#大生意人 山西自由行E P3太原搭地鐵到平遙古城交通全攻略，開箱平遙古城、双林寺，看全球第一韋陀像，千手千眼觀音像#大陸旅遊 #自由行

#大生意人 山西自由行E P3太原搭地鐵到平遙古城交通全攻略，開箱平遙古城、双林寺，看全球第一韋陀像，千手千眼觀音像#大陸旅遊 #自由行

Hello everyone! In this episode, we’ll share the most comprehensive transportation guide, taking you from Taiyuan, Shanxi, by high-speed rail to Pingyao Ancient City Station to see Shuanglin Temple, one of the filming locations for the famous mobile game Black Myth: Wukong , and the very famous Pingyao Ancient City. Because this episode involves a complete transportation guide and introductions to important historical sites , it’s packed with useful information and quite long, so please bear with us. Shuanglin Temple is an ancient temple renowned for its painted clay sculptures, a treasure trove of Eastern painted clay art . The entire temple houses over 2,000 painted clay sculptures of various sizes, vividly and lifelike , showcasing rich Buddhist culture and folk customs. Besides the Thousand-Handed and Thousand-Eyed Guanyin statue we just saw, here’s the world’s number one Weituo statue, looking down with a majestic expression at everyone present. This view spans a thousand years. Next , I’ll take you to Pingyao Ancient City. Built during the Ming and Qing dynasties, Pingyao Ancient City is one of the best-preserved ancient county towns in China and is listed as a World Cultural Heritage site . Strolling among the blue brick city walls, ancient streets, residences, and former security bureaus and banks is like stepping back into the prosperous era of Shanxi merchants. History and life still coexist vividly here. To learn more , let’s get started with today’s video sharing. Hello everyone, what you see now is us arriving at Taiyuan South Railway Station by subway from our hotel early this morning. This is what it looks like after taking the escalator up to Taiyuan South Railway Station. Right at the top, there are clear signs on the ground indicating the transfer to the high-speed rail, so just follow the signs to reach Taiyuan High-Speed ​​Rail Station. Following the signs, we first make a left turn and then exit the station. After exiting, I’ll turn the camera around… Let me show you. After exiting the station where I’m pointing, there’s a smart customer service center. Looking further ahead, follow the camera and then the direction you need to transfer to the high-speed rail. The arrow indicates a clear sign. After passing this point, you’ll see a whole row of security personnel ; it seems the supervisor is giving instructions for today’s work. Let’s continue forward. Following the signs, turn left first. After walking this way, there are very clear signs on the wall indicating the West High-Speed ​​Rail Exit and the transfer point. The West Exit means that you’ll pass through a high-speed rail exit later. Since Taiyuan High-Speed ​​Rail Station is very, very large , it has east and west exits. Therefore, remember that when you return from Pingyao Ancient City in the evening , you’ll exit from the West Exit. After exiting, you can immediately connect to the subway and take it back to our hotel. Okay, to your right, this yellow door is the West Arrival Gate. In other words, when we take the high-speed train back to Taiyuan from Pingyao Ancient City this evening , we will exit from here. Remember this location clearly. Then continue walking forward. There are also clear signs here indicating the East High-Speed ​​Railway Entrance. Keep walking forward. Let’s make a quick turn here first. Then , an elevator will appear on your right, and finally, the escalator leading to the ground. Okay, after seeing the sign, we’ll slow down because the elevator on the right is here. If you have large suitcases , you can take the elevator up where the arrow points. We will choose to take the elevator up later , but before that, let’s follow the camera and walk … The escalator here will give you a clearer understanding of the overall flow of traffic . If you’re taking the escalator, the high-speed rail station hall is to your left and behind. Now let’s go back and take the accessible elevator to show you. It’s worth noting that we need to go to the second floor of the high-speed rail station because that’s where the entrance hall is . As for which hotel we’re staying at and which subway station in Taiyuan it’s located at, if you haven’t seen our video yet, I’ll put that information at the end of the video. Feel free to click on it if you’re interested. Okay, once the elevator opens, the entrance hall is right to your left. At first glance, it looks a bit like Nanjing South Station. How so ? Even though we’re on the second floor, the entrance hall is still visible to the left. It seems to be on the first floor. Actually, the entire area in front is connected by elevated highways. Looking across this row of elevated highways, you can see the ride-hailing or taxi services coming to pick up and drop off passengers. Let me turn the camera around to show you the elevator we just came up from. Now, let’s take out our Taiwan Compatriot Certificates and prepare to enter the station. The high-speed rail journey from Taiyuan South Station to Pingyao Ancient City Station only takes 39 minutes. Also, please note that friends from Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, or those holding foreign passports should use the manual lane. Since there are usually very few people using the manual lane , you don’t need to worry about long queues. Okay, now the arrow points to the manual lane. After passing through the manual lane, prepare for security check. Scan your Taiwan Compatriot Certificate to enter. This row you see in front of you can be used for security checks . Okay, what you see here is after passing through security. Looking back, let me turn the camera around so everyone can see the station hall. Here, there are A and B ticket gates. Gate A is on the right , and Gate B is on the left. Now, open the “Railway 12306” app on your phone and confirm our train number is G621. Next, go to the large screen I’m pointing to and find which ticket gate G621 is at. We quickly confirmed it’s at gate B16. Alternatively, you can open the “Railway 12306 ” homepage and select the station screen ; you’ll find the information there is synchronized with the large screen. Hello everyone , we’ve now arrived at Taiyuan South Station . Taiyuan South Station is really large , so when entering the station, you first need to show your Taiwan Compatriot Permit and then use the manual ticket gate. After scanning your Taiwan Compatriot Certificate at the gate, you’ll go through an X-ray security check. After your luggage is checked, you’ll enter the waiting hall. The signs and instructions are quite clear. Upon entering, there are left and right sides. Let me turn the camera around to show you. We’re now at gate B16, confirming our train number. Currently, it’s in a pre-train preparation state , so if we want to skip the gate, we’ll have to go there. Before we go through the gate, there ‘s one more thing I must remind everyone : when going through the gate, look up and check the landmark color. Luckily, we see purple here. What does this mean? Usually, when waiting on the platform, we first walk to our assigned carriage. In Taiwan, our custom is that carriage number 1 is always at the very front. The last carriage is always at the back, but this isn’t always the case on mainland China’s high-speed rail. You must first confirm the landmark color. For example, if you just saw purple , when you get to the platform, you need to look at the color on the ground and find purple among yellow, green, red, and purple. For example, if we are in carriage number 2 , find the purple landmark marked with “2” and wait there. Also, the small screens on the platform will show clear markings. Okay, now what appears on the ground is the purple landmark, currently showing the location of carriage 5. To get to carriage 1, you need to go to the left. Similarly, let’s look at another landmark . Don’t rush to board the high-speed train and then move to your carriage, because you might get stuck in the middle. Why? Because if you encounter a train like this, you’re doomed . Some trains are divided into two sections… The train formation is so tight that if we walk to the middle, the front of the trains will be right in front of each other, so of course we can’t walk past. Okay, we’ll arrive at Pingyao Ancient City High-Speed ​​Railway Station soon. After exiting the station, we need to find bus route 108 North and take it for two stops to Shuanglin Temple . The view in front of us is what it looks like when we walk out of the station and look back . The arrow points to the entrance of the station where we ‘ll take the high-speed train back to Taiyuan in the evening . Let ‘s turn the camera around and look at the front of the high-speed railway station. The arrow points to the bus stop for bus route 108 North . Let’s go down the steps and walk over slowly. Here, we open Alipay, confirm our location , and after it automatically finds Taiyuan, we select “Travel” and then we can get the Taiyuan bus QR code. We’ll scan the code and board the bus in a bit. Okay, the arrow points to bus route 108 North , and the one in front of it is bus route 108 North. I was looking at the No. 8 South bus , but neither of the two buses had a driver on board, so I couldn’t help but ask an old man at the service booth. Then, during our conversation, his answer was completely useless , haha! I have to reenact this funny exchange for you all. I asked, “Excuse me, has the driver arrived yet?” The old man replied, ” Yes.” Then I asked again, “Where is he? How would I know? He’s here, haha!” Then I asked again, “Excuse me , in about a few minutes, will the driver be here to drive? ” The old man replied, “Soon, soon, soon, soon!” Then I asked again, “Excuse me, do you know where the driver went?” The old man replied, “How would I know where he went? He came early this morning. He’s here, he’s here. You all sit and wait a bit, he’ll be here soon.” Then, about ten minutes later, the driver slowly boarded… Then we got on the bus . At that moment, a young man with a backpack walked to the door and asked, ” Excuse me, driver, is this bus going to the North Gate or the South Gate of Pingyao Ancient City?” The driver replied, “It doesn’t matter , as long as there’s a gate, you can get on or not, hahaha.” Apparently, these buses go to the North Gate and the South Gate respectively . It seemed the young man wanted to get off at the North Gate because it’s more lively. But for the driver, it didn’t matter whether it was the North Gate or the South Gate— it was all Pingyao Ancient City, hahaha. So the driver said to the young man, “Are you getting on or not? If not, I’m closing the door, hahaha.” Later, the young man got on, and after the bus started moving, the local elderly people on board told him, “Don’t worry, this bus goes to the North Gate.” What I found even funnier was why the older folks didn’t help answer the young man’s question , haha. But this also clearly shows that the locals live a more leisurely pace of life . In contrast, we , living in a fast-paced city, are used to expecting precise answers every time we ask a question. Does this mean we’re always too stressed? Haha, wave goodbye! My first bus ride was fun! Yeah, right , right, right. Since it was only two stops , I decided to try it out. Shuanglin Temple, oh Shuanglin Temple, that’s where we should go, right? That way ! Yes, yes, right, right . We got off at Shuanglin Temple stop quickly. Those two stops cost a total of one RMB. (The arrow in front points to…) This is Shuanglin Temple . Let me turn the camera back to show you. We just got off the bus at this spot. Now let’s walk towards Shuanglin Temple. Oh my god, we’ve finally arrived at the Shuanglin Temple we’ve been longing to see! We came here to see the world’s number one Weituo statue and the Thousand-Handed and Thousand-Eyed Guanyin statue. At the entrance, I’d like to add a note: Shanxi Province is very friendly to seniors. Anyone over 60 years old gets free admission to every scenic spot. Also, there are no restrictions on visitor numbers, so you don’t need to make a reservation in advance on WeChat. Just scan your Taiwan Compatriot Certificate to enter. Alternatively, if you are under 60 and have purchased a Shanxi Cultural Tourism Annual Card online (applicable to those under 60), it’s recommended to log in early and purchase a half-price ticket. A QR code will pop up. When you pass through the ticket gate, just show your QR code and Taiwan Compatriot Certificate. Once inside, you’ll see a 1:1 replica of the “Number One Weituo Statue in the World.” I’m sure you’ll be very excited when you see the real thing! The arrow points to the restrooms. If you need to use the restroom, hurry up, because there aren’t any inside the scenic area. Okay, let’s officially go inside! On the left, you’ll see promotional materials for the famous mobile game “Black Myth: Wukong.” Shuanglin Temple is one of the filming locations for “Black Myth: Wukong.” Before officially entering, I recommend downloading an app called “Sanmao You.” After downloading, just enter the scenic area name , such as “Shuanglin Temple.” It’s a paid guided tour , but it’s very cheap , only 6 RMB , which is much cheaper than renting an audio guide. But remember to bring your own headphones. Looking at the map , we just entered through this ticket gate. After entering, you’ll walk through this city gate. The main attractions in the scenic area are the Heavenly King Hall, Bodhisattva Hall, Thousand Buddha Hall , and the Great Buddha Hall . Okay , let’s start walking through this city gate. Strictly speaking, Shuanglin Temple isn’t very large , but there are a huge number of painted sculptures and Buddha statues to see. So, a thorough look will take about a morning. These painted sculptures are world-renowned, hence the area is called a treasure trove of Eastern painted sculpture art. Upon entering, the first thing you see is the Hall of Heavenly Kings , a single-eaved, gable-roofed building with five bays wide and three bays deep, featuring front and rear porches. Under the eaves of the front porch are the Four Heavenly Kings, each about 3 meters tall, lined up in a row. These are Ming Dynasty works; the upper bodies are bare or clad in waistbands, with thick eyebrows and angry eyes, their twisting bodies displaying the strength and heroism of warriors capable of moving mountains and rivers. These painted sculptures are made using a local, highly adhesive red clay that, after drying, becomes as hard as stone and does not crack over time. After the clay sculpting is completely dry, it is first brushed with alum water, then coated with a white powder mixture of egg white and glue, followed by repeated rubbing with cotton or white cloth until it shines. Finally, it is colored with pigments ground from minerals. Therefore, the painted sculptures… The robes on the statues are still brightly colored. Furthermore, the eyes of all the statues inside the hall, regardless of size , are made of black glazed glass, so no matter where you go, you’ll find the statues looking at you , and their eyes even seem to gleam , leaving visitors astonished. Although I had collected many related images of the Four Heavenly Kings online before the trip , seeing them in person was still incredibly moving. It’s truly incredible that they have stood guard here since the Ming Dynasty. After seeing the Four Heavenly Kings , we enter the Hall of Heavenly Kings and see Maitreya Bodhisattva . Apparently, Maitreya Bodhisattva’s belly wasn’t that big back then ! This Maitreya Bodhisattva is 2.2 meters tall, and the exquisite detail is astonishing. Beneath the lotus pedestal lies a powerful, earth-shattering golden… I had just helped lift him up, but unfortunately his head was damaged. On the left and right sides are Indra and Brahma, serving as attendants. Their height is about 1.75 meters. The statues in the hall are exquisitely detailed , yet also quite realistic. In fact , this small space was crowded with tourists , but everyone queued in an orderly fashion to take turns going in. Each person, upon seeing the statue, was speechless with awe, so the entire hall, despite the large number of tourists , was unusually quiet. I was also awestruck by the sight before me. The next thing that shocked us was the Four Heavenly Kings located on either side of the south wall entrance. These four Heavenly Kings are all seated , wearing tall crowns, with imposing figures, and clad in armor and battle skirts to highlight their majestic aura. Then, along the walls on either side of the Four Heavenly Kings are the Eight Great… The Bodhisattvas are truly solemn and beautiful. We, living in this era, are incredibly fortunate to see these ancient sculptures so closely. Thirty or forty years ago, many temples and statues in Shanxi were closed to the public; their doors were always locked. Only academic institutions conducting research could apply and wait a long time for approval before a specialist could escort them inside. Even then, scholars and experts were strictly forbidden from taking photos, recording anything, or leaking any information. At first glance, this might seem stingy— not even allowing photography ! But in those days, if word got out or a photo was leaked , thieves would follow, and these precious ancient artifacts would be lost. The artifacts were stolen and their whereabouts unknown , or they were stolen and sold overseas. Therefore, we are very fortunate that thanks to today’s technological advancements and the sophisticated anti-theft measures and monitoring devices , these precious ancient artifacts can be gradually opened to the public for visits . At this point , I feel I should zoom out to show everyone that we are actually viewing these ancient statues through iron railings. In other words, all the footage we just saw was taken by everyone patiently queuing until they were in front of the line , then they carefully slipped their camera hands slightly inside the railings to capture those precious images. Filled with immense emotion, we left the Hall of Heavenly Kings. Before leaving, I took one last picture of the entire exterior of the Hall of Heavenly Kings to show everyone. Then we entered through a small door on the side… Behind the Hall of Heavenly Kings , we’ll proceed to the Shakyamuni Hall. The arrow points to the Shakyamuni Hall, which was first built in the Ming Dynasty and is one of the main halls of the temple. Here, we see the central Buddha , Shakyamuni Buddha. The hall employs the classic arrangement of one Buddha and two disciples , flanked by Manjushri and Samantabhadra Bodhisattvas. We see Shakyamuni Buddha before us; his compassionate face and exquisite detail are truly breathtaking. However, what’s even more astonishing are the suspended sculptures surrounding the walls. Shanxi has three major suspended sculptures: one is Xiaoxitian in Xixian County, the second is Shuanglin Temple, which we see here, and the third is Guanyin Hall in Changzhi. The suspended sculptures of Xiaoxitian and Guanyin Hall are concentrated in one hall, while those of Shuanglin Temple are unique. The hall contains numerous suspended sculptures, all meticulously calculated to ensure they do not affect the structural integrity of the hall’s beams . The sculptures depict the complete life story of Buddha, from the reincarnation of the white elephant as the Jade Prince of the Nine Dragons to Bodhi’s enlightenment at midnight in Yu City, and finally his Nirvana at Shuanglin Temple. Hundreds of figures intertwine with the landscape and pavilions, vividly presenting Shakyamuni’s life from birth to enlightenment before our eyes, like a three-dimensional comic strip. The scale is magnificent and exquisite. Each sculpture not only undergoes precise weight calculations but also must fully represent the overall story structure, leaving us in awe of the truly remarkable achievements of Ming Dynasty polychrome sculpture. It’s worth noting that Shuanglin Temple has a total of 2,052 statues, of which 1,052 are in good condition. The sheer number of 566 statues and their exquisite craftsmanship represent the pinnacle of Ming Dynasty polychrome sculpture, spanning from 1368 to 1644 AD. Next, we arrive at the main hall of the Arhat Hall, where we see the Bodhisattva Guanyin. The east, south, and north walls each feature beautifully carved wooden niches containing sixteen Arhats. First, we must introduce Rahula, the son of Shakyamuni Buddha. It’s worth noting that his attire is in the Song Dynasty style, characterized by wide sleeves and flowing robes, giving him a touch of scholarly elegance. Interestingly, something is happening among the Arhats in the hall. The first Arhat from the left is a thin one, next to a fat one who is very angry, holding a fireball about to throw at a small dog opposite him, because the dog had just bitten his foot. The puppy hid on the lap of another Arhat. The two Arhats beside it seemed unconcerned, as if they didn’t want to see it. The first Arhat opposite them was the Speech Arhat, who appeared to be recounting the whole story at length. The second Arhat pointed at the Fat Arhat, as if to say, “You shouldn’t be so angry; he’s just a puppy .” Next, we saw the Mute Arhat , his brow furrowed, seemingly unable to utter a single word, suffering in silence. Then we saw this Arhat pointing at another Arhat , as if to say, “I’m the last one here; I’m not late!” By the way, these Arhats all have names , but their names are not only very long but also very difficult to pronounce and remember. So, the locals call them “Thin Arhat” and “Fat Arhat.” Oh my god, we’ve finally arrived at the Bodhisattva Hall! I can already vaguely see… The main purpose of this trip was to see the Thousand-Handed and Thousand-Eyed Guanyin Bodhisattva seated inside. This is arguably the most beautiful Thousand-Handed and Thousand-Eyed Guanyin I have ever seen, bar none. In fact, this Guanyin statue has 26 arms, each hand sculpted with rounded, graceful curves and a unique posture, holding different ritual implements such as swords, vajras, ruyi scepters, vases, and prayer beads. Each implement represents a supernatural power to relieve the suffering of sentient beings and fulfill their wishes. Compared to the plump grandeur of the Tang Dynasty and the refined elegance of the Song Dynasty, Ming Dynasty Buddhist art tended towards secularization and ornamentation. The Thousand-Handed Guanyin of Shuanglin Temple, along with the attendant Bodhisattvas on either side, has a kind face, graceful posture, and ornate decorations, closer to the aesthetics of the people at that time, bridging the gap between the divine and the human. It embodies the spirit of Humanistic Buddhism and successfully transforms Buddhist doctrines into a visible, tangible, and soul-stirring visual image. Especially when we stand before the Thousand-Handed and Thousand-Eyed Guanyin Bodhisattva, we can truly feel the awe and peace of being embraced and protected by boundless compassion . This is why it is hailed as a shining pearl in the treasure trove of Eastern painted sculpture art. Next, we come to the Thousand Buddha Hall to see another heavyweight painted sculpture. But before that, let ‘s look at a very beautiful Guanyin statue . This Guanyin, with her right leg bent and left foot hanging down , has a relaxed and natural posture, completely breaking away from the solemn sitting posture of traditional Buddhist statues. It is hailed as the Venus of the East. Its image is vivid and realistic, with flowing and natural clothing. There is no wall support behind it , making it a rare round sculpture (3). Standing next to him is another heavyweight sculpture I mentioned earlier , known as the world’s largest Weituo statue, which is the one you see in the picture now. This Weituo statue is not standing still, but is extremely dynamic, with its center of gravity on its left foot, its body twisted dramatically, its fists clenched, and its eyes like lightning . Similarly, its eyes are also black glass, so no matter what angle you look at it from , you will find that it is looking at you. At this point , I really have to say that the hard-working transfer from Taiwan to Shanxi was all worth it. In addition, I would like to add that all these statues, large and small, are slightly leaning forward, so that their faces are less likely to get dusty. The wisdom of the ancients is truly superb. Next, we came to the very back of Shuanglin Temple , which is the Mahavira Hall. However, the statues inside the Mahavira Hall… During the late Ming Dynasty, a major restoration was carried out , and a layer of tung oil was applied to the Buddha statue’s face for preservation and insect repellency. However, over time, the Buddha’s face has turned a dark brown, which is truly a pity. In contrast, the attendant bodhisattvas on either side, because they weren’t coated with tung oil, have escaped this fate; their faces remain pink and youthful. Hello everyone , we’ve just finished touring Shuanglin Temple. Here ‘s a helpful tip: after entering from the back of the park, you ‘ll see restrooms on your right. If you need to use the restroom now , hurry up and do so, because there are no restrooms inside Shuanglin Temple. Another helpful tip: you can activate your Shanxi Cultural Tourism Annual Pass and then go inside to buy a half-price ticket. After purchasing a ticket for Shuanglin Temple and using the QR code to enter, you’ll need to follow the signs to the back of the path. The last stop is the Mahavira Hall. However, it ‘s advisable not to go any further in after the Mahavira Hall , as the area behind it belongs to the Yin Temple (a place associated with the underworld ). Just a friendly reminder. Okay, that concludes our sharing about Shuanglin Temple. And importantly, I must say once again that Shanxi is a seriously underrated treasure city (correction: province)! After seeing Shuanglin Temple, I can only say I was deeply moved. Even though everyone was crowded into each hall , and the space inside was quite small, and there were many people , not a single person spoke loudly. Everyone was so quiet after all the noise , because the scene was so breathtaking and moving. I hope that one day you can all come and visit here. Okay, that’s all for our sharing about Shuanglin Temple today. After exiting Shuanglin Temple, there’s a whole row of food stalls across the street. It was almost 1 p.m., so we had a quick lunch . We’ll take a taxi to Pingyao Ancient City from here later, since time is precious , so we won’t go out to wait for the bus . Here, we ordered a must-try dish in Shanxi: “wan tuo” (a type of rice noodle roll) . I’ll share what wan tuo tastes like another time. Next, we took a ride-hailing service to Pingyao Ancient City. We got off at the North Gate, since everyone says the North Gate is more lively , and it really is. Since the entire ancient city of Pingyao covers an area of ​​245 hectares , we saw many sightseeing buses near the North Gate. These buses actively solicited customers, so we quickly hopped on one. It’s important to note that the sightseeing buses have two price options . The first is a one-way trip , which only goes to one point. For example, if we were short on time and wanted to visit the famous Rishengchang , the镖局 (security escort agency), and the county government office , we would hire a sightseeing bus to take us to Rishengchang and then explore from there. This is the one-way fare, and the ticket price is 10 RMB per person. You can specify your drop-off point. The other option is an all-inclusive package, costing 120 RMB per person, which will take you on a complete loop. Then they’ll drop you off at designated scenic spots, and you can call the driver to pick you up after you’re done . However, this could take a long time because the driver might be on another fare and has to take their passengers to their destinations before returning to pick you up. So, the 120 yuan charter option is impractical and a waste of time . Also, the sightseeing buses aren’t contracted by the Pingyao Ancient City Scenic Area ; several companies operate independently, each vying for business. They disregard the official charter price of 80 yuan published by the Jinzhong Municipal Government Tourism Bureau and act independently. Strangely, the Jinzhong Municipal Government hasn’t intervened. In short, the most practical and least strenuous way is like us: take the bus directly to Rishengchang and start exploring from there until you’re tired. If you want to explore, you can flag down a sightseeing bus anytime and pay 10 yuan to take you to the South or North Gate . As for hailing a bus , those offering one-way trips are available anytime, but if it’s a chartered bus, it won’t stop. Just wave to get a ride, or at least ask beforehand to confirm . You’ll see a bunch of sightseeing buses running around the ancient city. Therefore, please walk on the side of the road when exploring the ancient city. Since we’ve mentioned transportation, let’s also mention that there are taxis waiting at any of the city gate exits when leaving Pingyao Ancient City. We recommend taking one of these taxis back to the Pingyao Ancient City High-Speed ​​Railway Station. Although there are ride-hailing services like Didi Chuxing in Pingyao , the public sector doesn’t seem to have a formal regulation of them. With taxi drivers fearing that ride-hailing services would take over their market share, they formed a union. Drivers pay monthly fees, and the union has personnel stationed at Pingyao High-Speed ​​Railway Station to catch ride-hailing drivers. It’s said that catching one can result in a fine of tens of thousands of RMB. Therefore, if you plan to leave Pingyao Ancient City and take a ride-hailing service to the high-speed railway station, firstly, you might not be able to hail a ride; secondly, the platform might demand extra money—and more and more money— until the price is high enough. While some ride-hailing drivers might risk their lives for the high fares, they might try to get you off near the station so you can walk the last mile to avoid being caught by the union. To avoid this trouble , please take a taxi directly. Of course, if you have more time… For those with more time to spare, you can take bus route 108 North or 108 South from the South Gate or North Gate back to Pingyao Ancient City High-Speed ​​Railway Station. This information was shared with us by a ride-hailing driver . They said that while the Pingyao Ancient City High-Speed ​​Railway Station area is known for its strict ticket collection system, other areas are less so. Therefore
, we didn’t encounter this problem when taking a ride from Shuanglin Temple to Pingyao Ancient City. Regarding admission fees, while visiting the entire Pingyao Ancient City is free, individual attractions require separate tickets, such as the Rishengchang Escort Agency and the Yamen (government office) I mentioned earlier . If you plan to visit these attractions, I recommend buying a 125 RMB pass, which allows you to visit all of them. Of course, if you have a Shanxi Cultural Tourism Annual Pass, you can reserve it in advance to receive a QR code. Entry is free with a code . For those over 60, there’s no need to worry about that; just swipe your Taiwan Compatriot Certificate at the entrance to enter any attraction. Speaking of which, we’ve entered the famous Rishengchang. Its predecessor was the Xiyucheng Paint Shop, opened by the Li family of Dapu Village during the Qing Dynasty . It’s worth mentioning that in the late Jiaqing period , the general manager (manager) of this paint shop was Lei Lutai. At that time, the White Lotus Rebellion was raging , and due to continuous natural disasters, society was very unstable. If businesses needed to transport silver, they had to rely on escort agencies . Lei Lutai used drafts (equivalent to checks) between his businesses to transport silver. Later, he simply took on the remittance business as well. Later, Li Da, a native of Dapu Village in Pingyao County… Lei Lutai established Rishengchang Bank, which is what we see before us today. Li Daquan invested 300,000 taels of silver, and Lei Lutai invested 20,000 taels of silver, with each share costing 10,000 taels. Afterwards, Rishengchang prospered, becoming a major player in the national financial system. The entire Rishengchang building is laid out with a south-facing layout, a front shop and a rear courtyard. The main courtyard has three courtyards , with a west side courtyard and an east side courtyard. From north to south, the main courtyard consists of the front courtyard, east and west counters, two gates, a letter room, an accounting office, a central hall, a manager’s office, and side rooms, the side rooms further divided into guest rooms and a kitchen. Finally, there is a rear hall. The entire courtyard has 65 rooms. In short , Rishengchang is the soul of Pingyao Ancient City. It is not only an ancient residence but also the ancestor of modern Chinese banking. Its birth marked a leap forward in Chinese financial history. Here you see… It wasn’t a traditional money exchange , but a complete operating system approaching that of a modern bank. Its greatness lay in three major innovations: First, it pioneered nationwide remittance services , eliminating the need for merchants to carry heavy silver taels across the country. A single draft , essentially a modern check, allowed for nationwide redemption, greatly promoting commercial development. Second, it actively absorbed deposits and issued loans , turning dead money into live money, becoming a lubricant for the social economy. Third, it implemented strict encryption , or anti-counterfeiting measures. To prevent counterfeiting , they invented a coded system using poetic phrases , ensuring the security of drafts and demonstrating the wisdom of the ancients. Simply put, stepping into Rishengchang is like stepping into the birthplace of China’s Wall Street. It witnessed the glory of Shanxi merchants and defined the later development of Chinese… The rudimentary form of China’s financial industry is the core value behind Pingyao’s designation as a World Cultural Heritage site. Next
, let’s share the overall spatial planning of Rishengchang. Recall that when we first entered, its facade was understated; the thick walls and narrow windows immediately conveyed a sense of solidity and security. The counters at the entrance, reaching 1.2 meters in height, resembled the concept of bulletproof glass from that era, both separating the interior and exterior and giving customers the psychological feeling of entrusting their valuables to a sturdy fortress. Next is the central axis , which presents a rigorous business flow. The entire building progresses along a central axis, with clearly defined functions. When we see the counters, it’s equivalent to the lobby of a modern bank— a window to the outside world. Its business includes remittances, deposits, and loans; all cash is transferred during this process. The letter room is equivalent to the bank’s core back office and IT department; it is a highly confidential area, used for writing and deciphering coded letters, and also for setting exchange rates . The letter room is usually located in a secluded place to ensure that business secrets are not leaked. The central hall, or living room, is equivalent to a VIP reception room or the general manager’s office , used to receive major clients and discuss important business. If you go to the living room here, you will find that the furnishings are more elaborate , showing the bank’s strength and taste. The back hall is equivalent to the administrative and logistics area and the vault area ; it is the living room and dining room for the staff. At the same time, the most confidential underground vault entrance is hidden here. You should remember that we just saw a… The most famous design element of the underground vault is the famous plaque inscribed with “Connecting the World,” directly beneath which is often the entrance to the underground vault. This is not only a promotion of a concept but also a psychological tactic of “the most dangerous place is the safest place.” As we walk further in, we find that the narrow courtyards and high walls create a deep , easily defensible cylindrical space. Therefore, it is difficult for thieves to escape quickly , and it is easy for the staff inside to catch them like fish in a jar. Next, we will share the second floor of the bank. The second floor is usually used for storage, kitchen, or living quarters. However, there is often only one staircase leading to the second floor , which is easy to guard, effectively controlling the flow of people and further protecting the vault. In summary, the layout of Rishengchang is a sophisticated financial security system. It clearly delineates the areas for external business operations, internal confidential operations, and living security using architectural language , perfectly integrating anti-theft, confidentiality, and operational efficiency functions into every brick and tile. Walking through it, you can almost feel how this place, under strict order, achieved its grand ambition of connecting the world through finance. While visiting Rishengchang, I’d like to share some information: many people say that you can’t see everything in Pingyao Ancient City in three days if you want to explore carefully and see every place. However , some say that you can see everything in one day, which is also true. If you visit with a focus on key areas like we have, then a day or two is indeed enough. That’s enough. After all, some people online say that many places in mainland China have ancient towns and cities, and after visiting them all, you get a bit tired of them. But the only difference is that this is a genuine ancient city. However, I also want to remind everyone that if you’re sure you want to stay here for two or three days, you’ll definitely have to stay here. In that case , I would suggest staying in a hotel outside the ancient city, because the streets inside the ancient city are all paved with cobblestones. Just imagine how painful it would be to drag your luggage along those cobblestone streets. Unless you can contact the hotel or guesthouse operators in advance to confirm that they can use a three -wheeled vehicle to help you take your luggage there. Okay , now let’s go back to Rishengchang. Recall the underground vault we just saw. Let’s talk about how, in those days, silver wasn’t just piled up randomly in the vaults. Instead , it was cast into massive ingots weighing thousands of taels each, called “Wanna” (meaning “helpless”). These were so large and difficult to move, serving both as a theft prevention measure and a convenient means of inventory management . Moreover, the vaults were located underground, in a secret location , requiring navigating through layers of traps and narrow alleys to reach them. What we see before us should be another passage to the underground vault , but in ancient times, it was so well hidden that you couldn’t see it at all. It turns out there was a whole world beneath the ground! I guess originally, there were beds placed directly above it, completely concealing the secrets of the underground vault. It’s truly hard to imagine that in the 19th century, such a small basement could mobilize the entire nation’s funds through drafts. It’s truly remarkable! Now, let’s continue… We’re here to visit a镖局 ( 镖局 is a type of security escort agency). These镖局 were China’s earliest logistics and security organizations , relying on their reputation and martial arts skills to escort caravans and their silver through treacherous trade routes. In other words, the people in these镖局 had to be extremely skilled in martial arts , and they also had to carry very effective weapons. In modern terms, it’s like an armored truck! Hello everyone, I’m now inside Pingyao Ancient City. Pingyao Ancient City is a very, very large scenic area , so you can enter from any gate —north, south , east, or west— it’s all free. However, if you’re visiting famous attractions , such as the renowned Rishengchang , the镖局 , or the China Merchants Bank, you’ll need to pay. If you want to visit museums and exhibition halls , you’ll need to purchase a 125 RMB pass through the Pingyao Ancient City WeChat official account. With this pass’s QR code, you can explore Pingyao Ancient City. For example, if you see the镖局 (镖局, a type of security escort agency) we’ve just seen, you can scan the code at the entrance to enter. Of course, if you’re over 60 years old, you can simply scan your ID. Just ask the staff inside to check your Taiwan Compatriot Certificate , and you can enter directly. We then leisurely strolled around the ancient city until sunset before preparing to leave. If you plan to have dinner on the high-speed train , I suggest you do so here… Buy some food, like roujiamo (Chinese hamburger), steamed buns , or mantou (steamed bread) to take on the train. There’s only one convenience store at the Pingyao Ancient City high-speed rail station , and it only sells instant noodles. Another strong recommendation is to visit Shuanglin Temple in the morning ; it’s much more spectacular than Pingyao Ancient City . That concludes today’s video. In the next episode, we’ll leave Taiyuan and take the high-speed rail to Datong in northern Shanxi. That’s right, we’ll be sharing transportation tips , a complete hotel review , and that very night after checking into our hotel , we’ll head straight to the Datong Ancient City Wall to see the night view. Please continue to follow our channel ! Thank you for watching, bye!