Ping Yao 
The streets of Ping Yao have many tall walls that were once the status symbols of the wealthy. These particular Walls surround china's first Bank-like financial institution, The Ri Sheng Chang Piao Hao. This bank opened its doors in 1823 and specialized in the transfer of gold and silver currency and ended the history of armed escorts transporting gold on foot. At the time all money transfer slips were all hand written by bankers who hade to pas strict tests before they could work at the piao hao.
Gu ming: Is this a voucher from 鈥淩i sheng Chang?鈥
Banker: This is a money transfer slip; it was written here at the Ping Yao branch of Ri Sheng Chang
Gu ming: It was written right here?
Banker: Whoever owned this voucher deposited money here, silver, at the time people used silver currency
Gu: how much silver was deposited?
B: hold on, let鈥檚 open it up and find out, the destination of this money transfer was to the Ri Sheng Chang, Beijing Branch. There was 66000 鈥渓iang鈥 of silver
Gu: Really? That much money?
B: On the 15th year of the Emperor Dao Guang鈥檚 reign, on the fifteenth of May, this money was deposited for transfer to Beijing. The unfortunate part about this silver is that it was never withdrawn.
G: it was never withdrawn? Could I get it now?
B; Now? Sorry, this 鈥淧iao Hao鈥 bank went out of business 70 years ago, in 1931.
The architecture of this building is beautifully preserved, and many of the old burglar alarm systems are still in place, yet the security here isn't nearly as high as it used to be, and tourists can now move freely through this old financial institution. The Ri Sheng Chang Piao Hao kept much of its currency in underground vaults, one of which has been found. Other Vaults are rumored to be under the courtyard, but they have yet to be unearthed.
