Aside from the city wall Pingyao is famous for being the banking center of China during the Qing dynasty. During this time it was home to over half of China's banks, 20 in total. Today there seem to be this many on one street in Beijing. I'm not sure what the creature above is, half turtle and half dragon either way it represented good luck or wealth.
Above is a nine dragon screen. In China the number 9 is seen as lucky as it's the largest single digit number. There are 9 forms of the dragon and each has 9 children. The dragon is one of the 12 zodiac animals of China, as you can imagine more babies are born during this year than any other. The year is only one aspect of the zodiac which represents how you or others view yourself, you also have your inner animal depending on what time of the year you were born and the secret animal depending on what hour. The inner animal is said to represent what motivates a person whilst the secret animal represents a persons true personality. So without consulting an astrologer does this sound like anyone you know.
Year: Snake - Deep thinker, wise, mystic, graceful, soft-spoken, sensual, creative, prudent, shrewd, ambitious, elegant, cautious, responsible, calm, strong, constant, purposeful. Can be loner, bad communicator, possessive, hedonistic, self-doubting, distrustful, mendacious
Month: Rat - Forthright, disciplined, systematic, meticulous, charismatic, hardworking, industrious, charming, eloquent, sociable, shrewd. Can be manipulative, selfish, obstinate, critical, over-ambitious, ruthless, intolerant, scheming.
Hour: Snake - Deep thinker, wise, mystic, graceful, soft-spoken, sensual, creative, prudent, shrewd, ambitious, elegant, cautious, responsible, calm, strong, constant, purposeful. Can be loner, bad communicator, possessive, hedonistic, self-doubting, distrustful, mendacious
Quite ironic as I really don't like snakes
Above and below photos from the city wall
In China there is construction everywhere, the road outside our hotel was no exception. I have to give them credit though they did wait until night before digging up the road. This though was road works old fashioned style, using pick axes. They even let me have a go but I don't think I helped much. The police not wanting to miss out on the action drove straight through the middle of it all in their golf buggy,
Highlights: Checking out China's banking history and doing my bit for Chinese infrastructure
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