Pingyao, located in the middle of Shanxi Province, is one of China's best-preserved ancient cities. At present, it is also one of the only ancient towns in China to be declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in its entirety. It is also here that China's financial center during the late Qing era was located. The majestic ancient walls of the city are thick and sturdy, and you can feel the culture of the Shanxi merchants all around as you slowly stroll on the cobbled streets with at least 200 years of history. Each of the many Ming- and Qing-era buildings you will see around you have survived for hundreds of years up to the present such as the "yamen" compound, or complex of county government offices, monasteries, temples, banks and armed escort depots. Aside from the ancient city itself, Pingyao and the two other ancient temples of Zhenguo and Shuanglin are definitely worth seeing.