Pingyao, an ancient city in north China's Shanxi Province, covering a total area of 2.25 sq. kilometers, is famous for its well preserved ancient city wall. The city wall was first built during the Zhou Dynasty (c.11th century-256 BC) and was expanded in 1370, the third year of the reign of Ming Emperor Hongwu.

The city is a combination of well-preserved ancient streets,dwellings, government offices, markets, stores and residences.Since it was put on the World Cultural Heritage list in 1997, Pingyao has become a popular destination for both Chinese and overseas tourists.

Pingyao City Wall is called "the First City in North China" by many scholars.The city wall is the earliest and largest intact city wall in China. It is now one of the state priority protection units for relics. The City Wall was complete and well protected with the total length of 6.4km. It is square with the southern part a little bit round while the other three sides straight.

The city is famous as "Turtle City" with two gates on the south and north representing the head and tail of the turtle and four gates on the east and west and the four legs. The two doors on the south or on the north stand opposite to each other, like the head of the turtle extending out and two wells just beyond southern gate are like a turtle's two eyes. The outer door of the north gate turns east like the tail of a turtle turned to the right. There is a tower at each gate and seven-meter-high towers at each corner.

The wall is 10 meters high and 5 meters wide with the inside made of earth and outside of bricks.Its body is rammed earth strengthened with a covering of bricks.Outside the city wall there is a moat four meters wide and two on the west and one on the south and one on the north. All the gates project outwards and have two doors each.Along the wall there are platforms 50 meters apart, 3,000 crenels on the outer wall and 72 watchtowers.

The streets, old government offices, shops and residential houses inside the city retain their original styles and shapes and are a model for research on a county town seat of the Ming Dynasty. The city is under national protection.

Included in the UNESCO world heritage list in 1997.