Town in Shanxi, China
Pingyao for solo travelers
Is Pingyao good for solo travel?
China's best-preserved walled Ming-Qing town: courtyard inns, banks and lanes inside a 6 km wall, a UNESCO site. Beautiful and atmospheric, but small, touristy by day and bitterly cold in winter.
Solo travel at a glance
| Solo travel | 4/5 · Very good for solo travel |
|---|---|
| Locals | Friendly |
| English | Rare |
| Safety | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Solo women | Very comfortable for solo women. The town is small, busy and well lit. |
How to meet people in Pingyao
Courtyard inns with shared courtyards and host dinners, bike rides along the wall, and photography groups. Mostly Chinese visitors; a few foreign backpackers.
Good things to do alone
- Walk the 6 km city wall at dusk
- Stay in a restored courtyard inn
- Visit the Rishengchang draft bank
- Eat Pingyao beef and noodles
- Wander the lantern-lit lanes after dark
Where to stay in Pingyao
| Area | Good for |
|---|---|
| Within the walls, South Street | Courtyard inns, shops and the main tourist lanes |
| Northeast quarter near the wall | Quieter courtyards and fewer day-trippers |
| New town outside the walls | Cheaper hotels and shops; less atmosphere |
Solo travel across China
| Place | Solo | English |
|---|---|---|
| Chengdu | 5/5 | Limited |
| Beijing | 4/5 | Limited |
| Shanghai | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Xi'an | 4/5 | Limited |
| Chongqing | 4/5 | Limited |
| Hangzhou | 4/5 | Limited |
| Yangshuo | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Lijiang | 4/5 | Limited |
| Xiamen | 4/5 | Limited |
| Dali | 4/5 | Limited |
| Huangshan | 4/5 | Limited |
| Kunming | 4/5 | Limited |
| Qingdao | 4/5 | Limited |
| Nanjing | 4/5 | Limited |
| Changsha | 4/5 | Limited |
| Pingyao | 4/5 | Rare |
| Dunhuang | 4/5 | Rare |
| Guilin | 3/5 | Limited |
| Shenzhen | 3/5 | Limited |
| Guangzhou | 3/5 | Limited |
| Zhangjiajie | 3/5 | Rare |
| Suzhou | 3/5 | Limited |
| Harbin | 3/5 | Limited |
| Sanya | 3/5 | Limited |
| Lhasa | 3/5 | Rare |
| Shangri-La | 3/5 | Rare |
| Jiuzhaigou | 3/5 | Rare |
| Kashgar | 3/5 | Rare |
| Wuhan | 3/5 | Limited |
| Tianjin | 3/5 | Limited |
Quick answers
Is Pingyao good for solo travelers?
Very good for solo travel (4/5). China's best-preserved walled Ming-Qing town: courtyard inns, banks and lanes inside a 6 km wall, a UNESCO site.
How do you meet people in Pingyao?
Courtyard inns with shared courtyards and host dinners, bike rides along the wall, and photography groups. Mostly Chinese visitors; a few foreign backpackers. On SoloSquare you can also join small plans with other travelers who are there now.
Do people speak English in Pingyao?
Rare.
Is Pingyao safe for solo female travelers?
Very comfortable for solo women. The town is small, busy and well lit.
More about Pingyao
Going to Pingyao solo?
SoloSquare is where travelers, nomads and locals in Pingyao meet up for small plans: coffee, dinners, walks and day trips. Join one, or start your own in a minute.
Sources
Ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.