The Pingyao ancient city wall, by it ancient, the grand graceful bearing stands erect on the Jinzhong plain. the Pingyao ancient city wall, builds in 827-782 B.C. Zhou Xuanwang time. "the Pingyao County annals" record, the Western Zhou Dynasty senior general Yin jeep, permitted once to be stationed in the soldier strictly in this. the bright Hongwu three years (in 1370), stemming from the military defense's need, expands in the original Western Zhou Dynasty old city foundation for today's bricks and stones city wall. This county, during bright, clear two generations of 500 remaining years of life, repairs the deer velvet 26 times successively. the multiple repair, causes the Pingyao ancient city wall to be day by day firm, to be magnificent. Pingyao ancient city wall, city pool delivering in person square shape, slightly easterly southing. East, west, north three line cut-offs, only then south the wall moves toward windingly along the river. City wall perimeter 6157.7 meters (12.3 Chinese miles), wall high 6-10 rice; Outside the wall builds protects the moat, the depth, the wide each 1 ten feet. The city gate altogether has 6, outside various city gates once supposed the hanging bridge, on the enceinte of city gate builds the double-eaved roof to rest the summit tower over a city gate; All around respectively has watchtower one; Four sides the wall, every other 60 meters, build view watch tower one, in the entire city wall altogether has 72 view watch towers. The fable, in the city wall has crenel 3000, present watch tower 72, are according to Confucius's disciple 3000, talented person 72 digit constructs. The folk, people act according to the horizon layout, has “the turtle city” the name, the Pingyao city wall, in the wall the earth fill ramming, the circumference blue brickwork binds, crown paving brick draining water, the city wall four jiao, construct the watchtower respectively, the southeast also construct god of literature building one. the Pingyao city wall, the thing is equipped with city gate two, each city gate highlights outside the wall, inside and outside has two, assumes the jar shape. Because the enceinte of city gate altogether has 6, this formation “turtle city” saying. The people thought: North and south two, the tail, east the Xisi gate looks like four feet likely. Nanmen, inside and outside two go nonstop to, testudo elephantopus's forehead stretches out outward, just right Nanmenwai has two water wells, the people explain two water wells for the turtle eye. North gate entrance door shape to east curving, also resembles east the turtle tail to fling. East the Xisi gate, is curving to head's direction, just likes turtle four foot crawling separately.