Wang Family Courtyard

The basics

You can buy tickets to the Wang Family Courtyard in person. Given the area's limited public transit and the vast site's size, guided tours can be helpful. Xi’an has speedy bullet train connections to Pingyao, and Pingyao tours from Xi’an sometimes visit the Wang Family Courtyard. Tours out of Pingyao often pair the Wang Family Courtyard with Shuanglin Temple, a Buddhist structure, or Zhangbi Ancient Castle, an impressive web of underground fortified tunnels.

Things to know before you go

• The Wang Family Courtyard is a good choice for history buffs and Chinese culture fans.

• Allow around two hours to tour the expansive site.

• There is wheelchair access to the lower levels of the Wang Family Compound, but the walls and upper levels are not accessible.

How to get there

The Wang Family Courtyard sits in Jingsheng Village, Lingshi County, about a 40-minute drive southwest of Pingyao in Shanxi, northern China. There are occasional buses from Pingyao bus station, but most travelers find it easiest to join a tour that can also visit other out-of-town attractions like Shuanglin Temple or Zhangbi Ancient Castle.

When to get there

The Wang Family Courtyard is open seven days a week, with shorter hours in winter. The site is large enough not to be excessively crowded, so visit when it suits you.

Discovering historic Pingyao

Pingyao holds UNESCO World Heritage status for its beautifully preserved historic center, which was founded in the 14th century, and its remnants of the early Chinese banking system. Highlights include the old city walls, the Rishengchang Exchange, an early bank, the Tongxinggong Escort Agency, which provided security for wealthy bankers and merchants, and Ping Yao Temple of the City God, a charming Taoist temple.