Red lanterns raised in Pingyao Old Town

（People's Daily Online）  14:59, March 06, 2013  

Edited and translated by Gao Yinan, People's Daily Online

In the 2,700-year-old Pingyao Old Town in north China's Shanxi Province, people hang lanterns above front doors to pray for blessings.

The red lanterns found all over the historic city became famous with Zhang Yimou’s film “Raise the Red Lantern”, which was shot in the magnificent Qiao Family Courtyard just a few kilometers from the city.

Pingyao Old Town is considered the city with the best preserved ancient city wall in China, with one of the few walls remaining intact. The town is now a UNESCO World Heritage site.

2,700-year-old Pingyao Old Town is like a huge historical museum. Every street or building has numerous stories about the old times. Pingyao Beef is the local specialty, which has an acquired, strong taste, somewhat similar to corned beef.