Pingyao (平遥) Trip Preview

This weekend, I will be traveling to Pingyao (平遥) in Shanxi Province (山西) for a short trip. On April 1st, a new railway connecting Beijing and Taiyuan (太原) started operations. A trip that used to take eight hours now only require three hours. An hour and a half away from Taiyuan is the UNESCO World Heritage Site Pingyao. According to the UNESCO site:

Ping Yao is an exceptionally well-preserved example of a traditional Han Chinese city, founded in the 14th century. Its urban fabric shows the evolution of architectural styles and town planning in Imperial China over five centuries. Of special interest are the imposing buildings associated with banking, for which Ping Yao was the major centre for the whole of China in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

We will be staying at a very interesting inn - Yide Guesthouse (一得客栈). The website looks amazing. I can't wait to take photos of both the exterior and interior of the inn.

We'll also be visiting Qiao's Compound (乔家大院) where the movie Raise the Red Lantern (大红灯笼高高挂) was filmed. Another stop on our trip will be Grace Vineyard, maker of arguably the best red wine in China. I managed to arrange a tour of the vineyard as well as wine tasting for the weekend.

Will definitely report back on Shanxi cuisine, which is most famously known for its noodles, including Dao Xiao Mian (刀削面) and Cat's Ear noodle (猫耳朵).