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.

Standing on the bluestone pavement of Pingyao Ancient City, I felt as if I had traveled back in time. Every brick and tile in this living Ming and Qing dynasty city tells the story of Shanxi merchants. The ancient city is most captivating in the early morning. I strolled along the city walls, watching the sunlight gild the ancient bricks and stone with a golden edge. The court performances in the county government office were hilarious, as if transporting me back to that "mighty" era. The underground vault of the Rishengchang Banking Office left me in awe of the wisdom of Shanxi merchants. At noon, the aroma of South Street wafted through the air. We chose Baishanxi. Upon entering, we learned that this was a branch of a 40-year-old restaurant. A bowl of fragrant vinegar eggs captivated me. The sweet and sticky yellow rice jelly, the chewy crunch of the kuoluoluo, each bite exuded the authentic Shanxi flavor—no wonder it's so fragrant. Afternoon is the perfect time to find a coffee shop to relax. Mousheng Coffee on Shaxiang Street was a pleasant surprise. The "Pingyao" coffee served in a covered bowl is truly unique, and the shop's little black dog, "Ear," cuddles at my feet. The most surprising thing is the transformation at night. Sipping homemade green plum wine amidst the sounds of folk songs, and gazing at the lights of the ancient city while tipsy, it's a truly unique experience. Speaking of photography, the makeup artist at Gu Se Travel Photography gave me a stunning, ancient-style look. The photographer taught me various poses, and the resulting photos amazed me—I've finally discovered I can achieve such "classical beauty." The lacquerware shop, Yonglonghao, was an unexpected bonus on this trip. Watching the master craftsmen polish the lacquerware to a brilliant shine with their fingertips, I finally understood the meaning of "a thousand knives and a single ounce of lacquer." Touching the six-meter-long pair of "world's best chopsticks" brings good luck and happiness. The Film Palace is a fascinating fusion of modern art and the ancient city. It's said that the place is even more dazzling during the annual Pingyao International Film Festival. As night fell, the performance of "Meet Pingyao Again" brought tears to my eyes. Xie Tongqing's "Meet the Piaohao Again" immersively transported me back to an era when promises were worth a thousand gold. I left with a Yonglonghao lacquerware jewelry box and a heart full of memories. Pingyao is like that: it's in no rush to show you anything, but as you take your time and savor its beauty, you'll discover surprises everywhere. The most captivating thing about this ancient city isn't its attractions, but the bricks and tiles you stumble upon while strolling, the aroma of vinegar wafting from corners, the chatter of elderly people in teahouses, and the cobblestone streets illuminated by lanterns at night. It's like a thick book, worth your time and effort.

At seven in the morning, I stood beneath the ancient city wall of Pingyao, nibbling on freshly-cooked oil-tea noodles. The piping hot paste, laced with the aroma of sesame, slid down my throat. The breakfast vendor said, "Young man, eat slowly. Pingyao has so many wonderful things." Indeed, there were plenty. At noon at Baishanxi Restaurant on South Street, I fretted over the menu—tomato and sesame stew, fragrant vinegar eggs, and stir-fried rice dumplings—I wanted to try everything. I ended up ordering Pingyao beef with yellow rice jelly. The beef had distinct textures, and a dip in aged vinegar brought out the tart flavor. Seeing how I was enjoying it, a local man at the next table insisted on sharing half a bowl of his fried pork: "Try it! This is the real Pingyao." Tired of strolling around in the afternoon, I popped into Mousheng Coffee on Shaxiang Street. The little black dog, "Ear," rubbed himself against my feet, and the owner brought me a glass of Pingyao coffee. Sunlight streamed through the courtyard of an old house onto its mottled brick walls. I suddenly understood why this place sells coffee during the day and turns into a bar at night—Pingyao's days are for daydreaming, and its nights are for getting tipsy. When I touched the six-meter-long "World's Best Chopsticks" at Yonglonghao Lacquerware Shop, the master craftsman was gilding a jewelry box. The calluses on his fingers shone brighter than the lacquerware. "This craft, like cooking, can't be rushed." Suddenly, Pingyao felt like an old clay pot, slowly simmering the flavors of two thousand years. That evening, I saw a photography exhibition at the Film Palace. The black-and-white photos of the old bank overlapped with the Xietongqing I had visited that day. As I left, I smelled the aroma of roasted sweet potatoes. The sweet potato seller smiled and said, "Young man, eat well so you have the energy to explore the night scene!" This trip to Pingyao also included a series of photos of young women from the Shanxi merchants. I chose a style I really liked and took them in the courtyard of a Shanxi merchant family. The atmosphere was amazing! I chose GuSe Travel Photography; their service is excellent. As I write in my diary, the delicious aroma of oatmeal lingers on my tongue. Pingyao's delicious food is more than just in the bowl.

Day 1: Strolling the Ancient City and Enjoying Food I entered the ancient city at 9:00 AM and bought a 125 RMB all-in-one ticket (valid for 3 days at 22 attractions). I recommend climbing the city wall first for a wide-open view of the entire ancient city. The County Court performance (11:00 AM) was quite interesting, and the actors delivered excellent lines. For lunch, I went to Baishanxi Restaurant on South Street and ordered Pingyao beef, fragrant vinegar eggs, and deep-fried pork. The beef cold cuts paired with aged vinegar were amazing, and the fragrant vinegar eggs had a sweet and sour taste, and the deep-fried pork went really well with rice. The price per person was 50 RMB, and the portions were generous. In the afternoon, I visited the Rishengchang Bank and was amazed at the Shanxi merchants' true business acumen. In the evening, I stopped at Mousheng Café and ordered a bowl of "Pingyao" coffee to take photos. The little black dog named "Ear" was very affectionate. At 7:00 PM, I went to see "Meet Pingyao Again." The immersive experience was truly breathtaking, though a bit crowded. Day 2: Lacquerware Experience and Niche Adventures In the morning, I visited the Yonglonghao Lacquerware Shop, where a master craftsman demonstrated the polishing technique. I touched the "World's No. 1 Chopstick" (six meters long!) and bought a small jewelry box as a souvenir. In the afternoon, I wandered around the Film Palace; I heard it's especially lively during the Pingyao Film Festival. I made a 4:00 PM appointment for a traditional travel photoshoot and chose Ming Dynasty Hanfu, which was a perfect fit. In the evening, I ate at Wantuo on Shaxiang Street and stopped by Mousheng. I tried green plum wine and a special blind box cocktail (I asked for "Summer Breeze," and it turned out to be mint and lemon, so refreshing!). Day 3: Immersive Theatre We focused on experiencing "Meet the Bank Again," performed at the original site of the Xietongqing Bank. Following the actors around, the interactive design was clever, and it was a better experience than "Meet the Pingyao Again" with fewer people. My Takeaway: 1. The pass is great value, but the attractions are scattered, so I recommend focusing on one area each day. 2. The ancient city is most beautiful before 8 AM or after 6 PM, when there are fewer tourists and the light is softer. 3. Avoid eating on South Street around noon to avoid rush hour and lines. 4. Choose evening for photo opportunities, as the light and shadows are stunning. This trip cost around 800 yuan per person (including accommodation), and I feel like I've experienced all the best of Pingyao. The most surprising moments were the non-tourist ones: encountering an elderly man practicing Tai Chi on a morning stroll, listening to the owner of a cafe tell stories about the ancient city, and the focused expression on the lacquerware craftsman's face as he polished his work... This is truly a living ancient city.

As a frequent visitor to the Pingyao Film Festival, I spend a few days in this ancient city every autumn. Watching movies and exhibitions during the day, and then lingering in familiar shops at night—this rhythm has become a regular ritual. The film festival is about to begin again this year, and besides anticipating new films, the places I return to time and again are equally worth sharing. Mousheng Coffee House is my daily haunt. This small shop at 14 Shaxiang Street sells coffee during the day and transforms into a bar at night. I love their gaiwan coffee, emblazoned with "Pingyao," which makes for stunning photos. The shop's little black dog, "Ear," always lazes around, letting people rub his head. In the evening, order a glass of green plum wine made with Fenjiu liquor, sit in the open-air courtyard and listen to folk songs, and all the fatigue from the film festival fades away. For dinner, head to Baishanxi. This time-honored establishment at 81 South Street is a local favorite since childhood. I discovered it last year, and its red door stands out from the crowd on South Street. The balsamic vinegar eggs are sweet and sour and appetizing, the fried wan tiao (stir-fried flatbread) is my favorite, and the yellow rice jelly cake is sweet but not greasy. If I go this year, I'd love to try two new dishes! The owner said their main restaurant, "Ju Guang Ju," has been open for forty years, and many film festival attendees have visited. The waitress was very attentive and carefully explained the different dishes to me when I ordered! Last year, when I visited Pingyao, the main venue of the film festival, the Pingyao Film Palace, had a new exhibition space. The industrial-style space, renovated from an old diesel engine factory, has been updated with new documentary exhibitions. After the movie, I took some film-like photos against the brick wall, and was instantly transported back to the end of the last century. When I pass by the city building, I always stop by the local lacquerware shops, including the time-honored Yonglonghao Lacquerware Shop. Watching the master craftsmen polish the lacquer to a brilliant shine with their fingertips, the six-meter-long "World's No. 1 Chopsticks" are still as stunning as ever. The jewelry box I bought last year is still a favorite, and I'm looking forward to picking out a decorative item for a friend this year. As for travel photography with a touch of ancient charm, I always recommend it to first-time Pingyao visitors. Their period costumes are unconventional, and shooting in the old courtyards of Chenghuangmiao Street makes the resulting photos feel like a true journey back to the Ming and Qing dynasties. At 6 p.m., the crowds leaving the Cinema Palace streamed into every corner of the ancient city. Standing beneath the city wall, I thought, perhaps this is the charm of the film festival—when modern visual art meets 600-year-old bricks and tiles, the stories told on screen and the light and shadows that permeate the ancient city day and night become unforgettable moments. I look forward to more surprises from this year's film festival! #XiaoZhongDiscovery