Pingyao Ancient City, China
China’s First Banking Capital
An unpreserved area of the Ancient City.
Pingyao Ancient City is plagued by extreme blight and poverty, occupied by a largely low-income population with high density. The decline of the historic building is aggravated by the lack of sufficient preservation investment, regulation and enforcement. During the Cultural Revolution, the once magnificent large courtyard compounds occupied by individual wealthy families were confiscated and redistributed to multiple families, leading to extensive destructions and additions. Today, the problem has yet to be been resolved; complicated multiple ownerships and occupancy have led to uncontrolled additions of new kitchens, bathrooms and other functions to the courtyards, which were originally designed for single family units. Due to the poverty of the region and within the ancient city, and burdened with problems caused by historical and political blunders, Pingyao is facing critical shortage of preservation and maintenance funds for its rich historical treasures that are threatened by irreversible destruction due to decades of neglect and unplanned modern developments.
