Architectural restoration in China is not so much about ‘dusting off’ and preserving the old original. It often means to tear old buildings down and build new ones according to traditional methods and standards. The magic of this system lies in the knowledge - even in today's modern China - of ancient handicrafts. Pingyao is one of the cities being 'restored'.
A scripture on architecture dating back to the Tang dynasty (618-907) describes into detail how wood should be treated, measured and prepared for the complex roof structures, how stone should be dealt with and what the building standards are for each single step of erecting a traditional building. For ages and ages traditional architecture is executed in exactly the same way, until today.
