#historicculture

Pingyao ancient city fortification and defence. Well, those times were not very calm and peaceful, but Pingyao and its inhabitants were very rich. The strong and well developed defence system was necessary. Now we can observe some part and some artifacts like gunnery, double wall corridor with iron gate and cage. Inner space separating two gates are particularly interesting. The introduction and description are provided on the spot. Pingyao ancient City is very unusual and interesting place. #culturalattractions#museumquest#historicculture

Catholic Church of Phingyao Ancient City, Pingyao ancient City, Pingyao city, Shanxi Province, People's Republic of China. Well it was so unexpected to spot this type of building here in Pingyao ancient city, in the land of Confucius doctrine, but this Christian Catholic temple is historical mark and prove that missioners had reached this region and even founded their own temple here. By the way, the temple is still functioning. It's located right away from Confucius temple at the next cross-road. #culturalattractions#museumquest#historicculture

The Temple of Confucius or Kong Zi Miao aka 孔子庙 of Pingyao ancient city. This is the temple dedicated to one of the most famous man in the world, one if the most brightest mind the history ever knew. Due to the respect to his person, Confucius temple has a vast territory and open space grounds with several halls. This place is located a little bit far away from walking streets and trading tourist center of Pingyao ancient city, in a silent end if one small and narrow street. When you entering there in the temple yard then you immediately start to feel the atmosphere of wisdom and some kind of peace Like other temples in the city The Confucius Temple also presents the Pingyao ancient city history and introduces basics of the Confucius study. #summervacation#urbanexplorer#roadtrip#museumquest#historicculture

Qiao Family Court yard. We are in Pingyao ancient city, Pingyao, Shanxi province, China. Every corner, every small narrow streets here in Pingyao ancient city hides surprises. What kind of surprise could be expected from one of the richest family of ancient Pingyao? It is really impressive. After entering here it is becoming clear, this family was very rich and had earned a lot of money by the successful trade operations to keep such kind of house and territory for private use. Now this court yard is a tourist spot and interesting museum. This is also good option for taking pictures and opportunity to become more familiar with Pingyao ancient city history. #summervacation#urbanexplorer#roadtrip#museumquest#historicculture

Museum of Chinese Imperial examination is located in the historically real and based in the same location Imperial Examination Center of ancient China's Pingyao city. We are again visiting Pingyao ancient city, Pingyao, Shanxi province, People's Republic of China. Long time ago to get the post or position in the government administration, the young men had to pass one if the most difficult exams which could ever be imagined. Ancient time it was not so easy to get the governing job, if we express by modern language. Many scholars arrived in the city and day and night studied materials, subjects, disciplines to they their skills and luck aiming to get the better future. #summervacation#urbanexplorer#museumquest#historicculture

Cheng Huang Temple, the ancient temple which is located in Pingyao ancient city, Pingyao, Shanxi province, People's Republic of China. Pingyao is a one big museum under the sky. There are so many unique creations, buildings, installations and artifacts. This temple is still playing its religious role but also has become the tourist hot spot attracting all kind of visitors arriving in the Pingyao ancient city. The territory is big and includes several sectors. All buildings are open for entering. #summervacation#urbanexplorer#roadtrip#museumquest#historicculture

Bell Tower of Ming and Qing road. Pingyao ancient city, Pingyao city, Shanxi province, People's Republic of China. This is the bell Tower if the Ming and Qing Road built centuries ago in the cross-road of two important streets here, in Pingyao. We are exactly in the center of Pingyao ancient city. Actually, this is the tallest building in whole ancient city of Pingyao. It is possible to climb there and all visitors are doing it. Then you will be rewarded by beautiful view on the ancient city and possibly to take pictures of main road in the city, still crowded and vivid like many centuries ago. #culturalattractions#museumquest#historicculture

Pingyao ancient city and its Newspaper Museum. Located in the heart of ancient City of Pingyao, included in two days combo ticket and it is very interesting and quite different compared to others places museum. The most interesting newspapers are collected here with drawings, articles comments and original design. The historical period of first half of twentieth century is completely presented here. Feel the atmosphere of those days. Probably this place will take no more than thirty minutes, but it definitely must visit. #museumquest#historicculture

Tong Xing Gong is another place representing escort agency service which was in demand during flourishing of trade operations and merchant activities in Pingyao ancient city, Pingyao, Shanxi province, People's Republic of China. Yes, there is a lot of very interesting, useful and historically true information about ancient time escort agencies and their services. The museum expositions and introductions are illustrating how it was at that time, including the escort organization (front, middle, back, rear and several other parts having different tasks), elements of armour and weapon decor, skills of guards and ways of they were trained in. #summervacation#urbanexplorer#roadtrip#museumquest#historicculture

China escort agency, Pingyao ancient city, Pingyao, Shanxi province, People's Republic of China. Well, well, well, it is really easy to get lost or misunderstood where you are and which escort agency's house or base you are visiting exactly now because there are several escort agencies in Pingyao ancient city. I mean the museums dedicated to this type service providers, the service which was in demand at that time centuries ago. But exactly this place is indicated as "China Escort Agency" in the tourist guidebooks. Yes, here are also presented weapons, artifacts, descriptions of trainings for guards and cultural relics of that epoch including treasures. #summervacation#urbanexplorer#roadtrip#museumquest#historicculture

Wang Family courtyard, Pingyao ancient City, Pingyao, Shanxi province, People's Republic of China. Well, this is probably richest one and most well decorated private courtyard which is belong to famous local family, members of that were successful entrepreneurs in ancient times here in Pingyao. It is very hard to make sure which family was richest in the Pingyao but definitely this one build their houses taller and with more decor. The gardens are inside giving the shadow during the hot summer, walls protects from winter winds. From the second floor it is opening view on the roofs of Pingyao. I've never seen so beautiful roofs. Roofs of Pingyao are amazing. So romantic. #summervacation#urbanexplorer#roadtrip#museumquest#historicculture

We are continuing to explore the historical and immense cultural heritage area of Pingyao ancient city, Pingyao, Shanxi province, People's Republic of China. This place named a little bit longer than other locations and sounds like Hua Bei Number One Biao Ju. This is the place where ancient merchants could hired soldiers doe protection and escorting them into other cities. The ancient China roads was not so safety. Even about ancient Pingyao it could be said like that: half of Pingyao is selling gold, another half of Pingyao people is selling not their gold. So, the escort service was in demand and escort agencies grown like a mushrooms offering well trained guards and their swords for protection to the ancient deallers. #summervacation#urbanexplorer#roadtrip#museumquest#historicculture

Pingyao ancient city government residence in the middle of the ancient city of Pingyao, Shanxi province, China. This scenic spot and museum is located very close to the ticket office, in the main artery of the city which is called Ming and Qing ancient street. Just for note, entrance into Pingyao ancient city is free of any admission, but to enter museums or some mansions it's necessary to purchase the ticket. Ticket is a kind of combo ticket opening access to all places during two days from the moment of buying for visitors. Yes, it was not easy to govern such kind of vivid and active ancient city, I guess. Government had a lot of work to support justice and piece in the ancient time Pingyao. The court is also located here. Nowadays the show telling the stories of justice is being performed here. Very interesting historical place for visiting. #summervacation#urbanexplorer#roadtrip#museumquest#historicculture

Pingyao ancient City, Pingyao, Shanxi province, China. Every city has its own main street, Broadway or something like this. In Pingyao ancient city this role was granted to the Ming and Qing Ancient Street, the largest one and longest one in the city. The city plan has not been changed and we can see so called original architectural design or plan for the city. This was the main trade street here, always overcrowded with thousands of people running for their businesses and thousands of commercial opetationd done every day. It especially beautiful from the top view of central Tower. Today mostly dedicated to the satisfying tourist needs it is still vivid street representing the spirit of ancient merchants. #urbanexplorer#roadtrip#museumquest#historicculture

Ancient City Wall of the Pingyao ancient city (Pingyao Gu Cheng), Pingyao ancient City, Shanxi province. Like every ancient City on China Pingyao is surrounded by its own city wall, tall and monumental with Towers and observation decks. It is pretty interesting walking on the top of city wall hanging this ancient city like a belt. The views are pretty good, both, outside of the city and, of course, on the roofs and streets with people inside of this open space museum under the sky. Taking pictures will bring a lot of memorable shots. Please, note, that city wall is opened only until 18.00 or six pm, then the gates of places for enter will be closed. Remarkable place in amazing ancient city of Pingyao. #urbanexplorer#roadtrip#museumquest#historicculture

We are in Pingyao ancient city, Pingyao, Shanxi province, China. This post dedicated to the first well organized collectors, guards who is responsible for delivering and preserving money like our modern bank van drivers and guards, collectors. Since Pingyao was a biggest one commercial city in ancient China with non stop mode signing commercial agreements, deliveries and... doing of money transfers, logically, this place had been forced to develop protective mechanisms to guarantee money preservation and protection from robbers. Banks, in Pingyao invented their own special service, the guards, who was well trained and could be hired to come to the point and collect the money for further delivery to the bank for its clients. It has solved many problems. Here are the pictures of their ammunition and weapon. Cone to Pingyao to check it out! #urbanexplorer#roadtrip#bestislandtraveltowns#museumquest#historicculture

Rishengchang Bank or Ri Sheng Chang Former bank. This landmark is located on one of the major streets of the Pingyao ancient city (not Qing and Ming commercial street, another one connected with that by small streets lying through ancient blocks), Pingyao Ancient City, Pingyao, Shanxi province, People's Republic of China. I was already mentioned in my previous post that Pingyao is best preserved and biggest ancient city of China among small number of survived cities until our epoch. Well, this bank was one of the biggest and richest during ancient time and of course it was located in Pingyao city, the trade point of ancient China. After entering inside you can understand how rich was it! And this bank presents hundreds of artifacts telling us different stories of ancient time and describing people life and, especially, accounting many centuries ago. This is number one place for visiting in Pingyao ancient city. #urbanexplorer#roadtrip#bestislandtraveltowns#museumquest#historicculture