Pingyao City Wall top at sunset

The top of the Pingyao city wall above the South Gate, known as Yingxun Gate, offers one of the best sunset vantage points in Pingyao Ancient City, Jinzhong, Shanxi, China. The Ming-dynasty rampart is wide enough for several people to walk side by side, with crenellated parapets, watchtowers and corner bastions at intervals. Walking west from the South Gate, visitors look inward across a sea of grey-tiled courtyard roofs, narrow lanes and chimneys, and outward over fields and modern surroundings. As the sun drops, the light turns the roofs gold and then pink, and lanterns in the old town begin to glow. Access is included in the Pingyao combined ticket, so there is no extra charge. A typical visit lasts 45 minutes to an hour, which allows a leisurely stroll and time to wait for the best light. The final hour before the ticketed sites close is the best window, and the wall is generally calmer then than in the middle of the day. Photographers use the corner towers for composition and a long lens to compress the rooftops. The route is part of a longer loop of about 6 km around the wall, though most visitors walk only a section. In summer, the sun sets late, so visitors should check closing times at the ticket office and descend before the gates close. Bring a light layer, since the exposed top is windy in the evening.