The traffic network of the ancient city of Pingyao is composed of four main streets, eight small streets and seventy-two winding alleys.

South Street is the central axis of the ancient city of Pingyao, starting from the junction of East and West Street in the north, reaching the Dadongmen (Yingxun Gate) in the south, running through the north and south with the ancient market building, on both sides of the street, the time-honored brands and traditional famous shops stand in a forest, it is the most prosperous traditional commercial street, and the South Street controls more than 50% of the financial institutions in the country during the Qing Dynasty. It is known as China's "Waltz Street".

West Street, starting from the West Gate (Fengyi Gate) in the west, intersects at the north end of East and South Street, and forms a straight main street with East Street. The famous China's first ticket number, Rishengchang, was born in the West Street of the ancient city and is known as the "first financial street of the Qing Dynasty".

The Rishengchang ticket number was founded in the fourth year of Daoguang (1824 AD), the site covers an area of 2,324 square meters, the land is compact, and the functions are distinct. A hundred years of vicissitudes, brilliant performance, the national financial bull's ear, the precedent of China's national banking industry, and once manipulated the economic lifeline of the entire Qing Dynasty in the 19th century. Its branches are located in more than 30 cities and commercial ports across the country, as far as Europe, America, Southeast Asia and other countries, and are famous for "connecting the world". After the establishment of the Rishengchang ticket number, Jiexiu, Taigu, and Qi counties competed to follow suit.

East Street, from the east to the East Gate (Qinhan Gate), the west and the north end of the South Street intersect, and the West Street is a straight main street.

North Street, north from the north gate (arch gate), south to the middle of West Street.

The eight small streets and 72 winding alleys have their own origins, and some are named after nearby buildings or eye-catching signs, such as Yamen Street, Shuyuan Street, Xuechang Lane, Helanqiao Lane, Flagpole Street, Sanyanjing Street, Zhaobi South Street, Xiaochayuan Lane, etc.; Some are named after ancestral temples, such as Confucian Temple Street, Chenghuang Temple Street, Luohan Temple Street, Huoshen Temple Street, Guandi Temple Street, Zhenwu Temple Street, Wudao Temple Street, etc.; Some are named after local large households, such as Zhaojuren Street, Leijiayuan Street, Song Menghuai Lane, Yanjia Lane, Jijia Lane, Guojia Lane, Fanjia Street, Shaojia Lane, Majia Lane, etc.; In the northeast corner of the ancient city, there is a relatively closed city within a city, similar to the square in the ancient city, and the four nearby streets are also named East Wall View Fort, Middle Wall View Fort, West Wall View Fort and Fort Outer Street; There are also some streets and alleys where the origin of the name can no longer be explored, such as Renyi Street, Sweet Water Lane, Bean Sprout Street, Huludou Belly Lane, etc.

The ancient city dwellings of Pingyao are mainly wooden structure courtyards with brick walls and tile roofs, with rigorous layout, symmetrical left and right, and orderly dignity and humility. The big families built two-entry, three-entry courtyards and even larger courtyards, which were mostly separated by richly decorated hanging flower gates. Most of the houses are exquisitely decorated, the entrance door is usually built with brick carving according to the wall, the beam under the eaves has wood carving birds, and the pillar base, door post, and stone drum are mostly decorated with stone carving.

There is a popular saying among the people: "Ten Monsters of the Ancient City of Pingyao", one of which is "half of the house is covered." The reason why most of the Pingyao dwellings fall into the water in the single slope, the most widely spread saying is called "four water return to the church" or "the fertilizer water does not flow into the field of outsiders", Shanxi is located in the drought, and the wind and sand are larger, the house is built into a single slope, can increase the height of the outer wall of the house facing the street, and the street does not open the window, it can effectively resist the wind and sand and improve the safety factor. The compact layout of the courtyard shows the national character of external exclusion and internal cohesion.