Pingyao Ancient City is located in central Shanxi. The city streets, shop fronts and houses retain the traditional layout and appearance, makng it one of the best-preserved ancient cities in the country.

The whole layout of Pingyao ancient city obeys the Eight Diagrams (eight combinations of three whole or broken lines formerly used in divination) position, which embodies the conception and distribution of urban planning in Ming and Qing dynasties. There are various sites located within and outside the city, over 300 ancient architectural structures and almost 4,000 intact residences dating from the Qing and Ming dynasties, with lanes and shop fronts that give of a historical appearance, making it a perfect specimen for research into ancient Chinese cities. The city walls have witnessed over 600 years of history and retain their original glory. It is also one of the largest and oldest city walls in China.