Historical exploration: Visiting Pingyao County Wei

#0YenTravel2025Autumn

Today, I strolled through Pingyao Ancient City in Shanxi Province. While walking along the city walls, I suddenly came across the name "Pingyao County Guard." This isn't just an old name; it apparently refers to a military defense base established here during the Ming Dynasty.

At the time, Pingyao County Guard was where soldiers guarding the town were stationed, responsible for maintaining local security and defending the area during wartime. Looking at the city walls and gates, I could almost hear the soldiers' footsteps and training voices.

🗺 Travel Tips
- Pingyao Ancient City is a World Heritage Site, and you can walk around the entire city walls.
- Old merchant houses and roads remain within the city, giving you a taste of the atmosphere of an old castle town.
- The remains of the "Pingyao County Guard" can now be seen as part of the city walls and streetscape.

Exploring history while walking is like time travel! Looking down at the city gate from the corner of the castle, you can almost imagine soldiers guarding the town here in the past.

🏰 Role and Structure of the Pingyao County Guard
・Wei-so System: A Ming Dynasty military system, where "wei" refers to a military administrative district and "so" refers to a specific garrison location.
・Garrison: A mix of regular soldiers and local militia, ready for immediate deployment in times of war or emergency.
・Target Protected: Merchants and residents within the city, roads, and even the outer defense line.
・Architectural Features: Barracks, warehouses, watchtowers, and other structures were integrated into the city walls, enhancing their defensive capabilities.

🗺 Travel Tips
・Walk Around the City Walls: The Pingyao Ancient City walls are approximately 6km long and can be walked around. From above, you can look down on the old townscape and city gates.

- Old Townscape: Within the city, old merchant houses, stables, and ruins of banks remain, giving you a taste of the commercial city's atmosphere during the Ming and Qing dynasties.

- Local Cuisine: Enjoy sampling local delicacies like beef noodles, Pingyao beef, and local grilled rice cakes as you walk.

- Recommended Photo Spots: The shopfronts near the South Gate, on the corners of the city walls, and along the old roads create a strong sense of time travel.

Looking down at the gates from the corners of the city, you can picture soldiers guarding the city here in the past. The charm of Pingyao Ancient City lies in the opportunity to experience history and feel the vibrant atmosphere of the city's daily life and commerce as you walk.