Things to do in Qi County

The Qiao Family Compound is the former residence of Qiao Zhiyong, a famous Shanxi merchant during the Qing Dynasty. It is hailed as "a shining pearl in the history of northern folk architecture" and is often referred to as "the Forbidden City for the imperial family, and the Qiao Family Compound for folk residences." Built during the Qianlong era, the courtyard with its blue bricks and gray tiles exudes a truly dignified and imposing atmosphere, with every brick and tile reflecting the confidence of the Shanxi merchants over the past century.

Half of the main hall is under renovation, but there's still enough space to see the main features. Most tourists rush into Shuanglin Temple and skip this part, so the experience is much better with fewer people. It's a rare Five Dynasties structure in China, a textbook example of the seven-tiered bracket system, a must-see for ancient architecture enthusiasts.

Pingyao Ancient City is an ancient city built in the Ming Dynasty with a very long history. There are many attractions inside, which are well worth visiting, such as Rishengchangji, the Escort Agency, Xietongqing, Ma Family Courtyard, and the county government office where there is a court hearing performance.

The clay Buddha statues at Shuanglin Temple are the most breathtaking part of my experience so far. In many other places, I only see countless small, headless statues. Even the traces left by the densely packed small statues on the stone walls don't reveal the whole picture, and the feeling is more regret than awe. But at Shuanglin Temple, I was constantly moved by the superb skills, imagination, and aesthetic sense of the ancient artisans. The first statue I saw was the Guan Yu Temple. Looking up and around, seeing the complex story-telling images on the walls like a comic strip, I suddenly burst into tears. It was pure emotion; I realized that simple emotion without any negative feelings can bring tears. Later, in front of a Buddha statue, the guide said that people in ancient times would kneel in worship. He suggested I try squatting down to look at the statue. When I squatted down and looked up, the compassionate gaze truly made you believe that the Buddha was listening to the troubles of the people of that time. Beside the main statue were hundreds of small Bodhisattva statues, each one unique, their robes fluttering in the wind, set against a backdrop of mountains and rocks. Every face was so beautiful; my photos couldn't capture its essence.

I like it. Pingyao was a discover for me this year. As a foreigner I immersed in this old city.

It's well worth the time to stroll around and learn about history. Here, the Zhou Dynasty is represented by a tree, the Tang Dynasty by the Jin Dynasty's Ciming, the Song Dynasty by the Shengmu Hall, the Jin Dynasty by the Xian Hall, the Ming Dynasty by the Duiyue Textile, and the Qing Dynasty by the Shuijingtai.

Cao's Courtyard, also known as Sanduotang, is a traditional residential building in the style of the Ming and Qing dynasties. It is located in Beiguang Village, 5 kilometers southwest of Taigu County, Shanxi Province, and is adjacent to National Highway 108. Cao's Courtyard is a house of the Cao family, a wealthy Shanxi merchant in the Ming and Qing dynasties. Cao's Courtyard covers an area of ​​10,600 square meters (2014), and the overall layout is in the shape of a "longevity" character. It is known as "the wonder of Chinese folk houses". In 1999, it was opened as the Sanduotang Museum. Taigu Cao's Courtyard Museum has 277 houses and has a history of more than 400 years.

The scenery is antique and full of historical charm. There are many scenic spots inside, and I especially recommend the county government office, the security escort agency, and the money exchange. There is also a light show at night, but it gets very crowded on holidays, and the scenic area is probably overwhelmed. You can have to wait for half an hour to get into the county government office.

Pingyao County Government Office (National Cultural Relic) Located in the center of the ancient city, it was first built in the sixth year of the Zhizheng era of the Yuan Dynasty (1346) and rebuilt in the third year of the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty (1370). It is one of the best-preserved and largest feudal county government offices in China, second only to the Neixiang County Government Office in Nanyang. Travel Guide Transportation: Accessible by high-speed rail and bus (buses run every 20 minutes; free for veterans with preferential treatment cards). Ticket Price: 125 RMB for the entire ancient city (free for those over 60 and veterans with preferential treatment cards; no ticket exchange required). Time Spent: 1 hour. Accommodation and Dining: Convenient. If not driving, it is recommended to stay near Pingyao Railway Station, which is close to the ancient city, convenient for transportation, and not far from the other two attractions. Nearby Attractions: Pingyao Ancient City, Shuanglin Temple, Zhenguo Temple.