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Pingyao ancient town transforms its past into profit  |
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 Pingyao is being restored back to its past glory for tourists. The ancient town in the middle of Shanxi province is about to travel back in time as part of an ambitious project to bring the lifestyles of the Ming and Qing Dynasties back to life.
Home to some of the best－preserved traditional architecture, Pingyao was originally built during the Zhou Dynasty. It was a military and commercial center for 2,000 years. Visitors are amazed by this small and isolated Chinese town, complete with temples, battlements, city walls and watchtowers. Along its old streets, you'll find a wide variety of historical features left by the Shanxi merchants in the Ming and Qing dynasties.
Today, the city's residents are recognizing the unique value of their hometown, where the trick is to cash in on the priceless resource.
One of the ways they're doing is removing half of the town's 40,000 population. They will be resettled nearby the city. They're also clearing out the modern－style buildings which include government offices, companies, factories and schools. Residential buildings will be completely changed into the Qing－style sloped roofs and no modern roads will be found at all, they'll all be narrow, cobbled streets. Old－style transport such as rickshaws and carriages will replace modern cars. Visitors will be able to dress up in ancient costumes when touring the walled city.
Editor: Rebecca & Ronnie
Source: CCTV.com
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