The ancient town of Pingyao is under threat from tourism boom and commercialization. In the 17 years since the 2,700-year-old town was added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List, it has seen tourism develop at a meteoric pace, with its tourism revenue growing from 12.5 million yuan (2.04 million U.S. dollars) in 1997 to 5.416 billion yuan in 2013. Many tourists complain that the ancient town is losing its serenity and unique style. …READ MORE
