Welcome to the Ancient City of Pingyao, China
Once China's leading banking center, Pingyao is still famous for its old city wall and beautiful residences.
Pingyao Ancient City, China by Xiaodang WangWorld Monuments Fund
Legend has it that the original city of Pingyao was founded in 9th century BCE. This ancient city was once the banking capital of China, as important during the Qing Dynasty as Wall Street is today.
Pingyao Ancient City, China by Xiaodang WangWorld Monuments Fund
Although its financial power has faded, the city's impressive city wall and historic architecture is remarkably intact. Today, Pingyao is a UNESCO World Heritage Site facing new challenges from modernization and the rapid growth of tourism.
Pingyao Ancient City, China by Kuanghan LiWorld Monuments Fund
Pingyao's historic architecture has also suffered from the poverty afflicting the city’s inhabitants. The residents and local governments have limited funding to allocate to heritage preservation.
Courtyard Home in Pingyao Ancient City, China by Xiaodang WangWorld Monuments Fund
In recent decades, many of the city's unique ancient structures were demolished or modified. Courtyard homes, once symbols of wealth and prosperity, fell into disrepair. Pingyao was in danger of losing the very historic sites that made it so unique.
Courtyard Home in Pingyao Ancient City, China by Xiaodang WangWorld Monuments Fund
To protect Pingyao’s unique cultural history, organizations such as Global Heritage Fund worked with local authorities and UNESCO to create guidelines that allow residents to restore their homes through an integrated planning, preservation, and development program.
Artisan in Pingyao Ancient City, China by Xiaodang WangWorld Monuments Fund
Workshops for conservation and maintenance of cultural heritage have helped empower community members to protect Pingyao’s traditional artisan crafts and unique architecture.
Local Architecture in Pingyao Ancient City, China by Xiaodang WangWorld Monuments Fund
A preservation incentive fund has been set up by the municipality, and homeowners are invested in protecting Pingyao's past.
As of 2015, more than 80 courtyard houses have been restored, and an additional 30 homes are scheduled for restoration annually.
The program was the only one of its kind in China where public-private partnership came together to preserve local historic homes. It received an UNESCO Asia Pacific Cultural Heritage Conservation Award of Merit in 2015.
Artisan in Pingyao Ancient City, China by Xiaodang WangWorld Monuments Fund
Today, Pingyao is considered a textbook case of a historical Chinese town integrating heritage protection with contemporary society. Residents in this ancient city can protect and adapt their cultural heritage for their current needs.
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Pingyao County People’s Government
Shanghai Tongji University
Shanxi Provincial Government
Shanxi Urban Planning Society
Tiffany Foundation
UNESCO
Global Heritage Fund
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