Ancient Ming and Qing Street

There were two well-known groups of merchants, the Shanxi Group and the Anhui Group, during the Ming and Qing dynasties. By the time of the Qing Dynasty, as the Shanxi Group had continued to donate money to the Qing Court, it had established special ties with government and grown more powerful. Pingyao was the home base of the Shanxi Group of merchants. The crowded shop fronts along the streets of the ancient city and the imposing residences and courtyards of the rich merchants reflect the glory of the Shanxi Group of merchants in their days.

The Southern Main Street that runs along the central, north-south axis was the ancient city's business street during the Ming and Qing periods. The street is lined on both sides with crowded old shops. There is the old Changshengyuan patronized by Empress Dowager Cixi in the Qing Dynasty. There are also the sites of the Xietongqing, Baichuangtong and Weishengchang remittance banks and the Changtaiyong Silks and Satins Shop. Almost all the buildings in the business street functioned as shops at the front and residential quarters in the rear. Many of the buildings have now been converted into tourist hostels, which offer food, lodging and a very convenient way for visitors to go out for sightseeing and shopping. In addition, the City Tower is a landmark structure of the ancient city of Pingyao spanning the Southern Main Street. One may climb up to the second floor of the tower and have a panorama view of the ancient city.