Ancient City of Pingyao a melting pot of tradition and innovation

A view of the Ancient City of Pingyao. [Photo/Yellow River News] 

The Ancient City of Pingyao in North China's Shanxi province is shining with vitality after decades of work to protect and inherit its cultural offerings. 

As the best-preserved county-level ancient city in China, it has nearly 3,798 traditional residential buildings from the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. 

With 1,075 immovable cultural relics scattered around the city, the essence of traditional culture can be found in every nook and cranny of the Ancient City of Pingyao, making it a living embodiment of ancient city cultures from the Ming and Qing dynasties. 

It was also a place of origin for Shanxi merchants who have played a vital role in imports and exports since the 17th century, with Rishengchang Exchange Shop serving as the first draft bank in modern China. 

To better protect the cultural relics within the ancient city, Pingyao has adopted a raft of measures such as shoring up the overall protection and renovation of ancient residential buildings, while making various infrastructure upgrades.

The Rishengchang Exchange Shop in the Ancient City of Pingyao. [Photo/Yellow River News] 

As a city with a rich cultural heritage, the Ancient City of Pingyao boasts 137 intangible cultural heritage items at national and county levels. 

In this historical museum-like city, dedicated and innovative craftspeople have persevered, allowing traditional skills infused with profound cultural wisdom to spread beyond Shanxi and towards the world. 

Pingyao polished lacquerware famous for its hand-polishing and gold-painting techniques, with a history of more than 1,000 years, is a typical example. 

The 87-year-old Xue Shengjin, a renowned Chinese master of Pingyao polished lacquerware-making techniques, has devoted himself to the passing down of this intangible cultural heritage item and has cultivated over 200 students, incorporating modern aesthetics into contemporary Pingyao polished lacquerware together with his students and making it more practical for modern life.

A craftswoman makes Pingyao polished lacquerware products. [Photo/Yellow River News] 

With a long-lasting cultural heritage, a dazzling array of cultural relics, and the wisdom of the Shanxi merchants, Pingyao has nurtured a unique form of cultural self-confidence. 

From cultural events such as the Pingyao Chinese New Year celebration and Pingyao International Photography Festival to innovative cultural tourism projects like musical festivals and science museums, Pingyao has also extended an invitation to younger generations and remained as open-minded and inclusive as it was centuries ago.

An interior view of the Pingyao Science and Technology Art Museum in the Ancient City of Pingyao. [Photo/Yellow River News]