Pingyao Ancient Town: A Few Tales
Visiting Pingyao was solely to see two temples. Since the shops and goods along the streets are similar to those found nationwide, I didn't buy a ticket to enter the scenic spots. In search of something to eat, to satisfy my Suzhou palate, I wandered the old town several times.
🌟 Highlights:
1. Couplets
Many households and shops display handwritten couplets at their entrances, which are not only aesthetically pleasing but also related to the goods sold.
2. Chain Stores Adapting to Local Customs
After having noodles for two meals, I finally stepped into KFC. The staff enthusiastically told me that I would have to wait a bit longer since all food is made to order, ensuring deliciousness. I was the sixth customer to order that day, and it was already 4:30 in the afternoon.
After placing my order, the staff discussed with the kitchen about preheating the oven...
I chose a seat by the window, watching the bustling street with Jin merchants' young wives and ladies passing by. My parents had also visited Pingyao with a tour group a few years ago. I wonder if my mother, seeing her peers dressed up like that, had also been tempted.
3. Qu's Shoe Workshop
On the third day, after visiting the Zhenguo Temple, I asked the taxi driver to take me to the North Gate, which I hadn't visited before. This handmade shoe workshop is located on North Street.
The entrance was unremarkable. A child ran up to the door and glanced at the handmade map in the frame. I followed suit and took a look. Inside the threshold, a man in his thirties or forties, wearing glasses and a hat worn backwards, was working at a table near the entrance. Various sizes of shoe models were displayed on the table, and the man glanced at me sheepishly while continuing his work without pause.
The shop's handmade shoes are divided into semi-handmade and fully handmade, the difference being whether the soles are also handcrafted. Prices range from sixty to one hundred and fifty-six.
I remembered when I went to Beijing, my mother asked me to bring back a pair of handmade cloth shoes for my grandmother, so I wanted to buy two pairs as souvenirs for her and my great-grandmother.
They didn't have the sizes I needed, so I added the owner's WeChat to pay, and he would mail them to me. The production cycle is about 10 days.
I didn't feel comfortable taking photos that day, but I'll update after receiving the shoes.
📝 Tips:
1. Difficult to Hail a Taxi, Complicated Bus Routes
My itinerary was quite relaxed, and I thought taking the bus would not only save money but also allow me to see the local scenery. However, right out of the high-speed train station, public transportation threw me a curveball. Following Baidu Maps to the bus stop, the driver of the first bus told me it didn't go to the old town and directed me to the next one. The driver of the next bus also said he couldn't go because the road was under construction.
Construction... No way through...
Well, let's take a taxi.
The next day, I tried to book a ride to Shuanglin Temple online. It was near the old town's South Gate, yet no taxi driver responded for over 20 minutes, nor did any taxis pass by.
Following the map again to find the bus stop, the driver immediately shook his head when I mentioned Shuanglin Temple, directing me to the opposite side. Looking at the driver's face, I doubted whether all Pingyao drivers shared the same face – wasn't this the same driver who told me the road was under construction yesterday?
Sure enough, the route on the opposite side was in the wrong direction. I couldn't accept that I could read yet still misinterpret the signs.
Fortunately, the online car-hailing service responded at that time. I kept the driver's number and contacted him directly for a round trip to Zhenguo Temple the next day. The cost was not cheap... According to him, Jinzhong does not allow the operation of online car-hailing services, and there are only about twenty drivers in the whole of Pingyao, with not enough taxis available, making it common to have difficulty hailing a cab.
2. Highly Similar Dining Options
I stayed in the old town for three days. After two meals of noodles, the fear of being dominated by noodles, as in Datong, returned. I asked the landlady of the inn if there were other food options, and she suggested I try ordering from Hongwuji on South Street, as leftovers could be packed.
When dining in the old town, remember to ask your accommodation if they have any discount coupons.
PassportStampCollector*11
The ancient city is very large. After a day of shopping, the pass 125 saw many cultural attractions. The price of snacks is not expensive. The two people in the ancient city restaurant are full of food within 100. The homestay in the ancient city is also very distinctive. The service is very good. The car has to be parked outside the city. The parking fee is 10 yuan, the price is moderate, and the travel experience is very good.
If you just stroll around, I think Pingyao Ancient City is not interesting, so although the fare is small, you must not miss the performance of "See Pingyao again". You must also buy a pass to see the paid attractions to understand the history, legends and stories of Pingyao Ancient City.
I like to go around lively, and I want to recommend the South Gate Confucian Temple Chenghuang Temple, Majia Courtyard, and the city wall. The commercial atmosphere of the central street of the ancient city is strong and lively. Time allows for a better night, and the pass is valid for three days.
Very convenient, just go to the attractions and scan the QR code! ! ! There are too many attractions in Pingyao Ancient City. It just happened to be romantic in the snow. There are a lot of restaurants on South Street. The restaurants are really delicious. There are very few people in the off-season. The store is also very enthusiastic! ! ! ! I walked in the snow for a long time and didn't finish it! ! !
As a well-known domestic attractions for a long time, there is no disappointment. Some ancient buildings in the old city are well preserved. The only disappointment is that the toll attractions in the ancient city should be charged separately, and should not have to buy a joint ticket. Because the wishes of tourists are different, they do not necessarily want to visit.
After looking at the code and letting go to the city, you can swipe your card to enter at the entrance of each specific attraction. It is convenient to use, but each point can only be used once. For example, after going up at the South City Gate, you can’t go up to the North City Gate. The central area is near the city building. That is, the south section of South Street and the center near the city building, the commercial atmosphere in the whole area is very strong, Chinese KFC... Jin-style travel photography is everywhere, maintenance and construction are also more common, a day of good physical strength can be strolled down, if you don’t need to go shopping for all the elderly, it’s enough to go shopping for a day, right, The car in the area can be chartered for 100 yuan. If it is inconvenient to walk with the elderly, you can consider chartering a car.
Pingyao Ancient City is a 5A-level scenic spot, and it is particularly popular during the Chinese New Year. There are many online celebrities punching in, and the cultural charm is strong, which is worth visiting. I have been to the Temple of Confucianism, the Temple of Wealth, the ancient city county, the former site of Rishengchang, the Post Office Museum, the Chamber of Commerce Museum, the ancient city tower, etc., all are antique, slowly look at, rich in history.
When I came to Pingyao Ancient City, I passed through it. This is the most complete ancient city. We jumped the Longmen, worshiped Confucius, and saw the most luxurious Rishengchang ticket number. It seems that China's first post office, and I also ate a variety of food. Due to the tight time, I didn't finish shopping. I will come next time. Feel the culture of the ancient city. In addition, the ancient city is full of travel photography. Generally, it is 398 yuan. 10 refined pictures. The photographers here have great photo skills. If time allows, you can take a series of 👍🏻.