Ten vloggers from eight countries explore the birthplace of Shanxi merchant culture

Ten international vloggers from eight countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia, and France, visited Jinzhong city in Shanxi province to explore the birthplace of Shanxi merchant culture and experience intangible cultural heritage skills on Wednesday.

It was a part of the five-day event - the "Discovering Shanxi's Ancient Chinese Architecture — Overseas Media and Students Tour", which kicked off on Tuesday in Taiyuan.

Shanxi merchants, also known as Jin merchants, rose to prominence during the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911) through commercial activities such as salt trading and the operation of draft banks.

At that time, their business extended across the entire nation and even reached overseas markets.

"The preservation of ancient architecture in Shanxi is remarkable," said French vlogger Mathieu Mylene, who was on her fourth trip to Shanxi. "Each visit leaves a deep impression on me, and this time, I also got to experience the Shanxi merchant culture."

The vloggers strolled through the Pingyao Ancient City — a UNESCO World Heritage site — which stands as China's most exceptionally preserved ancient county, as well as the Shuanglin Temple.

They also visited China's first draft bank, Rishengchang, which was established in 1823.

"It's incredible to witness the origins of China's draft bank and financial systems," said vlogger Michael Rhys Card from the United Kingdom. "The concept behind the coded drafts from centuries ago is remarkably consistent with today's credit card systems."

At the Pingyao Lacquer Art Museum, the vloggers tried their hand at polishing lacquerware, a national intangible cultural heritage.

Indonesian vlogger Veldesen Yaputra marveled, "The dedication of the artisans, who spent five years completing a single artwork like Arhat Painting, is truly admirable. Even the simple act of polishing made me appreciate the painstaking effort behind such craftsmanship."

On Thursday, the group visited the Wang Family Compound, renowned as "the premier residential complex of traditional Chinese homes".

The expansive Qing-dynasty architectural complex blends the grandeur of northern styles with the delicacy of southern designs, showcasing the residential culture and life wisdom of Shanxi merchant families.

During the following trip, the vloggers will further explore Linfen and Yuncheng, where they will delve into the unique artistic language of Shanxi's ancient architecture through various activities, such as intangible cultural heritage experiences, visits to historical sites, and cultural salons, focusing on elements like dougong (bracket sets), painted sculptures, carvings, glazed tiles, and murals.

Ding Yi contributed to this story.