Pingyao – sleeping like a chinese emperor

The lovely old buildings finely decorated for the tourists.

The lovely old buildings finely decorated for the tourists.

Pingyao is a rather small Chinese city (only half a million inhabitants) that due to its vanished importance maintained its historical center protected by restored city walls. Former courtyards are transformed into hotels and hostels, but kept the historic interior making us sleep like an emperor from the Qing dynasty. The bed was simply build by brick stones with a thin layer of mattress on top. Pillows felt like filled with rice and the whole thing was framed in pink curtains. We had a perfect night sleep.

Our hostel backyard by night. We got the very last room in the third backyard.

Our hostel backyard by night. We got the very last room in the third backyard.

However, as few foreigners as you meet her as many Chinese tourist visit this place and made a point about living inside a tourist attraction (we also seemed to be a big attraction and were saved on many phones and memory cards).
More about being a good subject for photography than actual protecting the stone houses from burning.

More about being a good subject for photography than actual protecting the stone houses from burning.

A little choice from the souvenir shops framing Pingyaos streets.

A little choice from the souvenir shops framing Pingyaos streets.

Anyway Pingyao is lovely. Our tour around on the city wall was nearly as lonely as in the woods, the courtyard museums are good and short afternoon entertainment (included in the ticket for the wall for 15€!) …
Excaping the crowd. Pingyao city wall.

Excaping the crowd. Pingyao city wall.

… and whenever we headed outside the wall we left the touts behind us and were met with a mixture of friendliness and curiosity. Actually eating out get a whole new meaning, since food was a lot better and cheaper outside the walls.
IMG_7030

Pingyao side streets outside the city walls.

IMG_7118

Chinese street food „Spätzle“ and a very amused chief, when we set down and even wanted to make pictures of him. Look out for him in Pingyao, great choice.

IMG_7121

„Spätzle“ are served in spicy soup. Yummy

Schreibe einen Kommentar

Deine E-Mail-Adresse wird nicht veröffentlicht. Erforderliche Felder sind mit * markiert