Photo of Pingyao, Shanxi province. Akhil Parashar / For chinadaily.com.cn

The first thing that caught my eye was the architecture. The Old Town of Pingyao is a compact complex of buildings that includes old fortress walls, streets and lanes, shops, dwellings and temples. The houses are half-covered, with many roofs built as single slopes. Windows facing the street were not opened, perhaps as a defense against the rare sandstorm.

I was astonished to see how well-preserved it all is. The town positively breathes with antiquity. Its layout reflects perfectly the development in architectural style and urban planning of Han cities over more than five centuries.