[Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Ancient City of Ping Yao

Built more than 2,700 years ago, the Ancient City of Ping Yao is the best preserved ancient Han Chinese city. It gives insight into the ancient prosperous merchant pioneers, established the first banks in China during Ming and Qing dynasties (14th-20th centuries).

The city was listed as a World Natural Heritage Site by UNESCO on December 3, 1997.