World Heritage Sites China

Pingyao, Shanxi

Pingyao lies about 715 km from Beijing and 80 km from the provincial capital, Taiyuan. During the Qing Dynasty, Pingyao was a financial center of China. It is now renowned for its well-preserved ancient city wall. The city walls of Pingyao were constructed in the 3rd year of the Hongwu (1370). The walls have six barbican gates. The north and south sides have one gate each. The east and west sides have two gates each. This pattern is similar to that of a turtle (the head, tail, and four legs), earning Pingyao the moniker “Turtle City.” The walls measure about 12 meters high. the best-preserved ancient city walls on.

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