Platform performers march into the viewing area at the "She Huo" Festival in Jinzhong, Shanxi Province, Feb. 6, 2012. [Photo: China.org.cn]

Shanxi's tourism marvels

On our trip, we also were fortunate to visit some of the region's biggest tourist draws, such the UNESCO Heritage Site Pingyao Ancient City.

Situated in central Shanxi province about a three hour drive from Yuci, Pingyao has been a UNESCO site since 1997. First constructed in 1370 during the Ming Dynasty, Pingyao later gained fame as China's first banking center. Our group toured the city's famous Rishengchang bank, first opened by the Li family more than 200 years ago. The bank served as a main financial center during the late Qing dynasty. One interesting fact is only male workers under 18 were recruited to become bank tellers. Also, the accountant's office and bank manager's office were both equipped with tea rooms in order to welcome business partners and guests.

The city is also well known for its well preserved city wall, which is similar in style to the wall surrounding Xi'an but differs in that no modern buildings are contained inside. Our tour guide explained that even though Pingyao is a tourist attraction, many local residents, including many shop and restaurant owners actually still live within the old city walls.

In Jinzhong, we also visited the Jinzhong Mingle Eco-Garden, set up as an eco-tourism site. Touring the facility, we saw a number of sights that I wouldn't have imagined seeing in central Shanxi: An 8000-sm bird exhibit, which featured peacocks, ostriches, cranes, and 44 kinds of other exotic fowl. There was also a fishing pond where tourists could catch fish, and a hands-on farm where visitors could pick their own fruits and vegetables.

Perhaps the center's star attraction is its horses. The park maintains at least 50 horses in its stables, which are raised for carriage rides, visitor horseback riding and also for equestrian competitions. Our group got a glimpse of the action as we saw some of the local professionals practicing their horse jumping in the park's arena.

山西旅游胜地

此次旅行，我们还有幸游览了山西地区最大的旅游胜地，例如联合国教科文组织世界文化遗产平遥古城。

平遥古城位于山西省中部，离榆次大约三公里车程，古城于1997年被列入联合国教科文组织世界文化遗产名录。平遥古城始建于西周，并于明洪武三年（1370年）扩建，距今已有2000多年历史。古城后来成为中国最早的金融中心。我们参观游览了平遥有名的日升昌票号，该票号最初是由其财东李大全在200多年前创建的。日升昌在清朝末年发展壮大为中国主要的金融机构。关于日升昌，很有趣的一个细节是，票号雇佣的伙计都是18岁以下的男性。此外，票号会计和经理的办公处都设有专门的茶房，以便接待商业伙伴和客户。

平遥古城也因其保存完好的古城墙而闻名于世，其古城墙与陕西西安的城墙风格相近，但城墙内没有任何现代建筑。导游告诉我们，尽管平遥已发展为旅游景区，当地很多居民、包括很多商铺和餐馆的老板仍然住在古城墙内。

我们还游览了晋中明乐生态庄园，一个生态旅游的乐园。在那里看到的不少景象令我感到出乎意外——一座占地8000平方米的百鸟园，里面有孔雀、鸵鸟、冠鹤及其他44种珍奇异鸟。庄园里还有一个垂钓馆供游客钓鱼之乐，另有一个采摘园，游客可以在那里采摘当地出产的水果和蔬菜。

马或许是庄园最靓丽的名片。庄园的马厩里至少饲养着50匹马，可用于马拉车观光游、骑乘、以及马术比赛。我们看到当地专业马术队的一些队员正在训练马匹跳跃。