"The regulations for preserving Pingyao Ancient City explicitly emphasize the importance of safeguarding the daily lives of the residents."

Over the past decades, efforts have been made not only to preserve the cultural heritage of Pingyao Ancient City but also to develop it sustainably.

"We can see the ancient city has been doing well. The key is to continuously improve the living environment and preserve and restore old houses while continuing to develop emerging industries, especially cultural creative industries, such as those regarding photography and film, for example," Li says.

"Our goal is to breathe new life into this ancient city, to continue its history and to pass on its culture."