Pingyao balances heritage protection, local development

Pingyao county in North China's Shanxi province has been successful in protecting its historical and cultural heritage by coordinating cultural relics reservation, tourism development, and industrial growth. 

An infrastructure upgrading and renovation project is under construction in Pingyao. [Photo/Shanxi Economic Daily]

Preservation of cultural heritage

The Ancient City of Pingyao, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Pingyao county administered by Jinzhong city in North China's Shanxi province, is home to many cultural relics.

To protect these valuable relics, Pingyao county has prepared an ancient city protection and scenic spot enhancement plan, promoted the protection and repair of traditional courtyards, historical buildings and immovable cultural relics in the Ancient City of Pingyao, and coordinated the relationship between cultural relics protection and tourism development.

Zhang Cungui, general manager of Shanxi Sixth Construction Group Co, said that infrastructure upgrading and renovation on the Ancient City of Pingyao involve the upgrading and reconstruction of 30.22 kilometers of comprehensive pipelines on 121 streets and 5.25 kilometers of power channels. 

"The project involves the protection of cultural relics in the ancient city, protection of residential buildings, and maintenance of tourism order."

The project, which started in early 2020, is expected to be fully completed by the end of this year and will repair damage to the underground pipeline network, eliminate the hidden safety hazards imposed on cultural relics by the pipelines, improve the living environment of more than 6,600 households in the ancient city, eliminate problems related to rain and sewage confluence, stagnant water and waterlogging, and improve the tourism environment and quality.

The Ancient City of Pingyao [Photo/Shanxi Daily]

Development of characteristic industries 

In recent years, craftsmen in Pingyao county have relied on their ingenuity and skills to bring traditional crafts into the modern era and pass down local intangible cultural heritage items.

To promote the industrialization and development of Pingyao polished lacquerware, Pingyao devised regulations on its ornamentation techniques. 

Local Pingyao Tangdu Polished Lacquerware Co started the second phase of Tangdu Polished Lacquerware Creative Park, building a lacquerware testing and inspection center, an appreciation auction center, and a master research and creation center to further protect and promote the traditional craft and boost related industrial clusters.

Shanxi Pingyao Beef Group Co, a promoter of another Pingyao traditional heritage – Pingyao beef, has combined factory building with scenic spot construction, establishing the Pingyao Beef Cultural Industrial Park to attract more people to visit the factory area to understand the culture, production techniques and processes of the time-honored food.

A cook showcases Pingyao beef process techniques in Pingyao. [Photo/Shanxi Daily]

Recitation stories of Shanxi merchants

Jinzhong city has stepped up research on the culture of Shanxi merchants and opened related courses, relying on the Ancient City of Pingyao and residential compounds of these famous merchants, as well as many local intangible cultural heritage items. 

In addition, the city has been developing a financial and cultural experience area revolving around Rishengchang Exchange Shop Museum in the Ancient City of Pingyao, and launched cultural exploration tour routes focusing on Pingyao intangible cultural heritage items.