Uncornered Market

Pingyao in China's Shanxi Province is considered one of the country's best preserved historic walled towns. The reason for this claim to fame that is now bringing in big tourist bucks? Pingyao was poor for much of the 20th century and couldn't modernize (i.e., bulldoze the old and build anew) like so many other provincial Chinese towns.

Now Pingyao is cashing in, but its walled old town is quickly being taken over by shops, guest houses, restaurants and other tourist services, all of which is transforming it into a living museum. Even so, Pingyao makes for a pleasant stop on the way from Xi'an to Beijing.

We enjoyed our time there, including sampling the local specialties of Pingyao Beef and buckwheat noodles.

Shanxi - China - Pingyao - man - bicycle - noodles - funeral -