THE CITY WALL AT PINGYAO IS LIT UP FOR CHINESE NEW YEAR, 2002-02-09 (photo)

The city wall surrounding the ancient city of Pingyao in Shanxi province is lit up to celebrate the Lunar Chinese New Year, the Year of the Horse, February 9, 2002. Pingyao, a thriving merchant town and China's financial headquarters 200 years ago during the Qing dynasty, is surrounded by a completely intact 6km-long and 450-year-old Ming dynasty era city wall. The city, which dates back 2,700 years, has preserved most of its Ming and Qing dynasty houses and streets. It was inscribed as a UNESCO World heritage Site in 1997. REUTERS/Andrew Wong ASW