Pingyao is a city that retains, for me at least, some of the feeling of China as it was 15+ years ago.

Tourism is being encouraged but the streetscape, inside the walls, gives impression that it is still fairly original. No superhighways, tall buildings or fast food joints.

Unbeknownst to us Pingyao also has a large annual photo exhibition – we arrived in the middle of it.

Pingyao is notable in part for the old draft banks and security companies that took care of rich peoples assets. The security companies provided fierce armed kung fu fighters to protect their client’s valuables during transport and bank/security company reception areas of varying opulence commensurate with the wealth of the client – similar to what you see today from retail banking through to private banking, family offices and so on.

City Walls

 

Banks and Security Companies

The streets

Our Hotel