The Ancient City of Pingyao has always been reputed as a "treasure-house of ancient architecture of China," and it is extremely rare to find a site in China with as many first-class cultural relics. As a historical museum of architectural art of the Ming and Qing dynasties, Pingyao brings to life the historical context of the 17th to 19th centuries, hence of great historical, artistic and scientific value to study the transformation of ancient cites in China, and the development of urban architecture, residential pattern and traditional culture.
