Sights
Escort services museum in Pingyao
Updated:2014-05-21 16:43By Zhou Yuanyuan
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Before modern times, China had what was called a "biaoju", also biaohang, or escort office, as a predecessor of today's security companies, mostly for transporting money to pay for goods, or guarding shops or courtyards, and money exchanges, or mail.
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The old city of Pingyao, Shanxi province had Escort Office No.1 for North China, located on East St and what is now a museum to give people a look at the history and culture of escort services, especially during the reign of the Qianlong emperor of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). It covers a 1000-square-meter area and consists of three courtyards, the front one for business, with east and west wings, a gold depository, and a counter; the middle for offices, and a mail house, accounting house, and hall; and the rear one as the living area, with an ancestral hall, kitchen and martial arts area.
![](http://subsites.chinadaily.com.cn/shanxi/pingyao/img/attachement/jpg/site1/20140521/001ec93f84f214e6ac3106.jpg)
The museum gives a good overall look at the changes over history, the organization, operations, and management and is a useful reference point for China's economic development.