There, in the land of the Yellow Earth, bordered by the Yellow River, was history set in stone, for indeed stone featured prominently - narrow sometimes covered alleys were paved in stone blocks.
The center of Pingyao is one of the greatest historic sites of China. Declared in 1997 a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO, Pingyao gives us insight into the ancient prosperous merchant pioneers, the ones that established the first banks in China during Ming and Qing dynasties (14th-20th centuries).
Down a corridor in Wang’s Family Courtyard, a woman leans over a thin tablet of bamboo. She uses a small knife to whittle bamboo skin into characters, one stroke at a time. I ask if she is writing a poem or an essay.
For many foreigners residing in China, a question arises constantly: what are the timeless sources of inspiration and guidance of China? Behind this question looms a second one, how this country works?
Xiwan is a rural village in Qikou town of north China's Shanxi province, only a few hours from Beijing on the high-speed train. It is currently off the beaten track. However it is fast becoming another spot on Shanxi’s long list of impressive scenic sites.
