Pingyao Ancient City is bounded by an intact city wall, gates access the old town at various points in the east, west, north and south. The Ancient City Wall is a good place to start the tour. It was constructed nearly 3,000 years ago, and at present it still keeps the original appearance of the city wall renovated in the early Ming Dynasty which is several hundred years ago. The contruction method is simply but delicate. Its circumference is about 6,163 meters, with a height at 6 to 10 meters.

The old town's main drag is Nan Dajie, also known as 'Ming-and-Qing-Dynasties Ancient Street', is the central axis of Pingyao Ancient City. During the Ming and Qing dynasties (1367–1912), Nan Dajie (South Street) controlled more than half of the financial institutions in China and was known as the 'China’s Wall Street' of that period. Now it is still the most prosperous place in Pingyao.

Pingyao Confucius Temple is the earliest built and the best preserved of its kind in China. It has an exhibition showing the history and development of ancient China' imperial examination system. Other precious relics on display include ancient civil officials' costumes and accessories and the examination paper of a number one scholar.