Step back in time in Pingyao! It is exactly how you'd expect to find a Chinese imperial city. Extremely atmospheric and all closed in by the ancient city wall. It's like the more authentic and alive version of The Forbidden City. It is where 'Raise the Red Lantern' was filmed. Definitely worth the visit as it is so close to Beijing (well under 10hrs) and hasn't yet been discovered by The Beijing Hutong Development Programme. Hopefully the dust that hovers over it will hide it for a while yet! Only downfall is the food which is strangely horrid.