An ancient finance hub shines after its golden era

Qixian county's ancient city is a story of faded glory - one that's perhaps set to stage a revival as tourists discover its ancient allure.

It was once a quadrant of North China's most prosperous banking cluster.

But the settlement has been all but forgotten by outsiders. That's partly because the neighboring ancient town of Pingyao's early and advanced tourism development left Qixian in its shadow.