the Ancient Ming and Qing Streets Guide

The Ancient Ming and Qing Streets was the noisiest business centre in Ming and Qing Dynasties, situated on South Avenue. The streets are not very wide, with various kinds of shops orderly arranged along the road. These shops were all built with bricks and stones completely in the style of Ming and Qing architecture. In the granite thresholds of each decent house, two lines of deep traits left by the running-over carriages can still be found, which provides evidence of the former bustle of business and also the pride held for them in the old days.

However, many shops have been rebuilt to be used as museums or restaurants now; for example, Yonglonghao Exchange Shop has been rebuilt as the national lacquer museum and Yunjincheng Chinese Medicine Shop as Pingyao Traditional Famous Food Restaurant. The Baichuantong Exchange Shop now displays furniture, calligraphy, household utensils and other articles of the previous housemasters. Entering the Ancient Ming and Qing Streets, you can feel the atmosphere of the flourishing businesses formerly established and appreciate the really ancient building designs.

Walking to the centre of the streets, you can see a tall pavilion building. Here almost all the businesses in this city were concentrated back then. This building, also called City Building, along with the City Wall, has become witnesses to the long history of this ancient city in the people's eyes. A well is hidden in the southeast of the building, the color of its water is said to be closest to gold. The spot had entered into the directory of Twelve Sceneries of Pingyao in the Qing Dynasty and this area is also listed as a key spot now under provincial cultural protection.
Location: Within the Pingyao Ancient City          Opening hour: 08:00-17:30          Tickets: CNY120(included in the Ancient City)

• the Rishengchang Exchange Shop
• Chenghuang Temple
• the Ancient Ming and Qing Streets
• Qiao Family's compound
• The Pingyao Ancient City
• Shuanglin Temple
• Qiaojiabu Folk Culture Museum