Pingyao Ancient Citadel - World Cultural Heritage in China

Ping Yao is an exceptionally well-preserved example of a traditional Han Chinese city, founded in the 14th century. Its urban structure shows the evolution of architectural styles. and town planning in the Chinese Empire for more than five centuries. Of particular interest are the imposing buildings attached to the bank, for which Ping Yao was the main center of the whole of China during the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Accreditation year: 1997
Criteria: (ii)(iii)(iv)
Area: 245.62 ha
Buffer zone: 95.99 ha
Binh Dao District, Son Tay Province

Table of Contents

Outstanding global value

The ancient city of Ping Yao is a well-preserved ancient county-level city in China. Located in Ping Yao County, central Shanxi Province, the property consists of three parts: the entire area within the walls of Ping Yao, Shuanglin Temple 6 km southwest of the county capital, and Zhenguo Temple 12 km from the county seat to the northeast. The ancient city of Ping Yao retains the historical form of the Han county-level cities in Central China from the 14th to the 20th centuries.

Founded in the 14th century and covering an area of 225 hectares, Ping Yao Ancient City is a complete building complex consisting of ancient walls, streets and lanes, shops, houses and temples. Its layout perfectly reflects the evolution in architectural styles and urban planning of Han cities over more than five centuries. In particular, from the 19th century to the early 20th century, Ping Dao Ancient Citadel was the financial center of the whole of China. The nearly 4,000 existing shops and traditional houses in the town have grandiose forms and delicate decorations that testify to Ping Yao’s economic prosperity for more than a century. With more than 2,000 existing painted sculptures made during the Ming and Qing dynasties, Shuanglin Temple has gained a reputation as an “Eastern art gallery of painted sculptures”. Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple, the main shrine of Zhenguo Temple, dating from the Five Dynasties period, is one of China’s earliest and precious wooden structural buildings.

The ancient city of Ping Yao is an outstanding example of Han cities during the Ming and Qing dynasties (14th to 20th centuries). It retains all the characteristics of the Han city, providing a complete picture of the cultural, social, economic and religious development in Chinese history, and it is of great value to study. social form, economic structure, military defense, religious beliefs, traditional thinking, traditional ethics and forms of accommodation.

Criterion (ii) : The townscape of Binh Dao Ancient City excellently reflects the development of architectural style and town planning in the Chinese Empire over more than 5 centuries with the contributions of the Chinese peoples. different ethnic groups and other regions of China.

Criterion (iii) : The ancient city of Pingyao was a financial center in China from the 19th to the early 20th centuries. The business shops and traditional houses in the city are historical witnesses to its prosperity. economic prosperity of the ancient city of Binh Dao during this period.

Criterion (iv): The ancient city of Pingyao is an outstanding example of a Han city of the Ming and Qing dynasties (14-20th centuries) that has kept all its characteristics in a special level.

Integrity

Within the property boundaries of Binh Dao Ancient City, heritage information and general material and spiritual values have been well preserved. The urban planning and layout of Han county-level cities in Central China from the 14th to the 20th centuries are well preserved, heritage properties including city walls, streets and alleys, shops, houses and temples are still intact, and all the information reflecting the cultural, social, economic and religious developments during this period has been well preserved. The spirit and culture of the heritage property has been inherited and continues well. All of the above has so far not been destroyed or greatly affected by modern development.

Authenticity

Over the past five centuries of constant evolution and development, Pingyao Ancient Citadel with its related temples of Shuanglin and Zhenguo has faithfully preserved elements and features that reflect Han Chinese cities from the 14th century. to the 20th century, including the overall layout, architectural style, building materials, construction workmanship and traditional technology, as well as the intrinsic relationship between the overall cityscape and the elements. . The ancient city of Ping Yao realistically reflects the traditional dwelling and lifestyle of the Han people as well as the materialized characteristics of commerce and finance. It is an ideal place to study traditional Han culture.

Protection and management requirements

The ancient city of Pingyao was designated as a National Historical and Cultural City by the State Council in 1986. The protection and management of the property complies with the 1982 Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Protection of Cultural Relics. and Implementation Regulations of the Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Protection of Cultural Relics (amended in 1991), the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Urban-Rural Planning, as well as conventions including the Convention Concerning the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage. At the same time, for the long-term conservation and sustainable use of Binh Dao Citadel, the World Cultural Heritage Management Committee – Binh Dao Ancient Citadel (special management and protection agency) was established, with affiliated offices. enforces a series of laws, regulations and plans for the protection and management of Binh Dao Citadel, including the Binh Dao Citadel Protection Charter and the Binh Dao Citadel Protection Blueprint.

The Site’s Outstanding Universal Value and all its attributes are being integrated and authentically preserved by developing and implementing conservation and management plans, specific interventions and structural maintenance as well as environmental heritage improvement. The heritage management agency will strictly implement regulations on management, protection and effective control of construction and development activities in the heritage area, limiting the negative impacts of development pressures. heritage, coordinate the needs of different stakeholders and maintain an appropriate and effective balance between heritage conservation, tourism development and urban construction. Strengthen the research, interpretation and communication of heritage values, fulfill the role of heritage as a spiritual home and cultural continuation, so that a sustainable and harmonious relationship between conservation can be achieved. urban survival and development of the historic city.