Pingyao in central Shanxi Province is one of China’s best preserved ancient towns, and it is well worth a visit if you have an extra day or two to spend during your China tour.  Due to its somewhat isolated location, the ancient city wall and buildings of Pingyao have managed to avoid much of the rampant destruction and modernization that have remade most of modern China, with nearly all of the city’s structures still standing just as they were hundreds of years ago. Pingyao has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site not only because of  its well preserved status but also due to its importance as a financial capital of China during the Qing Dynasty.