People watch pictures displayed at a photograph exhibition held in Pingyao, an ancient city of north China's Shanxi Province September 19, 2009.(Xinhua/Yan Yan)

"We are here to see different styles of photos and find interesting photographers that we don't know for now," said James Dooley, who has a stand in the exhibition.

Often dubbed as the Wall Street of ancient China, Pingyao is the birthplace of China's banking industry. As early as 1824, China's first bank - Rishengchang was established here.

Picture shows the opening ceremony of the photograph exhibition held in Pingyao, an ancient city of north China's Shanxi Province September 19, 2009.(Xinhua/Fan Minda)

Across the 19th century, the city had 22 banks with 400 branches all over the country. The first bankers built luxurious houses, many of which are now turned into folk style inns with distinct cultural and historical features of Ming and Qing Dynasties.

"We love the place. There are artworks everywhere, so rich and exotic," said Bryan from Melbourne.

The ancient city has 3,797 traditional houses, 400 of which remain intact today, including Rishengchang and some other banks. The 12-meter high adobe wall protecting the city extends 6.4 kilometers, protecting the 2.25-square-kilometer heritage city of 35,000 people.

(Xinhua News Agency September 20, 2009)