谋生咖啡馆

A cafe on Shaxiang Street in Pingyao Ancient City. When I passed by the scenic area tour bus, I saw the name of "Making a Living Cafe" and was deeply impressed. I turned back and walked along the street, found the shop and went in to check it out. The cafe is indeed decorated with a literary and artistic atmosphere, with simple decoration and rich colors. Most of the customers are young tourists, some chatting and some dozing off. There are also local teenagers who gather together to drink and do homework. I ordered a cup of Dirty to get rid of the summer heat, and then asked for a special osmanthus latte. The rim of the cup was covered with a circle of nut crumbs, which had a unique flavor. The sun slowly set in the west, sipping coffee, browsing the circle of friends, and the leisurely afternoon time was very beautiful.

As the New Year's bells are about to ring, instead of crowding into a bustling city square, why not step into an ancient city steeped in history? Pingyao, a living museum of the Ming and Qing dynasties, offers a completely different kind of ritual for your New Year's Eve—countdown beneath the thousand-year-old city walls, warmly bidding farewell to the old year and welcoming the new with the steam of a copper hot pot and the gentle intoxication of homemade fruit wine. New Year's Eve: A Unique Ritual in the Ancient City Pingyao's New Year's Eve atmosphere is a unique romance where history and modernity intertwine: Festive lights and shadows in the streets and alleys: Red lanterns light up the main streets at night, and many shops and inns hang colorful lights, making the entire ancient city warm and bright—a true pleasure to stroll through. Dinner: A Hearty and Warm Meal is Essential New Year's Eve dinner needs to be full of ritual and warmth. We recommend booking an authentic Pingyao copper hot pot or a sumptuous Shanxi banquet. Where to Eat: We suggest choosing a trusted local establishment like Baishanxi Restaurant (No. 81, South Street). Their copper hot pot is made with generous portions of Pingyao beef, fried meatballs, and roasted pork, simmered slowly over charcoal, symbolizing a year of abundance and reunion. Must-order pairings: Besides the main pot, the vinegared egg, kaolao (a type of steamed dumpling), and Pingyao beef cold platter are the perfect finishing touches, paired with a little wine or local sea buckthorn juice for a truly warming experience. Welcoming the New Year – A Slightly Tipsy First Night in the Ancient City After dinner, the New Year's festivities should continue. Pingyao Ancient City boasts many uniquely atmospheric bars and pubs, perfect for welcoming the new year. Recommended: Mousheng Coffee & Pub (No. 14 Shaxiang Street). This place is specially decorated from Christmas to New Year's Eve, creating a warm atmosphere. You can: order a special "New Year's Eve drink" or a warm mulled wine. Try the homemade hawthorn wine made with Fenjiu base, Participate in the pub's New Year's Eve party, with folk music performances and countdown activities, stepping into the new year amidst laughter and joy. New Year's Eve: A Fulfilling and Relaxing Itinerary If you arrive on New Year's Day, here's an efficient itinerary: Afternoon: After arrival, check in first, then head to the Xietongqing Exchange House to see the underground vault and quickly immerse yourself in Shanxi merchant culture. Evening: Take a stroll along the ancient city wall, watch the winter sunset, and wait for the city lights to come on. Night: Enjoy a New Year's Eve dinner, followed by a countdown event or a drink at a favorite pub. The Next Day (New Year's Day): Wake up naturally and start the new year with a bowl of steaming hot beef knife-cut noodles. Afterwards, you can explore the Rishengchang Exchange House and the county government office. Then, visit "Yiren Time Travel Photography" on South Street. They can capture your most beautiful smile on the ancient street illuminated by red lanterns; you can choose your preferred style in advance. In the evening, watch the large-scale immersive drama "Encounter Pingyao Again," injecting a profound emotional resonance into your New Year's trip. What to Bring Home: Bring Home Good Fortune and Beauty At the start of the New Year, consider buying some auspicious souvenirs: Visit Yonglonghao: Choose an exquisite lacquerware jewelry box, symbolizing harmony and happiness in the New Year. Don't forget to touch the Guinness World Record-holding giant chopsticks to bring good fortune and joy. Specialty Purchases: Pingyao beef and aged vinegar are classic souvenirs, perfect for sharing the festive spirit with family and friends. Important Note: Book in advance! Accommodation, popular restaurants, and tickets for the "Encounter Pingyao" performance are in high demand during the New Year's period. Be sure to book at least one week in advance. Dress Warmly: Nighttime temperatures in Pingyao drop significantly at the end of December. Prepare a full set of warm clothing, including down jackets, hats, scarves, and gloves. Plan Your Return Trip: Check your transportation plans (high-speed rail and train) for the end of the New Year's holiday in advance and allow ample time to travel to the station or airport. Celebrating the New Year in Pingyao is a meaningful and warm way to mark the passing of time. Here you'll find echoes of history, the warmth of human connection, and heartwarming gatherings—enough to fill your heart with warmth as you step into the new year.

Want to welcome the New Year amidst the vibrant atmosphere of the ancient city? This essential checklist for New Year's Eve in Pingyao is ready for you. Follow along to unlock a New Year's Eve journey full of ritual! 8 things to do: 1. Enjoy a copper hot pot New Year's Eve dinner → Head to traditional restaurants like "Bai Shan Xi" to enjoy a charcoal-fired copper hot pot feast, with beef and meatballs piled high, symbolizing prosperity and family reunion. 2. Sip a New Year's Eve cocktail → Visit "Mou Sheng Coffee & Bar," order homemade fruit wine or mulled wine, and enjoy a tipsy New Year's Eve vigil accompanied by folk songs and colorful lanterns. 3. Watch a grand opening performance → Schedule a performance of "Encounter Pingyao Again" on New Year's Day to immerse yourself in the loyalty and righteousness of Shanxi merchants, making the start of the New Year more meaningful. 4. Seek good fortune for the New Year → Visit the "Yonglonghao" lacquerware shop, touch the Guinness World Record holder for "World's Largest Chopsticks," and bring home good luck and happiness. 5. Enjoy a bowl of hearty beef knife-cut noodles → On the first day of the New Year, awaken your taste buds with a hearty bowl of beef knife-cut noodles, a wish for a prosperous year ahead. 6. Send a traditional-style postcard → At the ancient city post office, send New Year's blessings from a World Cultural Heritage site to relatives and friends, or even yourself. 7. Amidst the festive lights and shadows of the ancient city, let "Yi Ren Time Travel Photography" capture a New Year's-themed photo shoot for you. Packages start from under 200 RMB, with various styles to choose from, making your photos a warm souvenir of the new year. 8. Purchase a non-material cultural heritage New Year's gift → Choose from a lacquerware jewelry box (symbolizing harmony and happiness) or Pingyao beef, packing away the taste of culture. Important Reminders: Advance Booking: Accommodation, New Year's Eve dinner, and performance tickets must be booked at least one week in advance. Dress Warmly: The nighttime temperature may feel below -10℃, so bring down jackets, hats, and gloves. Avoid Crowds: The core areas are crowded on New Year's Eve; plan your return route after the countdown in advance. In Pingyao, New Year's Eve is a vibrant, romantic, and culturally significant celebration. Completing this list will not only bring you memories, but also a solid and warm start to the new year.

In Pingyao, nothing can't be solved by a steaming copper hot pot on a winter's day. It boils not only for the ingredients, but also for the very spirit of this ancient city – outwardly rustic and serene, yet inwardly teeming with vibrant life, bustling commerce, and warm hospitality. Gathering around the pot offers more than just warmth; it's a multi-sensory experience of Pingyao's culture and cuisine. The choice for a hot pot meal: More than just a hot pot, it's a revival of Shanxi merchant banquets. A local favorite for winter feasts, it's often a lavish copper hot pot. It's not just a casual hot pot, but rather the "grand finale" of a Shanxi merchant banquet. Where to eat: For an authentic experience, head to reputable restaurants like Baishanxi Restaurant (No. 81, South Street). As a branch of the 40-year-old "Juguangju" brand, their traditional methods allow you to savor the authentic flavors of central Shanxi. What's in the pot: A blazing charcoal-fired copper pot, already overflowing with ingredients when served. The broth is rich and flavorful, generously topped with: the beef is the absolute star, its color a vibrant red, its aroma irresistible; golden and crispy fried meatballs, juicy and flavorful roasted pork, fried tofu and glass noodles soaked in broth, all served on a bed of sweet cabbage. Slowly simmered over charcoal, the flavors of all the ingredients meld in the rising steam, becoming increasingly fragrant with each simmer – a truly hearty dish. A meal in Pingyao: Must-order items besides the copper hot pot. A complete winter feast in Pingyao begins with the copper hot pot, complemented by several other authentic local dishes. Soulful pairing: Aged vinegar: Shanxi people can't live without aged vinegar. Pingyao aged vinegar is brewed following the traditional "steaming, fermentation, smoking, leaching, and aging" process, resulting in a mellow taste and a sweet aftertaste. Dipping beef in it instantly brings out the meat's natural flavor with its tangy aroma; ordering a dish of fragrant vinegar and eggs allows you to directly experience the magical enhancement that vinegar brings to everyday dishes. For a main dish, try a plate of oat noodles (莜面栲栳栳). Briefly boil them in the broth to soak up the delicious flavor, then enjoy. Street food like "Wantuo" (碗托, also called "Wantuozi") is another specialty; made from steamed white flour, it can be served cold or stir-fried, with a smooth texture. For a warm finish, enjoy a bowl of hot oil tea (油茶), made with roasted flour and nuts—sweet, warming, and a perfect ending to a hearty dinner. After warming up, explore the sights, find souvenirs, and take home a "warm" treat. A satisfying meal and a warm feeling as you step into the ancient city in winter is the true beginning of your trip. Pingyao's charm lies in its ability to transform its rich culture into tangible, relatable, and portable warm experiences. Experience the blend of ancient and modern: Winter evenings are less crowded, making them the perfect time to climb the ancient city walls. In the afternoon, watch the sunset bathe the city's gray bricks and tiles in golden light, experiencing the complete layout and thousand-year-old charm of the ancient city's "four main streets, eight alleys, and seventy-two winding lanes." The Ming and Qing dynasty ancient street (South Street) below the city walls is illuminated at dusk, lined with old shops, bustling with life—a perfect place for a stroll and a light meal. When you're tired, head to the Mousheng Coffee & Bar on Shaxiang Street. It's Christmas season now, with a buy-one-get-one-free offer on mulled wine. Choose your favorite snacks and fried treats, and enjoy the slow pace of life in the ancient city with friends, listening to folk songs and watching the alleyway life outside the window! For a more immersive experience, see the large-scale immersive drama "Encounter Pingyao Again," walking through the story of Shanxi merchants. Or enjoy the "Real Pingyao" digital art light show, seeing how technology uses light and shadow to recreate the historical landscape of the ancient city. Don't forget to collect local specialties and bring home some intangible cultural heritage items. After a satisfying day of eating and shopping, be sure to take home some items that hold memories. Here are some of the most representative souvenirs from Pingyao: Pingyao beef, a national geographical indication product, is reddish in color and lean yet tender. It's recommended to purchase branded vacuum-packed beef from reputable stores. Pingyao vinegar is the soul of Shanxi merchant culinary culture. Besides the classic varieties, you can also try innovative vinegars such as sea buckthorn vinegar and jujube vinegar. Pingyao lacquerware, one of China's four famous lacquerware styles and a national intangible cultural heritage, requires dozens of processes to complete, using the palm of the hand to polish it to a lustrous, jade-like finish. Smaller items such as jewelry boxes are also available, symbolizing harmony and beauty. It's recommended to purchase from the time-honored Yonglonghao store for guaranteed quality.

What is Pingyao? It's the "Wall Street" and "CBD" of the Ming and Qing dynasties! This living ancient city is like a giant, roofless museum, waiting for you to unlock its secrets! The birthplace of finance is here! Pingyao is home to the "starting point" of China's financial industry—Rishengchang Draft Bank. Imagine, in the Qing Dynasty, there was no mobile banking here; a single draft could be used nationwide—how cool is that? When you visit Xieqing Draft Bank, be sure to explore its underground vault and experience the awe-inspiring sight of mountains of silver! For authentic Shanxi cuisine, choose established brands. Pingyao Ancient City boasts many local time-honored brands. Baishanxi on South Street is a branch of the 40-year-old Juguangju Restaurant. The prices are reasonable and the portions are generous. We recommend trying the local stir-fried bowl-shaped noodles, kaolao (a type of steamed bun), and braised pork. Be sure to try the beef dipped in vinegar! Walk through the theater! Coming to Pingyao and not seeing "Encounter Pingyao" is a wasted trip! This isn't your average performance; you'll travel through time with the actors, strolling through镖局 (armed escort agencies), streets, and ancestral halls, personally participating in a heart-wrenching family story—guaranteed to bring tears to your eyes! Radiant Intangible Cultural Heritage "Luxury Goods" Did you know lacquerware is "polished"? In the century-old courtyard of Yonglonghao, you can see master craftsmen polishing it with their palms until it achieves a warm, jade-like luster. Those jewelry boxes are breathtakingly beautiful, heirlooms you can pass down through generations! Don't forget to touch the pair of world-record-breaking chopsticks in the courtyard and take "happiness" home with you! This is what the county magistrate's "office" looks like Visit the ancient county government office; it's incredibly well-preserved! From the main hall where cases were heard to the back courtyard where life took place, there's even an ancient prison. Standing in the main hall, you can instantly imagine a scene from "Hail the Judge"! Enjoy a Nighttime Stroll in the Ancient City When you're tired from exploring, head to the Mousheng Coffee Bar! Enjoy a cup of coffee during the day and try sweet fruit wine made with Fenjiu liquor in the evening. There's even a dog named "Ears" you can pet in the shop, and listening to folk music—this is what travel should be like! The most captivating thing about this ancient city is that history isn't just words in a book, but every brick you walk on, every door you touch, and every dish you eat. Come to Pingyao and say hello to hundreds of years of history!