Xingcheng Ancient City was built in the early Ming Dynasty (1428 AD). It is located in the west of Xingcheng City and is one of the four relatively well-preserved ancient Ming cities in China. (The other three are Xi’an Ancient City, Jingzhou Ancient City in Jiangling County, and Pingyao Ancient City in Shanxi Province.)
In the ancient city, you can see historical sites such as barbicans, bell and drum towers, artillery platforms, and memorial arches. You can also visit buildings such as the Governor’s Office of Jiliao and Xingcheng Confucian Temple. Standing on the city wall, you can overlook the entire panorama of the city.
The ancient city used to be an important border defense area. General Yuan Chonghuan of the Ming Dynasty once stationed troops here and defeated the Qing army many times. Today, when strolling in the ancient city, you can vaguely feel the gunpowder smoke from more than 500 years ago.
Xingcheng Ancient City is square in shape, with gray city walls. There is a city gate on each of the four sides of the city wall, namely the east, west, south, and north. Entering from the south gate (Yanhui Gate) of the ancient city and going straight to the bell and drum tower, it is a pedestrian street. There are various small shops on both sides, selling all kinds of things.
Climbing up the mottled and thick city wall from one side of the city gate, you can overlook the semi-circular barbican outside the city gate and the entire view inside the city. Each side of the city wall is about 800 meters long. There are artillery platforms built at the four corners of the city wall, where you can see the majestic Hongyi cannons.
Walking north from the south gate to the bell and drum tower, you will pass by two stone memorial arches, which were built by Emperor Chongzhen of the Ming Dynasty for the Zu brothers, generals in Liaodong.
The bell and drum tower is located in the center of the ancient city. Standing on the bell and drum tower, you can overlook the four directions of the ancient city. In the Exhibition Hall of Unearthed Cultural Relics on the second floor, you can visit local cultural relics.
Walking in the direction of the east gate (Chunhe Gate) from the bell and drum tower, you will pass by the Governor’s Office of Jiliao, which is a must-visit scenic spot in the ancient city. This was the official office built when Yuan Chonghuan was ordered to supervise Jiliao and garrison Ningyuan (today’s Xingcheng). Inside the office, you can see restored places such as the main hall, garden, and general’s reviewing stand, as well as exhibits such as official supplies and weapons.
There are also other scenic spots in the ancient city, such as Xingcheng Confucian Temple, the oldest Confucian temple in the three northeastern provinces, as well as the City God Temple, General’s Mansion, Zhou Family’s Old House, Xingcheng Museum, etc. If you are interested in history, you can buy a combined ticket for scenic spots and visit them all.
Xingcheng Ancient City is not very large. Inside, there are basically all brick and tile houses, mostly small commodity shops, as well as restaurants and seafood shops. If you don’t visit the scenic spots, it will take about 1 hour to stroll around.
Opening hours: It is open from 08:00 – 16:30 from April 15th to September 4th; and also open from 08:00 – 16:30 from September 5th to April 14th.
Preferential policies:
Children: Free for children 1.3 meters (inclusive) and below.
Seniors: Free for seniors 70 years old (inclusive) and above; half price for those between 60 years old (inclusive) and 70 years old (exclusive).
Military personnel: Free with military preferential certificates and police officer certificates.
Students: Half price for students below undergraduate level with student ID cards.
Service facilities:
Parking lot: [Parking Lot of Xingcheng Ancient City Scenic Area]. Reference price: 15 yuan per time (within 2 hours).
Price: 20 yuan per time (for over 2 hours)
Address: Next to Xingcheng Ancient City, at the southern end of Yanhui Street, Xingcheng Ancient City, Xingcheng City, Liaoning Province
Number of parking spaces: 50
