World heritages Xi cares about | Pingyao, a living chronicle of Shanxi merchants

In Pingyao, the city walls bear witness to history.

When the setting sun sweeps across the battlements, the weathered bricks of the ancient walls vividly reflect their long history. Founded more than 2,000 years ago, and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site over two decades ago, the ancient city of Pingyao in north China's Shanxi Province, once a major commercial hub connecting regions across China, has preserved and passed down the spirit and cultural values of Shanxi merchants.