De indrukwekkende stadsmuren omringen het oude centrum van Pingyao. De muren stammen uit het jaar 1370, zijn 10 meter hoog en maar liefst 6 kilometer lang. Je kunt de muur beklimmen voor een mooi uitzicht over de stad. Bij de zuidwestelijke poort (Lower West Gate) en de zuidelijke poort (Yingxun Gate) loont het om de muren te bekijken van buitenaf. Bovendien tref je bij de Yingxun Gate (volg de straat die onder City Tower doorloopt) overblijfselen aan van het vroegere Pingyao. Oude paardenkarren en de sporen die de karren in het wegdek maakten, zijn daar bewaard gebleven en worden net voor de uitgang tentoongesteld.
City Wall of Pingyao in the Ancient City, which is among the “Three Treasures” of the county together with Zhenguo Temple and Shuanglin Temple, is rated highest. Although there were repeated renovations, the city wall is still in a very good condition.
With a total length of six kilometers (about four miles), the Pingyao 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 the Ancient City would be permanently secure. There are 72 watchtowers on the top of Pingyao 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.
Travel the world 