Pingyao Ancient City from Xi'an

Pingyao is the best-preserved Ming and Qing walled town in China, and a UNESCO site since 1997. Its six-kilometre wall still wraps a grid of courtyard houses, temples and the old banks that made Shanxi's merchants rich, including Rishengchang, often called China's first bank. From Xi'an North, bullet trains reach Pingyao Ancient City station in about 2.5 to 3 hours, so a long day trip is possible. Walking the streets is free; the 22 paid sites, including the wall, the county government office and Rishengchang, share one ¥125 pass that stays valid for three days. Honestly, most visitors find a single day rushed. If you can, stay one night in a courtyard guesthouse, see the lanterns after dark and climb the wall at sunrise before heading on to Taiyuan or Beijing, or back to Xi'an.