Pingyao: Our first long distance “do it yourself” excursion in China.

               China is known for big things:  a big wall, a big population: a big history.  But, in the face of all that bigness, is a small walled town that will charm and delight you.  It’s Pingyao.  Thanks to Trip.com we were able to book train and hotel tickets and head off for a 4-day adventure back in time to the Ming and Qing Dynasty.    Think Florence-like walkways surrounded by an ancient wall.  Maybe you have seen  “Raise the Red Lantern”?  It was filmed here.

                 In its heyday it was the major banking center for the country.  Many of the small museums that dot the town are related to money: how to keep track of it, how to keep it safe, how to transport it without it being stolen by brigands.  There are a number of books with amazing photos of Pingyao, but I am going to share with you a few of my iPhone 6 snapshots.   You will note lanterns galore!

I have been reading a terrific book, “Wish Lanterns” about the lives of 6 Chinese people born between 1985-1990 by the British author Alec Ash. Part of it takes place in Pingyao.   If our blog has increased your interest in China and how much the country has been changing in recent decades, please check out this fun read!

We met an elderly man in the street who really wanted to talk to us.  Pingyao is apparently famous for "old men" who want to talk to foreigners.  We started out conversing in Mandarin, but after a while he switched to English and wanted to get our opinion of Trump and Hong Kong.  He also wanted to know what Americans thought of the Chinese Communist Party.  At that point we just told him we wanted to be friends and that we did not have anything to say about Hong Kong.   He smiled and we shook hands.  These little political moments come up at odd times and I always find them a bit stressful.   

Finally, I can't recommend Pingyao enough as a place to visit.  If you can't make it in person, it is easy to find many beautiful photographs on-line and in books.  It's worth a look.