The Pingyao city wall is the best-preserved ancient walled city in China — a complete 6.4 km rectangle of rammed earth faced with grey brick, standing 10 meters high with 72 watchtowers (one for each of Confucius's disciples) and 4 main gates. The entire perimeter is walkable, with wide rampart paths on top and views in both directions: out over the farmland to the distant Taihang Mountains, and down into the dense courtyard architecture of the old city.
Built in its present form in 1370 under the early Ming dynasty, on foundations that are considerably older, the wall has been maintained and restored but retains its essential character. The corner towers are particularly photogenic, especially in the early morning when mist sits in the farmland outside the walls. The south and north gates have elaborate multi-storey gate towers above them.
Walking the full perimeter takes about two hours at a comfortable pace. The wall is most atmospheric at dawn and dusk; the midday heat in summer is significant. Included in the combined ticket.