Xingcheng Ancient City

Xingcheng Ancient Town has a very long history. It was called Ningyuan Ancient Town in the Ming Dynasty. It is said to be one of the four best-preserved ancient towns from the Ming Dynasty in my country. It is on par with Pingyao Ancient Town and Xi'an Ancient Town. However… if you have been to Pingyao Ancient Town, Lijiang Ancient Town, or even a less famous ancient town… they are all much more beautiful and charming than this one! If you have been to the Xi'an City Wall or the Nanjing City Wall, you really don't even want to see this ancient city wall… In fact, some of the buildings in the ancient town are quite unique. The bell and drum towers and the city gate towers are quite beautiful. However, the city is basically unplanned and all natural and wild. People always complain about Lijiang and Pingyao being too commercialized, but it is better than this one being too primitive and dilapidated. Why not make good use of such a good tourist resource? Some inns and snack shops have their own decorated storefronts, which are also very beautiful. I hope that this place will be well planned and developed in the near future.

A bell and drum tower stands in the city's center, and the main east-west and north-south roads serve as a central axis, dividing the city into four smaller sections, each interconnected by smaller streets and alleys. Today, the people of Xingcheng are working tirelessly to restore this ancient city. While its imitation is not the same as its original, it remains one of the four best-preserved Ming Dynasty cities in China.



Entrance to the ancient city is free, so you can buy tickets for only the attractions you're interested in. You can also buy a package ticket that covers all the attractions, which is cheaper than buying them individually.

As one of the four ancient cities, Xingcheng Ancient City may not be well known to everyone. As a frontier fortress of the Ming Dynasty, it was burned down after being captured by the Qing army. What you see now is the later reconstruction. It is good to learn about the history of the Ming and Qing wars. There is not much to see in it except for buildings and exhibition halls, but the night view is still quite amazing.

The ancient city is very large, but it is not yet fully developed and has a strong atmosphere of life.

I'm sitting at Xingcheng Railway Station, preparing to leave. I've visited all ten ancient cities, except Langzhong. Xingcheng is the least pristine, with mostly concrete buildings, and everything but the city walls is modern. After all, what remains of Ningyuan City after Wu Sangui burned it down? I'm just here to commemorate ancient Ningyuan City.

This is a picture of the ancient city lantern festival on the 15th day of the first lunar month in 2019

Friends who want to travel to Xingcheng can follow me

I visited Xingcheng Ancient City, a place I'd always wanted to visit. Perhaps because it was winter, the city was deserted, with only the occasional tour group. It was a perfect time to stroll the ancient streets, listening to and feeling the polished tiles, while the gray walls told stories of the past.

A small town that still retains its original appearance with basically no extensive renovation.

Specialty, handmade peanut candy, better than Shanhaiguan.

I bought peanut candy everywhere, drank a big white pear, a few scratch-off tickets, and two wire-wrapped figurine keychains. Haha, I had a great time strolling around, but I didn't buy anything serious. Oh, and I also had a plate of fried chicken and stinky tofu. Don't eat it if you go there... It was so awful that it made the salt seller choke.

Ningyuan is the smallest of the three, so a visit alone isn't worth it; it's wise to check it out as a side trip. The central main street is lined with shops, and the ancient city's tourism culture is quite rudimentary. While commercialism is prevalent, it retains a sense of local life. Within the ancient city, there are several attractions to visit, including the Ji-Liao Military Governor's Mansion and the Confucian Temple. Those interested in late Ming and early Qing history will undoubtedly be familiar with Ningyuan's history. During the Ningyuan Rebellion, Wu Sangui, the Liaodong General, visited Ningyuan while defending Shanhaiguan, proving this small city still has a place in the late Ming dynasty. The gentle breeze beneath the city walls is incredibly pleasant, and the city can be explored in just an hour.

The ancient city of the scenic area is well preserved. The city is like a rural market. The Ji Liao Du Shi Mansion is not bad.

Xingcheng Ancient City is the famous Ningyuan Guard, where Yuan Chonghuan once severely wounded Nurhaci with a single cannon shot. The Ming and Qing dynasties fought numerous battles here, and "Ningyuan City tells half the history of the Ming and Qing dynasties." Xingcheng Ancient City is one of the four best-preserved Ming Dynasty ancient cities in my country.

There are many attractions in the ancient city, including the Bell and Drum Tower, Ji-Liao Military Governor's Mansion, Xingcheng Confucian Temple, Ningyuan Post Station and Yanhui Street.

It's not interesting, it's commercialized, pearls are quite cheap, you can dig pearls on site, and string bracelets for free

A wencheng (barbican) can be seen on the city walls. Unlike Shanhaiguan and Jiayuguan, this barbican is semicircular rather than square, and its gates are not aligned with the city walls. This barbican once played a significant role. It is said that when the armies led by Nurhaci and Huang Taiji attacked Ningyuan City, they were fiercely attacked from within the barbican, suffering heavy losses. Today, all four gates of Xingcheng Ancient City still retain their barbican.

The ancient city isn't large, but it's one of the three most famous, along with Pingyao. I entered through the East Gate and bought a 100-yuan ticket. I first went up to the Drum Tower for a view, then saw Yuan Chenghuan's Grand Tutor's Mansion from West Street. I continued to the West Gate and climbed the city wall. I followed the wall to the North Gate, then to the City God Temple. Then, I walked along South Street to the Confucian Temple and the General's Mansion, finally reaching the South Gate. This completed a unique circuit of the city. At the farmers' market at the South Gate, you can buy seafood and have it processed nearby. I arrived at the South Gate market in the afternoon, but there weren't as many seafood options as I'd expected. I brought my seafood with me, and found a restaurant just outside the market where it was processed. The total cost was 50 yuan for processing and 300 yuan for the seafood.

The seafood was quickly prepared and served. The quality and craftsmanship weren't as refined as those found in coastal Guangdong restaurants. A family at the next table joined us, pointing to a plate of crabs and shrimp on their table. They said they'd been ripped off, too, and shook their heads.

The management, development and environment of the ancient city are slightly inadequate, and are far behind Pingyao Ancient City.

You can enter the city freely; it's free. The entire city has always been residential, and most of the houses are quite run-down. Perhaps the local authorities don't allow for tall or new buildings. The street through the South Gate is the busiest, but the goods sold there are relatively low-end. The peanut cakes are good, though.

You need a ticket to visit the attractions, and I bought a combined pass. As someone who read "Five Thousand Years of Chinese History" in elementary school and "A Critical Biography of Yuan Chonghuan" in middle school, climbing the city wall and seeing the red-coated cannons was quite thrilling. Regardless of recent criticisms of Yuan Chonghuan, he at least had the courage to stand up to the most powerful enemy of his time. If Ming officials could do this, how could the Ming Dynasty fall?

The Drum Tower is the tallest building in the city, from which you can see the whole city; the Ji-Liao Governor's Mansion is very large and introduces the history of that year; you can just take a quick look around the Confucian Temple and the General's Mansion; the Ningyuan Post Station is very beautiful inside and should be newly built.

Also, there's a City God Temple in the north of the city. Don't go there. The Taoist priests there will tell your fortune and ask you to donate money. It's really rude. I think it's better to be cautious when entering temples and Taoist temples in tourist attractions.

All in all, friends who are interested in history can go and have a look, but if you go there purely for tourism, you may be a little disappointed.

The night view is really nice, very suitable for taking photos....

The ancient city is square in shape, with a drum tower in the center and four gates. This allowed observation of enemy activity from the four gates, allowing troops to be mobilized for mutual support using flag signals. To this day, a large flag bearing the Chinese character "Yuan" (Yuan) inscribed on it by General Yuan Chonghuan still flies over the city walls.

Xingcheng Ancient Town is relatively undeveloped, with residents still living there. Compared to other ancient towns like Pingyao and Lijiang, it still has a vibrant, urban feel. Also, in winter, get off work hours tend to end early, with many attractions closing around 3:00 PM. This is important to note, but if you're not entering any of the attractions, you can wander around the town at any time. Xingcheng Ancient Town offers a general admission ticket and individual attraction tickets. The general admission ticket is 100 yuan per person, while the Ji-Liao Commander-in-Chief's Mansion is 50 yuan per person, the city wall is 20 yuan per person, the Confucian Temple is 30 yuan per person, the Bell and Drum Tower is 15 yuan per person, the General's Mansion is 20 yuan per person, and the Zhou Family Residence is 10 yuan per person. Xingcheng Ancient Town is relatively small, and a full tour of all its attractions takes 3-4 hours.

I went there in July five years ago. The seaside was still cool, but I was a little tired after driving back and forth for three days.

An ancient Ming Dynasty city that has preserved its original flavor. Most residents still live in it. Although the shops on the South Street of the Bell and Drum Tower are rather messy, most of them are shops from the last century. Many characteristic houses in western Liaoning still remain. You can walk around the city wall. There are also Zhou Family Mansion, Confucian Temple, General's Mansion, Ji-Liao Governor's Mansion, and Bell and Drum Tower to visit. There are relatively few tourists. It's just that motor vehicles are allowed to pass inside, which is annoying and dangerous, and the constant honking of horns is very noisy.

There are relatively few tourists. There is no entrance fee if you don't go up the city wall. The scenic area is not fully developed. The ancient city center is better, but the area around the four gates is a little worse. Some buildings have not been repaired and are a bit shabby. The snacks are okay and relatively affordable.

This ancient city's greatest strength is that it's still inhabited. While there may not be many truly surviving old buildings worth visiting, it's a blessing to know that even a brick and tile has survived, allowing future generations to relive and experience the circumstances and state of mind of the ancients. Particularly impressive are places like the City God Temple and the Confucian Temple. Despite being old buildings, upon entering, a free, voluntary guide quickly introduces you to a Taoist priest, who offers a brief physiognomy reading and commentary before accepting a donation. The process is incredibly streamlined and sophisticated. In ancient buildings that should embody the values of Confucian culture and traditional Chinese art, a group of people, often called Taoists, are making a quick buck! How truly remarkable! I hope local tourism groups and government departments can be more thoughtful. In fact, the more thoughtful you are, the more likely you are to make a fortune!

I don't recommend going there. What's the point of buying something? It's too commercialized, and it's not an artistic street or alley. It's too tacky.

The second stop on our three-day May Day trip, the city wall itself is quite impressive from the outside. I'm not sure if the traces of brickwork are from ancient times, but after walking around it, I didn't feel anything special. While it's quaint, it's also in need of repair. The streets of the ancient city are filled with souvenir shops, leaving behind a distinctly commercial feel. The Ji-Liao Dushi Mansion is a must-see for those interested in history and culture. Tickets to the Ji-Liao Dushi Mansion are 40 yuan per person, which I personally find quite pricey for all the tourist attractions.

Once upon a time, the image of Xingcheng etched in my mind was the boundless sea, the silent and upright statue of the Chrysanthemum Girl, and the simple, ancient appearance of the small town. All of this has changed. After more than two hours of high-speed train travel, it was nearly midnight. My wife and I walked into a seaside fishing inn. Unaccustomed to the deadly silence of the night, she barely slept the entire night. Since she couldn't sleep, at dawn, I dragged her through the fishing village to catch seafood. The shops along the beach outside the Great Wall were already open to customers, but, accustomed to the crystal-clear waters of Southeast Asia, we were disappointed by the gray and fishy waters we saw. Even the lonely statue of the Chrysanthemum Girl beside us had a look of despair on its face. "Let's go to the ancient city." This ancient city, witnessing Yuan Chonghuan's "Ningyuan Victory" and Wu Sangui's "Guan Ning Iron Cavalry," is like Shanhaiguan, a template-like replica, still in a state of "to be continued." But as I touched the weathered body of the Zu Family Archway, a myriad of thoughts suddenly flooded my mind: Back then, General Yuan, a mere scholar, commanded great power, while a mere four-gate city deterred the Later Jin chieftains. His contribution to rebuilding the country was ultimately met with destruction, and the Ming Dynasty itself was not long for its end—the top-down self-destructive mechanism of authoritarian society demonstrated its high efficiency in the late Ming Dynasty. Ji Sun's worries were due to internal strife, and the same is true today.

Average. Not worth going, not really a tourist attraction

Ningyuan was an important defense line against the invasion of ethnic minority regimes in the northeast during the Ming Dynasty. The ancient city is well preserved, but tourism development is not very good. However, this may be the reason why the original ecology is preserved.

Xingcheng Ancient City is one of the top ten ancient cities in China. It is one of the four most complete ancient cities from the Ming Dynasty in my country and the only one with a square acropolis.

--The city wall has four gates in the east, south, west and north, a bell and drum tower in the center of the city, a semicircular city wall outside the gate, and gun emplacements at the four corners of the city wall for mounting red-haired cannons.

--It integrates the five major landscapes of "city, spring, mountain, sea and island" into one, forming the unique charm of the northern coastal scenic tourist area.

The ancient city of Xingcheng is half of the war history of the Ming and Qing Dynasties



Xingcheng Ancient City is the only square acropolis, and is listed as one of the four most complete ancient cities to date, along with Xi'an Ancient City, Jingzhou Ancient City, and Pingyao Ancient City.



It was first built in the third year of the Xuande reign of the Ming Dynasty. It was called Ningyuan Weicheng in the Ming Dynasty and Ningyuan Zhoucheng in the Qing Dynasty. It has a circumference of 3,274 meters, with gates and corner platforms at each corner, and Kuixing Tower in the southeast.



The city's east-west and north-south streets intersect in a cross pattern. The Bell and Drum Tower is in the center, with historical sites such as the Governor's Mansion, the Confucian Temple, the General's Mansion, the Zhou Residence, and the Zu Clan Stone Archway scattered around it.



A historical museum condensed with nearly 600 years, it carries the sediment of all her past experiences from the establishment of a city and county in the Liao Dynasty to the military town in the Ming and Qing Dynasties.

When you go to Ningyuan Ancient City, you must walk on the city wall, see the tower, and see the red cannon, and pay tribute to Yuan Shikai under the big flag.

It's a coastal city where you can go swimming. There's an ancient city there, but it's not big and you can walk around it in no time.

Xingcheng Ancient City is very similar to Pingyao Ancient City, but it does not have as many antique shops as Pingyao and is slightly less commercialized, highlighting the characteristics of an ancient military town.

The ancient city is not big, and it takes only half a day to walk at a snail's pace. The ancient city wall is well preserved and made of stone. The width of the wall is small, which is incomparable to the city walls of Nanjing and Xi'an. The forest of trees in the Confucian Temple is attractive. The General's Mansion is the residence of Gao Rulian, a patriotic general who graduated from the Beiyang Army Academy. The Zhou family's residence is a wealthy family that does business and farming. The big earthen kang is very big. The drum tower and bell tower are integrated and are in the city center. The Ji-Liao Dudu General's Mansion was built when Yuan Chonghuan was ordered to command Ji-Liao and stationed in Ningyuan (Xingcheng) in the late Ming Dynasty. There are performances in the mansion. Ask the time and wait to watch. The buying and selling streets are full of hawking sounds. The children are interested in finger spinners of various styles. The children want to take them home. 😊

The newly built Ningyuan Posthouse in the ancient city showcases a unique example of Ming and Qing dynasty courtyard culture. The investment was substantial, and it's far superior to the Rongguo Mansion in Zhengding, Shijiazhuang, though it's less famous. While Xingcheng Ancient City offers little to see, this courtyard fills a niche in the city's tourism offerings. It's a truly remarkable sight, with its emerald bricks and tiles, expansive courtyards, and vibrant life, showcasing the rich history of the city.

I can't feel the style of the ancient city. It's all filled with commercial business models... The so-called ancient city is just a city wall... I don't recommend it to people who haven't been there...

The pedestrian street in the city is similar to other ancient cities. I like the various gourds. The city wall is worth going up to see the cannons on the city gates and walls, the old houses in the streets, and Shoushan in the east.

Xingcheng Ancient City is one of China's top ten ancient cities and one of the four best-preserved Ming Dynasty cities in my country. It is also the only square-shaped acropolis. Its walls feature four gates, with a bell and drum tower in the center and semicircular urn walls outside the gates. Forts still exist at the four corners of the walls, used to mount red-haired cannons.

There are only a few well-preserved ancient buildings in the ancient city. The biggest highlight is the two stone archways. The attractions worth visiting in the ancient city are the ancient city wall and the General's Mansion.

Xingcheng Ancient City is located in the west of Xingcheng urban area and on the east side of the railway station. The ancient city is well preserved and famous for Yuan Chonghuan and Wu Sangui who defended it against the Qing army. The structure of the ancient city, whether well preserved or rebuilt, is mostly similar (four gates, cross street, snack commercial street and pedestrian street). Xingcheng Ancient City still retains the original appearance of the buildings in the last century, but it looks too shabby for young people. The traffic in the ancient city is a bit chaotic, but fortunately, you don’t need a ticket to enter the ancient city and you can go in and walk around (attractions require tickets and there are combined tickets).

Xingcheng Ancient City is one of China's top ten ancient cities and one of the four best-preserved Ming Dynasty ancient cities in my country. It is located in the heart of the old urban area of Xingcheng City, Liaoning Province, on the west coast of Liaodong Bay, in the middle section of the Liaoxi Corridor. It borders the Bohai Sea to the southeast, Suizhong County to the southwest along the Liugu River, Jianchang County to the northwest, and Huludao City to the northeast. Xingcheng Ancient City is the only square-shaped acropolis with four gates in the east, west, and north. A bell and drum tower stands in the center, and semicircular urn towers stand outside the gates. Forts still remain at the four corners of the city walls, used to mount red-haired cannons. Xingcheng boasts unique tourism resources. Within its 42 square kilometers, it integrates five major landscapes: city, springs, mountains, sea, and islands. These harmonious combinations create a unique charm for this northern coastal scenic tourist destination, attracting millions of Chinese and foreign tourists annually.

I went to Xingcheng on my way to Jinzhou. The ancient city is not very big and can be walked through in about three hours. The area along the way is like a pedestrian street. If you like cultural landscapes, it is okay to go there. But remember, if you are asked to burn incense or something, you have to pay. Don't go. Don't go if it is free. They are all scammers.

The layout, city walls, and Ji-Liao Governor's Office of the Ningyuan Ancient City are well preserved. Walking in the streets of the ancient city, you can seem to feel the loneliness and tragedy of Yuan Chonghuan when he fought against Nurhaci here.

The new buildings in modern Xingcheng are too close to the ancient city.

Having long admired the illustrious reputation of General Yuan, I made a special trip to visit the ancient city of Xingcheng, known as Ningyuan in the Ming Dynasty. It is one of the four best-preserved Ming Dynasty ancient cities in China (the others being Xi'an, Pingyao, and Jingzhou). Ningyuan is a square citadel with a meticulously laid-out layout, featuring four gates in the east, west, south, and north directions.

The day before departure, I happened to see an introduction to China's four ancient cities on TV, and only then did I know that one of them, Ningyuan Ancient City (Xingcheng Ancient City), was actually in Liaoning, so I came up with the route for this trip.

The square citadel of Ningyuan Ancient City is truly unique, and the semicircular Wengcheng further highlights its ingenuity. Walking along the 3,274-meter wall feels like reviewing an army. I particularly enjoyed the stone lions beneath the memorial archway, their bold and powerful carvings creating a striking and majestic presence.

However, the tourism facilities in the entire ancient city are extremely imperfect, and this resource is not well utilized. There are not even corresponding road signs, and the public health construction is even worse, which is a disservice to this civilized ancient city.

The scenery is average, but it has its own characteristics. People who don't like cultural landscapes will find it very boring.

Following online recommendations, I switched the camera mode to nostalgic and black and white. Sure enough, the photos of the ancient city I captured were worlds apart from what I had seen. Xingcheng Ancient City held a significant place in Ming and Qing history, and also witnessed the tragic end of Yuan Chonghuan's ultimately unsuccessful career. Today, this rich history is no longer visible in the ancient city. While the towering archways still highlight the passage of time, I can no longer see what the city truly has to say amidst the teeming shops. Ancient cities ultimately connect people with history, and visitors inevitably seek unique experiences within them. However, Xingcheng Ancient City is truly disappointing. The 80-yuan combined ticket is truly unnecessary. The Ji-Liao Military Governor's Mansion is decent, offering a glimpse into history, but all the buildings are newly built, lacking a sense of history. There are few dining options within the ancient city itself. Most are located at the South Gate, in shopping malls and small shops. There's a good dumpling restaurant at the East Gate.

The preserved plaques, drum tower and ancient city are still intact, but now it has become a commercial street and lacks some flavor.

It is one of the few ancient cities that has been preserved, but the tourism development in the city is too clichéd, with only tourist souvenirs that can be seen everywhere in the country.

It's like a big gathering of small commodity wholesalers, a huge collection of goods priced at ten or twenty yuan. It's boring and uninteresting. The order is also very chaotic and lacks class.

Ningyuan. Worth a visit. Learn about the history of the late Ming Dynasty. In the past, you could climb the city walls freely. Now, you have to pay a ticket.

One of China's four great ancient cities (Xi'an, Jingzhou, and another I forgot, oh, right, Pingyao), the city walls are well-preserved, and the buildings within are all one or two stories high. This is better preserved than Beijing's. It has city gates and barbicans, and the bell and drum towers within offer panoramic views.

Xingcheng Ancient Town is ancient and strategically located. Now developing into a tourist destination, the town has a strong commercial atmosphere. When I visited, the town was undergoing renovations, so it looked a bit messy. Now that the work is supposedly finished, everyone can enjoy the area to their heart's content!

It's really average. I think it's an exaggeration to say that it's heavily commercialized. There are all kinds of small vendors, and the key is that it doesn't seem to be under formal management, so it's very chaotic. It's understandable that people take pictures in the scenic area, but can you take in all the carts? Only the city gate still looks ancient. Other places are in very serious repair, and they look like modern projects. It's quite embarrassing. It would be better if they were made to resemble antiques.

The ancient town is still worth a visit. It has the charm of an ancient town and the food is not expensive.

A century-old ancient city, one of the five major features of Xingcheng, you deserve it

I've been to quite a few ancient cities, including Xuanhua and Shexian. I've found that most have the same layout. Many have Ming and Qing architectural styles. So, they don't have much character. The roads are narrow, and there were traffic jams on the way in. The scenery isn't particularly impressive.

I just walked around the street, and the two straight ones were pretty good.

Built in the early Ming Dynasty (1428), Xingcheng Ancient City is located west of Xingcheng City. It is one of the four best-preserved ancient cities from the Ming Dynasty in my country (the other three are Xi'an Ancient City, Jingzhou Ancient City in Jiangling County, and Pingyao Ancient City in Shanxi Province). Xingcheng Ancient City is the only square-shaped acropolis with four gates in the east, south, west and north. There is a bell and drum tower in the center of the city, and semi-circular urn walls are built outside the gates. There are still gun emplacements at the four corners of the city walls for mounting red-haired cannons. Xingcheng has unique tourism resources. Within an area of 42 square kilometers, it integrates five major landscapes: city, springs, mountains, sea, and islands. These five landscapes combine perfectly to form the unique charm of a northern coastal scenic tourist area, attracting millions of Chinese and foreign tourists every year.

It's another ancient city, and it's also commercialized. I just took a quick look.

The city is not big, but it has many stories! ! ! ! !

The ancient city is well protected, but the surrounding environment and sanitation really need to be improved. There are many modern small commodities, most of which are souvenirs.

The weather is overcast and it looks like it's going to rain. South City is the original site, and now the streets are full of shops and commercialized.

It's a very good ancient city with unique features, it's worth a visit.

This ancient city is okay for a visit if you're passing through, but I really don't recommend it. The sanitation is terrible. The combined ticket is 100 yuan, and the restrooms are so filthy despite the high entrance fee! Even allowing traffic through the ancient city is dangerous. The most annoying thing is the black signposts. Are they designed to be high enough to cause visitors to bump into each other? An entire street dedicated to Ming and Qing dynasty clothing stores. Could they learn from other ancient cities and improve the quality?

The ancient city is worth a visit. It's said that this is where swimsuits are made. I bought a swimsuit and it cost me 49 yuan. I said 30, but it was finally sold for 35. Alas, I ended up paying too much. Afterwards, I saw a sign in the scenic area saying it was 20 yuan a suit and men's swimming trunks were 5 yuan! Also, their ice cream wasn't very good, so I skipped it.

There is no charge for admission to the Ming and Qing ancient city in Xingcheng.

The ancient city of Xingcheng was first built in the third year of Xuande in the Ming Dynasty (1428 AD).

The ancient city is roughly square in shape, with a perimeter of 3,274 meters, a height of 8.88 meters, a base width of 6.5 meters, and a top width of 5 meters. Battlements were built along the outer edges of the walls, and parapets were built within. Centrally located on each of the four sides of the wall were gates: Chunhe Gate in the east, Yanhui Gate in the south, Yongning Gate in the west, and Weiyuan Gate in the north. Each gate was topped by a towering arrow tower, and inside each gate were stairways along the walls. High emplacements protruded from the corners of the city walls, housing red-haired cannons. During the Battle of Ningyuan, Nurhaci, the founding emperor of the Qing Dynasty, was severely wounded by a red-haired cannon and died shortly after returning to Shengjing.

In the heart of the ancient city stands a majestic Bell and Drum Tower, towering majestically above, attracting visitors eager to take in the panoramic views. The Drum Tower was used to blast drums during wartime and to announce the night watch in peacetime. Standing 17.2 meters tall and divided into three floors, it houses an exhibition hall for Xingcheng's unearthed cultural relics. It displays precious artifacts from the Hongshan Culture period (approximately 5,000 to 6,000 years ago) and the Spring and Autumn Period, as well as a giant drum with a diameter of 2.25 meters, a rare sight in China, made from a single piece of cowhide.

At the southeast corner of the city wall stands the Kuixing Tower. This two-story, octagonal tower is meticulously constructed. Inside, a statue of Kuixing (Kuixing) appears. It has a ghostly head, a green face, and red hair. One foot is cocked back, one hand holding a bowl and the other a brush, as if he were pointing at the candidate's name. This is the saying in ancient Chinese texts: "Kuixing points the number one scholar."

The four main streets of the ancient city, south, north, east, and west, intersect at a crossroads. In the middle of South Street stands the Zu Clan Stone Archway, making it the street with the most preserved historical sites.

The business atmosphere is very strong, and the historical atmosphere is also very strong. It is also a tourist attraction worth visiting!

One of the four well-preserved ancient cities in China, the city wall where Yuan Chonghuan stopped Nurhaci is well-preserved. There are many scenic area charges, so please consider your consumption.

This is one of the most chaotic ancient cities I have ever visited. It is relatively small and has no special features. Most importantly, the entrance fee is too expensive!

Ningyuan Ancient City, also known as Xingcheng Ancient City, is located in Xingcheng City, Liaoning Province. Xingcheng City is under the jurisdiction of Huludao City and is located southwest of Huludao City, on the west coast of Liaodong Bay, in the middle section of the Liaoxi Corridor.

We arrived by car at the ancient city, one of the four best-preserved Ming Dynasty cities in my country (along with Xingcheng, Xi'an, Jingzhou in Jiangling County, and Pingyao in Shanxi). Having weathered more than 570 years of erosion and war, the outer city now no longer exists, while the inner city, after generations of repairs, has largely retained its original appearance. Xingcheng Ancient City is square in shape, with walls 8.8 meters high, a circumference of 3,274 meters, a base width of 6.5 meters, and a top width of 5 meters. Four identical gates are built on each side of the ancient city, with semicircular urn walls outside. The walls are built with blue stone slabs at the base, large blue bricks on the exterior, and massive stone blocks on the interior, interspersed with rammed earth. The walls each feature a two-story pavilion and a corridor-style watchtower, each with a sloping access road. Previously divided into an outer city and an inner city, the outer city has collapsed. High forts protruded from the four corners, used to mount red-haired cannons. The east, west, south, and north streets of the city are crisscrossed, each leading to a city gate. At the intersection of these streets stands a majestic bell and drum tower, soaring high into the sky and jutting out from the four arrow towers at the city gates, creating a majestic and imposing presence. There are four gates in the ancient city: Chunhe in the east, Yanhui in the south, Yongning in the west, and Weiyuan in the north.

It has an ancient flavor and a lot of old objects, but it is not well protected. Cars can pass through the ancient city, which causes great damage to the road surface. However, it is a very quiet ancient town, not overdeveloped, and there are no bars. Clothing accounts for most of the people. The ground is polished to a shine, and you can tell at a glance how excellent the stone was back then. No matter how it was rolled, its original color has not changed, but it has become brighter and brighter. I arrived here late from the scenic area and did not buy a ticket to go up the city wall.

Ningyuan Ancient City is one of the four best-preserved ancient cities from the Ming Dynasty in China. The Ji-Liao Military Governor's Mansion has been restored in the ancient city and is open for visits!