Web Analytics
Great Wall Hiking | China Adventure Tours | China City Tours | China Package Tours | Tibet Tours | Yangtze Cruise | Beijing Cool Hotels | Beijing Tour| About Us | Contact Us
China City Package
 
> Beijing > Chengdu
> Chongqing > Dalian
> Dunhuang > Guangzhou
> Guilin > Guiyang
> Hong Kong > Huangshan
> Hangzhou > Hohhot, Inner
   Mongolia
> Jinan > Jiuzhaigou
> Kunming > Lanzhou
> Lijiang > Luoyang
> Nanjing > Lhasa  Tibet
> Qingdao > Shanghai
> Shenzhen > Suzhou
> Urumqi >  Xi'an
> Xining > Xishuangbanna
> Sanya > Zhengzhou
> Chengde > Zhangjiajie
> Taiyuan > Pingyao

Pingyao  Tour of  City Wall


     Being one of the four wholly protected ancient cities in China, Pingyao Ancient City is thought of as the 'treasure house' of ancient Chinese architectures. (The other three are Langzhong Ancient City, Shexian County and the Old Town of Lijiang. Pingyao Ancient City is situated in the south of Taiyuan City, Shanxi Province, the history of its original construction dating back to the Western Zhou Dynasty (11th Century BC -771BC ) and later being enlarged in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) for defense reasons.

     Among the 'Three Treasures' of Pingyao, the City Wall is rated highest, the other two being Zhengguo Temple, and Shuanglin Temple. Although there has been repeated renovations, the city walls, streets, shops, temples and other buildings are still in a very good condition.

     With a total length of six kilometers (about four miles), the city wall is about 12 meters (about 40 ft) tall and 3 to 6 meters (about 10-20 ft) wide on top. The wall is of compacted earth covered by bricks and stones. From a bird's eye view the rectangular wall resembles a tortoise. There are six city gates, one each on the north and south walls, and two each on the west and east walls. The south gate is the head of the tortoise, the two wells outside being the two eyes of tortoise. The north gate, the lowest place of the city, is the tail of tortoise. Traditionally the tortoise was considered a symbol of longevity, so through ancient times the hopes were that Pingyao Ancient City would be permanently secure. There are 72 watchtowers on the top of city wall and 3,000 external battlements. It is said that the 72 watchtowers represent 72 people of great wisdom, the 3,000 battlements the 3,000 disciples of Confucius.

     Tour Pingyao with Great Wall Adventure Club, the best  Pingyao tour agent to help you with your hotel booking and transfers.


Great Wall Hiking | China City Tours | China Package Tours | Shanghai 2010 World Expo | China Discount Hotels | China Adventure Tours | China Tours | Sitemap  

Copyright 2021 The Great Wall Adventure Club (Beijing), a North America Commerce International (NACI) company.®