Pingyao Ancient City, China
China’s First Banking Capital
A preserved historic courtyard in Pingyao.
GHF and Pingyao County supported the preparation of a Master Conservation Plan beginning in 2005 as a first step to comprehensively and systematically preserve the ancient city and support its thoughtfully planned development. Under the direction of Professor Shao Yong from the prestigious Shanghai Tongji University’s Urban Planning School, the Master Conservation Plan addresses the most pressing development issues of the ancient city. Detailed mapping, documentation, population survey, and threats assessment of the city have now been completed. The final plan includes a comprehensive site conservation plan, budget, and milestones for the protection and restoration of Pingyao Ancient City. The team has also completed a Management Plan that includes new legal and regulatory protection, and innovative private-public conservation and development.
The proposed project plan can be divided into 4 main components: Pingyao Ancient City Master Conservation Plan and Management Plan; survey and management of both tangible and intangible cultural resources; preservation and rehabilitation of the vernacular architecture and historic streetscape; and revitalization of traditional arts and crafts.
The comprehensive Master Conservation Plan contains in-depth analysis of the historical and cultural characteristics and values of the Ancient City and a complete study of Pingyao’s conservation and development issues. A comprehensive survey of both tangible and intangible cultural resources within the ancient city was also carried out by a local team comprised of planners, historians and traditional architecture craftsmen. Recording methods include a combination of photography, sketches, video and audio recordings, and text descriptions. For the first time, the survey included not only the architecture but also its evolution and family history and social conditions of the residents.
Based on the study, the plan specifies the sustainable development goals and strategy for the Ancient City. The Master Plan will provide technical basis for all future development and management of this World Heritage Site.
