Shanxi Entertainment

Activities of entertainment in Shanxi Province are mostly collected in Pingyao Ancient City. At various attractions in Pingyao, there are many special cultural or theatrical events of the Ming dynasty during the daytime. Tourists can participate in these shows and enjoy the charm of this Old City. In addition, Pingyao Grand Theater stages many different kinds of local traditional performances every day. If this is not your cup of tea, you may choose to sip a brew until midnight at many guesthouse restaurants. Though there are not so many clubs or bars here, you will be immersed in a unique life style of the ancient town evening, especially when numerous red lanterns hang in the avenues portraying a grand air.

Main Pingyao Entertainment Events

Pingyao International Photography Festival(PIP)

It is held annually during mid September, which was inaugurated in 2001. The vent has grown rapidly, and in 2006, more than 10,000 photos shot by 1,200 photographers from 41 countries were shown. The size and feel of Pingyao make it an ideal venue for festival- goers to meet and share ideas about pictures. The exhibitions are housed within the factories, ware-houses and courtyards spread throughout the city. Showcasing work in these abandoned buildings of yesteryear gives the festival a rough-hewn charm acclaimed as unique among major international exhibitions.

Shehuo Festival

This festival takes place during every Spring Festival here. Shehuo, evolved through history and matured in the Ming(1368-1644) and Qing(1644-1911) dynasties, has become a folk recreational activity showing local people's happiness and expressing their good wishes. The show includes stilt-walking, horse-riding, lion dances, dragon dances, land-boat yangge dance and man-carrying performances.

Zhuangyuan Imitation Show

In ancient times, the student who won the first place in yearly imperial examinations (called Zhuangyuan in Chinese) enjoyed the right to proudly parade around his hometown and visit the local Confucian temple to give thanks to Confucius. You can dress yourself like the Zhuangyuan and walk from Eastern City Wall all the way across Cloud Road ( indicating that one's career takes off like rapidly rising-up cloud), Kuixing (the holy guard of Chinese students ) Hall, Wenchang (God of Literature) Hall, Rainbow Bridge, Lingxing Hall, Pan Bridge (also called Zhuangyuan Bridge) and the last stop Dacheng Hall (where the statue of Confucius is worshiped and his great achievements are displayed). You will know great dignity as a Zhuangyuan and the significance of Confucius.

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