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Unique urban design showcases diverse cultures of Africa and China

CGTN

With unique urban planning and architectural styles, Ethiopia's Harar and China's Pingyao are two ancient cities inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. For hundreds of years, they have served as important regional centers in terms of trade and culture, preserving a large number of cultural relics in both countries.

A view of the ancient town of Harar in eastern Ethiopia. /IC
A view of the ancient town of Harar in eastern Ethiopia. /IC

A view of the ancient town of Harar in eastern Ethiopia. /IC

A view of the ancient city of Harar in eastern Ethiopia. /IC
A view of the ancient city of Harar in eastern Ethiopia. /IC

A view of the ancient city of Harar in eastern Ethiopia. /IC

A view of the ancient city of Harar in eastern Ethiopia. /IC
A view of the ancient city of Harar in eastern Ethiopia. /IC

A view of the ancient city of Harar in eastern Ethiopia. /IC

The ancient walled city of Harar sits on a plateau in eastern Ethiopia. It is considered one of the four holy cities for Muslims and has 82 mosques, three of which date back to the 10th century. Its current urban layout dates from the 16th century and features numerous narrow alleys and townhouses with exceptional interior design. In addition to serving as an Islamic cultural center from the 16th to the 19th centuries, it was also a famous trading center for commodities such as coffee and grass weaving products. It was declared a World Heritage Site in 2006.

A view of the ancient city of Pingyao in north China's Shanxi Province. /IC
A view of the ancient city of Pingyao in north China's Shanxi Province. /IC

A view of the ancient city of Pingyao in north China's Shanxi Province. /IC

A view of the ancient city of Pingyao in north China's Shanxi Province. /IC
A view of the ancient city of Pingyao in north China's Shanxi Province. /IC

A view of the ancient city of Pingyao in north China's Shanxi Province. /IC

A view of the ancient city of Pingyao in north China's Shanxi Province. /IC
A view of the ancient city of Pingyao in north China's Shanxi Province. /IC

A view of the ancient city of Pingyao in north China's Shanxi Province. /IC

Located in north China's Shanxi Province, the ancient city of Pingyao was founded in the 14th century. It is the best-preserved ancient county seat in China, with a vast complex of ramparts, shops, streets, temples, and residential buildings. Its urban design is typical of Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasty planning, reflecting some of the popular concepts of the time, such as symmetry and hierarchy. Notably, it is home to China's first modern bank and played a key role in promoting the circulation of money and the development of industry and commerce in the 19th and 20th centuries. It became a World Heritage Site in 1997.

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