Pingyao Ancient Town: A Few Tales
Visiting Pingyao was solely to see two temples. Since the shops and goods along the streets are similar to those found nationwide, I didn't buy a ticket to enter the scenic spots. In search of something to eat, to satisfy my Suzhou palate, I wandered the old town several times.
🌟 Highlights:
1. Couplets
Many households and shops display handwritten couplets at their entrances, which are not only aesthetically pleasing but also related to the goods sold.
2. Chain Stores Adapting to Local Customs
After having noodles for two meals, I finally stepped into KFC. The staff enthusiastically told me that I would have to wait a bit longer since all food is made to order, ensuring deliciousness. I was the sixth customer to order that day, and it was already 4:30 in the afternoon.
After placing my order, the staff discussed with the kitchen about preheating the oven...
I chose a seat by the window, watching the bustling street with Jin merchants' young wives and ladies passing by. My parents had also visited Pingyao with a tour group a few years ago. I wonder if my mother, seeing her peers dressed up like that, had also been tempted.
3. Qu's Shoe Workshop
On the third day, after visiting the Zhenguo Temple, I asked the taxi driver to take me to the North Gate, which I hadn't visited before. This handmade shoe workshop is located on North Street.
The entrance was unremarkable. A child ran up to the door and glanced at the handmade map in the frame. I followed suit and took a look. Inside the threshold, a man in his thirties or forties, wearing glasses and a hat worn backwards, was working at a table near the entrance. Various sizes of shoe models were displayed on the table, and the man glanced at me sheepishly while continuing his work without pause.
The shop's handmade shoes are divided into semi-handmade and fully handmade, the difference being whether the soles are also handcrafted. Prices range from sixty to one hundred and fifty-six.
I remembered when I went to Beijing, my mother asked me to bring back a pair of handmade cloth shoes for my grandmother, so I wanted to buy two pairs as souvenirs for her and my great-grandmother.
They didn't have the sizes I needed, so I added the owner's WeChat to pay, and he would mail them to me. The production cycle is about 10 days.
I didn't feel comfortable taking photos that day, but I'll update after receiving the shoes.
📝 Tips:
1. Difficult to Hail a Taxi, Complicated Bus Routes
My itinerary was quite relaxed, and I thought taking the bus would not only save money but also allow me to see the local scenery. However, right out of the high-speed train station, public transportation threw me a curveball. Following Baidu Maps to the bus stop, the driver of the first bus told me it didn't go to the old town and directed me to the next one. The driver of the next bus also said he couldn't go because the road was under construction.
Construction... No way through...
Well, let's take a taxi.
The next day, I tried to book a ride to Shuanglin Temple online. It was near the old town's South Gate, yet no taxi driver responded for over 20 minutes, nor did any taxis pass by.
Following the map again to find the bus stop, the driver immediately shook his head when I mentioned Shuanglin Temple, directing me to the opposite side. Looking at the driver's face, I doubted whether all Pingyao drivers shared the same face – wasn't this the same driver who told me the road was under construction yesterday?
Sure enough, the route on the opposite side was in the wrong direction. I couldn't accept that I could read yet still misinterpret the signs.
Fortunately, the online car-hailing service responded at that time. I kept the driver's number and contacted him directly for a round trip to Zhenguo Temple the next day. The cost was not cheap... According to him, Jinzhong does not allow the operation of online car-hailing services, and there are only about twenty drivers in the whole of Pingyao, with not enough taxis available, making it common to have difficulty hailing a cab.
2. Highly Similar Dining Options
I stayed in the old town for three days. After two meals of noodles, the fear of being dominated by noodles, as in Datong, returned. I asked the landlady of the inn if there were other food options, and she suggested I try ordering from Hongwuji on South Street, as leftovers could be packed.
When dining in the old town, remember to ask your accommodation if they have any discount coupons.
PassportStampCollector*11
I also grew up in the ancient city. I went to Pingyao, Shanxi. It was a different customs. Although the ancient city was close to the age, the style and humanities were different. It was also very interesting. Shanxi people were very enthusiastic and hardworking. I bought old vinegar. It is brewed in the vinegar workshop of the Zhenger Bajing ancestral. The building is also very distinctive! Stayed for one night at the gate of Jinshang's Mansion, and experienced the life of Jinshang's young grandmother through time and space.
There are too many extra charges in the ancient city, and there are really too many people on holidays. I hope to be equipped with charging piles. The millennium ancient city seems to take us back to the past. The price of the tour guide is not expensive, and the private customization is explained separately.
Very good attractions, especially large places, free open ancient city, the things inside are very worth seeing, eating and leisure are very convenient, the price is very reasonable, the price is similar to the general county, the consumption is very close to the people
After looking at the code and letting go to the city, you can swipe your card to enter at the entrance of each specific attraction. It is convenient to use, but each point can only be used once. For example, after going up at the South City Gate, you can’t go up to the North City Gate. The central area is near the city building. That is, the south section of South Street and the center near the city building, the commercial atmosphere in the whole area is very strong, Chinese KFC... Jin-style travel photography is everywhere, maintenance and construction are also more common, a day of good physical strength can be strolled down, if you don’t need to go shopping for all the elderly, it’s enough to go shopping for a day, right, The car in the area can be chartered for 100 yuan. If it is inconvenient to walk with the elderly, you can consider chartering a car.
Very convenient, just go to the attractions and scan the QR code! ! ! There are too many attractions in Pingyao Ancient City. It just happened to be romantic in the snow. There are a lot of restaurants on South Street. The restaurants are really delicious. There are very few people in the off-season. The store is also very enthusiastic! ! ! ! I walked in the snow for a long time and didn't finish it! ! !
The ancient city is very large. After a day of shopping, the pass 125 saw many cultural attractions. The price of snacks is not expensive. The two people in the ancient city restaurant are full of food within 100. The homestay in the ancient city is also very distinctive. The service is very good. The car has to be parked outside the city. The parking fee is 10 yuan, the price is moderate, and the travel experience is very good.
As a well-known domestic attractions for a long time, there is no disappointment. Some ancient buildings in the old city are well preserved. The only disappointment is that the toll attractions in the ancient city should be charged separately, and should not have to buy a joint ticket. Because the wishes of tourists are different, they do not necessarily want to visit.