Sights
Escort services museum in Pingyao
Updated:2014-05-21 16:43By Zhou Yuanyuan
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.
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.
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.
