I booked a day trip with the hostel last night for this morning. My back and hip doesn’t feel too good; an after-effect of an injury from earlier in the year. The excursion consisted of a shared minivan to a couple of sights rather far away from Pingyao (otherwise necessitating trains and taxis).
First stop was the Wang Family Courtyard. I expected this it to be a family home but it was like two massive walled villages connected together by a short wall-cum-walkway. There are 123 courtyard, says the guidebook. Sadly with my slightly achey back and hip, I wasn’t in the mood for much. Today, it seemed like more courtyard, shrines, gardens and rooms.
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- A courtyard at the Wang Family complex.
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- At the Wang Family complex.
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- Many of the area’s buildings are wooden and are susceptible to fire.
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- A little bridge/wall linking the two parts of the Wang Family complex.
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- The size of the Wang Family complex is a bit hard to understand; it is like two walled villages.
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- In the distance a hotel is being built to replicate the Wang Family complex, complete with a high wall.
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- Two roofs being re-roofed. Note the soil before roof-tiles are placed on them.
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- Two roofs being re-roofed. Note the soil before roof-tiles are placed on them.
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- At the Wang Family complex.
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- In the Pingyao area, many beams are decorated with the evil eye … very Middle Eastern!
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- I don’t understand the crotchless pants that kids wear. Doesn’t the pooh and wee just end up on the floor?
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- Another exposed baby’s bottom while he sits on mum’s shoulder. She could end up with a soiled back?
Next was Zhangbi Underground Castle, which consisted of a few temples and a massive network of underground tunnels built some 1400 years ago. There were no worthwhile photos to be taken … tunnels just don’t make good subjects.