Pingyao Relocates Its Dwellers to Conserve World Cultural Heritage

THE Chinese film Raise the Red Lantern made the Qiao family courtyard where it was shot into a famous tourism destination. There are over 4,000 such siheyuan (family courtyards surrounded by rooms) in the ancient city of Pingyao, just a few dozen kilometers away. It was only when the film went on release that the owners of these properties became aware of their architectural and cultural value, and it was Zhang Yimou's film of ten years