Pingyao | Asian Street Food

Pingyao (平遥), China

The morning rush hour in Pingyao.

Pingyao’s old town is often considered the best ancient walled city in China, and is on many lists of the best walled cities in the world. The old walled city is 2.6 sq. kilometers (1 sq. mile), inhabited, mostly off-limits to cars, and constructed of cobbled streets and buildings almost entirely from the Ming and Qing dynasties. Picture a period film showing ancient China – and you won’t be far off. Perfect for atmospheric wandering, this city is still off the radar of most foreigners. As such, the tourist hordes tend to be over 99% mainland Chinese on any given day.

Staying in a hotel in the old city of Pingyao brings you hundreds of years back in time.

Staying in a hotel in the old city of Pingyao is like entering a time machine.

As the old walled city is only about 1 mile by 1 mile (or 1.6km by 1.6km), walking is the by far #1 way around. Most of the old walled city is also off-limits to taxis/cars. However if you are feeling lazy, you can hire golf carts that wander the streets. Pay around ¥5 for a ride if a single person, around ¥15 for four people. It is also possible to rent bikes for ¥10 per day, though the streets crowded with Chinese tourists may make this not much faster than walking.

If navigating by map – know that there are several interior towers/wall sections that look very much like part of the city wall proper. The first day, many map-wielding tourist become confused in placing themselves, thinking they are seeing the nearby city wall, when they in fact are not.

Electric golf-like cars are the tuk-tuks of Pingyao.

The main attraction in Pingyao’s walled city is – well, the city itself. i.e. – simply wandering the streets. Nearly every building dates from the Ming (1368-1644) or Qing (1644-1911) Dynasties. The car-free status and ancient street plan adds to the strong atmosphere