Pingyao polishes up its tourism brand

Visitors promenade along a street in the Ancient City of Pingyao. [Photo/Xinhua] 

Pingyao county has been focusing on improving its environment and its tourism to the Ancient City of Pingyao in recent years, according to local officials. 

The ancient city is a settlement in central Shanxi, renowned for its importance in Chinese economic history. Its history dates back well over 2,700 years and it is famed for its well-preserved city walls, helping make it a UNESCO world heritage site and major tourist attraction. 

In 2019, Pingyao county has been enhancing protection and rational development of its tourism resources by carrying out cleaning, lighting and green projects in the Ancient City of Pingyao. 

The county has been renovating its comprehensive system of utility tunnels to implement the cleaning project. It has started construction of a total of 8.5 kilometers of pipe network under streets and alleys in the ancient city and 5.25 km of power cables to the east of the city.

To highlight the ancient city's night scenery, Pingyao has launched a lighting project by improving streetlights and lighting at major scenic spots. In particular, a 3D light show will be staged before the National Day holiday, which will bathe the city wall with various lights. 

Meanwhile, the county has been committed to improving the ancient city's sanitation system. More than 30,000 square meters of garbage and neglected corners have been cleared. Over 200 dilapidated courtyards have been restored and 1,500 garbage bins have been installed. A total of 30 public toilets have been renovated. 

A visitor from Shanghai praised the improvements, saying that the clean, green and orderly environment was in evidence during a walk from the tourist service center to the Ancient City of Pingyao, through a park.

Currently, the urban green area in Pingyao covers 250,000 square meters. The county will next invest 25 million yuan ($3.5 million) in improving the ancient city's streetscape, entrances, adding small parks and increasing green areas. 

Apart from improving its tourism infrastructure, Pingyao county has been enhancing tourism management and the quality of services in tourism transportation, catering and accommodation, tour guide services, food safety and ticket selling. 

Visitor service centers at tourist hot spots have installed phone charging facilities, drinking water and provided information pamphlets. Robot guides have also been pressed into use.