Pingyao County Government Office (Yamen)

平遥县衙

A complete county government office first built during the Yuan dynasty and expanded during the Ming and Qing. It has the six departments, main hall, second hall, prison and garden. Its lively “County Magistrate Holds Court” performance is entertaining.

The Pingyao County Yamen lies on Yamen Street in the old town. Although the site dates back to the Northern Wei dynasty, the surviving buildings were constructed gradually from 1346, the sixth year of the Zhizheng reign of the Yuan dynasty. It is one of the best-preserved ancient county government offices in China. It covers 26,000 square meters. Along the central axis are the government gate, ceremonial gate, six departments, main hall, residence gate, second hall, inner residence and Daxian Tower. On the east side are the Earth God Shrine, grain hall and garden. On the west side are the prison, offices and the Dudu Office. The main hall, “Hall of Kindness to the People,” is where cases were tried. The character 民 (min, “people”) on the plaque has an extra dot, symbolizing a greater closeness to the people. The couplet at the second hall gate, “Only by having a bond with the people does one come here; may one's conscience be clear and never betray the people,” is often quoted by visitors. In the prison area, visitors can see Qing dynasty death-row cells and torture equipment. The Daxian Tower, which houses a fox spirit, is a distinctive feature of the yamen. Several times daily, live reenactments of “The County Magistrate Holds Court” take place in front of the main hall (around 10:30 and 15:30, with extra shows on public holidays), and visitors can watch and take part. A visit takes about 1 to 1.5 hours. It lies in the southeast of the old city alongside the Confucian Temple and City God Temple, so the three can form a half-day itinerary. Admission is included in the old town pass. Tips: Check the schedule on site and arrive 10 minutes early to secure a spot. The courtyards are deep, so beat the summer heat. The prison area is dimly lit.

Pingyao County Government Office (Yamen)

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