Ancient dwellings in Qinglong Ancient Town in Taiyuan city [Photo/shanxi.gov.cn]

Qinglong Ancient Town, formerly known as Jinghaozui, was once a major town in North China.

In the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), Wang's family -- one of the prominent merchant groups active in North China's Shanxi province during the Ming (1368-1644) and the Qing (1644-1911) dynasties -- valued the superior location of Jinghaozui in the trade route to the west. 

As a result, they moved their family there, where they built the prototype of Qinglong Ancient Town.

The Wang family later changed the name to Qinglong Ancient Town during the reign of the Emperor Jiaqing in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

This led to the development of the typical architectural style of the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties in the entire town whose wood, brick and stone carvings and features are exquisite.

Address: Houcun town, Yangqu county, Taiyuan city, Shanxi province

Opening hours: all day

Admission ticket price: free of charge, except agriculture museum and ancient tunnels for military use

Tel: 0351-7721066