View from Market Tower

Pingyao (Chinese: 平遥; pinyin: Píngyáo) is a county in central Shanxi province, People's Republic of China. It lies about 715 kilometres (444 mi) from Beijing and 80 kilometres (50 mi) from the provincial capital, Taiyuan. During the Qing Dynasty, Pingyao was a financial centre of China. Its history dates back 2,700 years, and is one of the best preserved ancient cities in the known world. It is still inhabited by 50,000 residents and is renowned for its well-preserved ancient city wall, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pingyao County
• Hillman 1000 Wonders