunjing Pavilion, Jingyi Pavilion, Dongxue Palace on the left and Xixue Palace on the right.

The first gate of the Confucian Temple is called Lingxing Gate. On both sides, there are internal interpretations of "Civil and military officials, soldiers and civilians wait here to get off their sedan chairs and horses". Get off the sedan chair, get off the horse and walk in. Even the county magistrate or even the emperor, who is a new official, can't sit in the sedan chair and do something special.

Dacheng Gate is the second gate of the Confucian Temple, named after the words of Mencius, "Confucius said it was a collection of great achievements". The dressing halls on both sides and the fasting place were specially used when worshiping Confucius. As the name implies, it is a place for fasting, bathing and changing clothes. place. In ancient times, there were quite strict requirements and procedures when offering sacrifices to Confucius. Across the Dacheng Gate, there are bells and drums on both sides. Although the bells and drums in the temple are used to remind the time of "morning bells and evening drums", the bells and drums here are fortune bells and holy tone drums.

Dacheng Hall, the main hall of the sacrificial area, is the earliest surviving building in the entire ancient city. It is also the earliest Dacheng Hall among the existing Confucian temples in the country. It has a history of more than 840 years. The only surviving No. 1 scroll attracts many tourists. At the same time, on the left side of Zunjing Pavilion, there is still a place in Shanxi Province that provides high-grade performances for tourists——Pingyao Grand Theater Performing Arts Center , it can attract people because it reflects the original ecology of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, and the characteristics of the soil and dregs, such as village girls' folk art, stunt performances, etc. The theme is that "Shanxi Merchants" are all Shanxi merchants after Shanxi merchants.

Rixinzhai, which means learning from time to time and renewing day by day, is a place for ancient students to study, and now it is opened as the Four Treasures of the Study Exhibition. There are all kinds of precious four treasures of the study from different ages on display to add to everyone's elegance. The fourth of the four treasures of the study is the inkstone, which is an indispensable stationery for grinding ink and storing ink. The most valuable inkstones are Duan inkstone in Guangdong, She inkstone in Anhui, Taohe inkstone in Gansu, and Chengni inkstone in Jiangxian County, Shanxi. They are known as the "Four Famous Inkstones". , while Duan and She are ranked first, and they are well-known in China.

After entering Minglun Hall, a portrait of Confucius hangs on the screen in the middle. Under the horizontal plaque of "One Consistent" is a couplet summarizing Confucius' lifelong practice: "Study and devote yourself to the doctrine of the mean to rule the world, and earnestly ask about the way of thinking and self-cultivation." In Minglun Hall, we can also see that the imperial precepts were written by Emperor Kangxi Yuwen.

Between the back of Minglun Hall and Jingyi Pavilion is the fourth entrance courtyard, which is Chaoshan Academy. On the door plaque of the academy, there are four words "dedicated to work and happy to be in the group". Confucius had words such as "respect for deacons", "respect for things", "respect for self-cultivation". The main building is Jingyi Pavilion, which is a place for worshiping heaven, and there is a big tripod for worshiping heaven in the pavilion.

The Confucian Temple is a school for worshiping and respecting Confucius and government-run schools. By the Ming and Qing dynasties, the architecture and sacrifices of Confucian temples had become custom-made. Pingyao Confucian Temple has a long history, grand scale, majestic momentum, typical shape, superb architectural art, grand halls and well-organized levels. It is the most complete and largest Confucian Temple in North China.

Shuanglin Temple|Oriental Painted Sculpture Art Treasure

Shuanglin Temple was originally named "Zhongdu Temple", and its site was originally the old city of Zhongdu, so it got its name. Rather than saying that Shuanglin Temple is a Buddhist temple, it is better to say that it is a treasure house of folk painted sculpture art in my country. There are Tang pagoda trees, Song steles, and Ming bells in this temple, but what makes it most famous are the more than 2,000 painted clay sculptures. a great blessing.

What to see in Shuanglin Temple? Just look at the "clay bodhisattvas", large and small 2052 "clay bodhisattvas" for thousands of years, although disgraced, are full of artistic vitality and beauty. The artistic value of each statue is very high, and many rare and unique painted sculpture Bodhisattvas make Shuanglin Temple known as "my country's Painted Sculpture Art Museum".

The arch-shaped mountain gate, the name of Shuanglin Temple comes from the Buddhist scriptures "Shuanglin enters and dies". The first hall I saw was the Tianwang Hall in the north, and the four 3-meter-tall Heavenly Kings under the eaves were particularly eye-catching.

The gods and Buddhas in Shuanglin Temple are covered with dust. These are the history. The four heavenly kings are lifelike, and the momentum of "strengthening the mountain and overwhelming the world" is born spontaneously. In the Hall of Heavenly Kings, Maitreya Bodhisattva with the crown of heaven sits in the center, with Emperor Shakra and Brahma sitting on the left and right. You may feel that this Maitreya Bodhisattva is very different from the common big-bellied Maitreya image. In fact, the Maitreya Bodhisattva before the Five Dynasties basically looked like this, and after the Five Dynasties, it gradually evolved into the image of a big-bellied cloth bag monk. Not only the main statue, but any Buddha statue in Shuanglin Temple is so lifelike. It can only be said that it is a miracle that such an exquisite wood-body clay Buddha statue was not destroyed during the crazy Cultural Revolution.

All temples have bell and drum towers, and Shuanglin Temple is no exception. The Daxiong Hall is of course the main hall and the tallest building in the temple. It was rebuilt in the early Ming Dynasty, but the Buddha statues inside are not surprising. However, the Thousand Buddha Hall and the Bodhisattva Hall on the east and west sides of the Daxiong Hall are very worth seeing.

Shuanglin Temple in Pingyao is a treasure house of art. It is a pity not to go to Shuanglin Temple in Pingyao. Commercial Pingyao has lost a lot, but Shuanglin Temple, which has remained unchanged for thousands of years, has retained a lot for you. The painted sculptures of Shuanglin Temple are rare. With a part of Buddha nature and more taste, we are left with infinite reverie. Despite the vicissitudes of thousands of years, the brilliance of art is still brilliant.

City Wall | Carrying the traces of the years

Ancient buildings such as city walls, folk houses, Confucian temples and government offices all have a long history and cultural heritage. We climbed up the stairs and climbed up the ancient city wall. As time goes by, it has mottled the city wall covered with blue bricks, eroded the gate carved with vermilion, dried up the well outside the south gate, bent the curved "turtle tail" in the north, carrying an ancient cultural city and a The prosperous and prosperous age of "connecting the world".

The total circumference of Pingyao Ancient City Wall is more than six kilometers, and the wall height is about 12 meters. It divides Pingyao County with an area of ​​about 2.25 square kilometers into two worlds with different styles. The streets, pavements, and city buildings within the city wall retain the Ming and Qing dynasties; the outside of the city wall is called Xincheng.

There are moats around the city wall and suspension bridges at both ends. In the days of ancient wars, this was indeed an insurmountable line of defense. In particular, there are narrow urn gates guarding the east and west, and the protection ability is very strong. Even if an enemy invades, only a few can enter, and they will immediately fall into siege and become a turtle in an urn. This design is very ingenious.

The turrets refer to the "Xiadie" building in the northwest corner and the "Qiyue Building" in the northeast corner respectively. The "Ruiai Building" in the southwest corner and the "Ningxiu Building" in the southeast corner. There is a general platform on the east wall, and "Kuixing Tower" and "Wenchang Pavilion" are built on the top of the southeast corner of the city.

Pingyao, the city of Pingyao, is full of too many stories.

sunset | silhouette

An ancient city is always burdened with too many past events, and the wind blowing from the depths of history is still stained with the faint ink color smudged on the rice paper. Coming out of the city gate, dyed in the color of the sunset, I feel like I have passed through a time-space tunnel, from ancient times to modern times.

Although the ancient city of Pingyao is dilapidated on the surface, it has rich connotations. Its cultural connotation cannot be comprehended overnight. Its temperament overflows from every urn city, every street, every old window, every carving, and the talents of every Pingyao sage.

History is condensed here, and our history and culture are recognized and continued, which exudes the most mellow heritage. Every winding street in Pingyao is full of calmness; every piece of mottled green brick is full of simplicity. Let the creatures in it tear apart their souls and look at history across Pingyao. When the eyes touch Pingyao, the heart instantly becomes open.

Pingyao is unusual and not far away. With the changes of history, with the memory of my childhood. Happy birthday to the motherland, I will grow up with you!

About some strategies

【Tips】

1. There is a large parking lot at the entrance of the ancient city, and the fee is 10 yuan per 12 hours;

2. Tickets are not required to enter the ancient city. Tickets are required for some famous scenic spots and performances in the city (it is recommended that you watch the large-scale situational experience drama "Seeing Pingyao Again". I have watched it many times, and I will not watch it this time);

3. There are tour buses in the ancient city, which will appear by your side almost every minute. The fee is charged according to the number of people, 10 yuan per person. In addition, there are small trams similar to shared trams, which can be driven away by scanning the code, but you need to specify the parking place;

4. The convenience stores in the ancient city are relatively simple and have relatively few items. It is recommended to prepare what you need in advance;

5. I think the special products of Pingyao Ancient City are Pingyao beef and vinegar, which are available in all streets and alleys. It is recommended to shop around~

【transportation】

Friends from outside Shanxi Province can choose to go to Taiyuan first. The traffic in Taiyuan City is very convenient, no matter whether it is a plane or a high-speed rail car.

I came here by car from Taiyuan. The ancient city of Pingyao is 110 kilometers away from Taiyuan City. The whole journey is high-speed, and it takes about an hour. It takes less than an hour and a half by train from Taiyuan Station to Pingyao Station, and the ticket price is 17 yuan; you can also travel from Taiyuan South Station to Pingyao Ancient City Station, which takes 30 minutes and the ticket price is 29 yuan.

【Food】

Every city has its unique style, and every city has its unique food flavor.

In addition to the world-famous ancient city of Pingyao, the local cuisine has a strong characteristic flavor. Pingyao claims to have 108 kinds of snacks, and the food and beverage features mainly pasta. You can taste the local delicacies of Pingyao on a street in Ming and Qing Dynasties, but the price is a little expensive. Ming and Qing Streets are the most prosperous streets in the scenic area of ​​Pingyao Ancient City. There are all kinds of ancient buildings on both sides, all kinds of shops, tourists are bustling, and the price of goods is proportional to the prosperity without exception!

The restaurants within the range are exquisitely decorated, rich in atmosphere, and slightly expensive. Of course, there is no need to pick the appearance and flavor of the dishes. I chose to go to a restaurant called Wuweixuan.

The main gourmet snacks include Pingyao beef, Caojia smoked elbow, beggar's chicken, bowl support, sauced plum meat, Pingyao stewed vegetables, yogurt, oil cake, boiled lumps, paste, tipping, knife-cut noodles, scissors noodles, kneading Fish, stone cakes, dipping tip, dipping slices, bean noodles, cat ears, corn hair cake, and rice, cut lumps, corn buns, poultry seeds, cold cakes, oily meat, vegetable rice, Camellia oleifera, yellow corn fried, jujube, ramen, distilled poles, dry noodle pancakes, yellow vegetable fire, oatmeal 栲栳栳, decocted buns, red batter paste, rubbed poles, tofu brain, etc.

In Shanxi, of course, you can’t miss all kinds of pasta. One night, I ate my favorite stir-fried noodles with eggs and tomatoes.

There is a Jishifu Wantuo, which is known as the first bowltuo in Shilou Ancient Street. The decoration of the store has a sense of Pingyao's age.

【stay】

Regarding accommodation, you can choose a modern hotel outside the ancient city, or an inn in the ancient city to experience the ancient customs and the customs of Pingyao. It depends on your preferences. Of course, the price is different. After all, hotels have star ratings and inns also have grades.

oyo Yadeju Inn

If you are on a poor trip or a short-term stay, you can choose here. The price is quite cheap. The entire inn is remodeled from an old house, an antique two-story courtyard. The rooms combine modernity and classics, which is very creative.

Yadeju Inn is located on the East Street of the Four Great Streets in the ancient city, about four kilometers from Pingyao Railway Station, within walking distance to Yunlu Fengqing Street, and close to the Confucian Temple and Ming and Qing Streets.

Lu Family Courtyard

Pingyao Lujia Inn is located on the East Street in the ancient city of Pingyao County, Shanxi, where the world cultural heritage is located, adjacent to Zhenwu Temple Street, so it is very convenient to travel and play. This is an elegant and comfortable small farmhouse. The rooms are equipped with color TV, air-conditioning, independent bathroom and other facilities, and also provide wireless Internet access. You can experience the unique farmhouse style of Pingyao here.

About the photography of the ancient city

【Photography Equipment】

SLR EOS5DMarkIV and micro-single M6.

【Custom Costumes】

Regarding clothing, friends can choose to buy some clothing with local cultural characteristics, and the price is very affordable. In the ancient city, I bought a pair of trousers with big flowers, bright red, depicting dragons, we are all descendants of dragons.

[Ancient Costume of the Former Dynasty]

When you go to the ancient city, of course you have to experience the ancient costumes. As soon as you step into the ancient city, this idea has always appeared in my mind.

There are many fashion stores in the ancient city, you can choose to rent them, or you can choose to buy them if you meet your favorite ones. Wearing ancient costumes and visiting ancient towns, you can get antique pictures everywhere.

about me

Nothing but handsome. Oh no, I still have my motherland!

postscript

A city carries history and is engraved with symbols of time. The candied haws shop in childhood is no longer a shop, and the paper-cut mother-in-law is no longer in the original yard, but the city wall still stands beside the building. Maybe it changed, maybe it didn't.

I have grown from a young girl to a person who can walk alone in the rivers and lakes. Our motherland has experienced sixty-nine birthdays. As the motherland becomes more and more prosperous and powerful, we ourselves are also growing. Revisiting Pingyao, I found my childhood memories, welcomed the footsteps of the motherland's birthday celebration, and I understood the meaning of growth even more.

In the journey of life, if you are tired from walking, you might as well go home and have a look, see yourself in the past, and see the motherland today. I believe you will find that life is about growing and getting better.

The world is beautiful, your motherland is beautiful, and you can also have your own beauty. Sing that song again:

"My motherland and I are like the sea and the waves.

The wave is the child of the sea, and the sea is the support of the wave.

Whenever the sea smiles, I am the whirlpool of laughter.

I share the sorrow of the sea and the joy of the sea.

My dearest motherland, you are the sea that never dries up, and you will always give me the song in my heart with blue waves and clear waves. "