The ancient city walls of Pingyao in Shanxi province were originally erected during reign of Emperor Xuan of Zhou Dynasty, and the extant walls were rebuilt and extended during Ming Dynasty.

Pingyao has 71 walls, which were built separately with many mamian. The walls are not only pleasing to the eye but also complete with all the defensive facilities. The methods of the city construction were old in fashion, and the process of construction and the choice of materials were careful. The city walls serve as a precious historic record of Chinese ancient wall construction.

Ancient city of Pingyao sprawls in a square shape, with a perimeter of 6,163 m. There are 72 watchtowers and 3,000 crenels on the city walls - symbolizing the 72 virtuous students of Confucius and his 3,000 disciples respectively. Here old buildings and walls enhance beauty of each other and make people feel that the past is alive in Pingyao. Pingyao is not only a famous historic and cultural city in the country, but also a name inscribed on the world cultural heritage list by UNESCO.