The Ancient City of Pingyao in Shanxi Province was draped in silver following heavy snowfall there on December 11.
Pingyao boasts a well-preserved urban landscape from the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. The ancient city is home to more than 300 cultural relics and nearly 4,000 traditional architectures. Of special interest are some of the imposing buildings associated with banking, evidence that Pingyao was once a major financial center in north China in the 19th and early 20th centuries.