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.