Ruins of the Old City of Jingxing

Ruins of the Old City of Jingxing

The ruins of the old city of Jingxing are a cultural heritage site protected at the provincial level in Hebei Province.

The ruins of the old city of Jingxing are located in the southwest of Jingxing County, about 30 kilometers east of Nangziguan. The site is bordered by the Mian River on the east, south, and west, and backed by an earthen hill to the north, earning it the nickname “Winnowing Basket City.” During the Tang Dynasty, Tianchang Town was established here, and in the eighth year of the Xining reign of the Northern Song Dynasty (1075), the seat of Jingxing County was moved to this location.

In the early Ming Dynasty, records indicate that the county town had a circumference of three li and twenty steps, with walls three zhang five chi high. In the ninth year of the Jiajing reign (1530), the southern section of the city wall was damaged by flooding, after which it was rebuilt using stone. In the sixth year of the Longqing reign (1572), heavy rain caused the battlements to collapse, leading to reconstruction with stone walls and the addition of a barbican at the southern gate. The structure underwent multiple renovations afterward. Today, apart from the gate towers, the city wall remains largely intact. It features structures such as the Confucius Temple, the City God Temple, the Xiansheng Temple, and the Jieshan Academy. Outside the eastern gate stands the Dongguan Bridge, built during the Qing Dynasty and spanning the Mian River. On the southeastern corner, there is a protruding section with a gate known as the “Small South Gate,” which was built to guard against the rapid currents of the river.

Tianchang Town: [Overview of Tianchang] Tianchang Town is located in the southwestern part of Hebei Province, bordering Yangquan in Shanxi. It lies 15 kilometers from the county seat of Jingxing and administers 49 administrative villages, with a population of 45,000 and an area of 102 square kilometers. Tianchang has a long history, with its name originating in the Han Dynasty. During the Tang Dynasty, it was established as Tianchang Military Command, later renamed Tianwei Military Command in the Later Jin Dynasty. From the eighth year of the Xining reign of the Song Dynasty (1075) until 1958, it served as the seat of the county government, boasting a history of over 900 years. The town is home to one national-level cultural heritage site, seven provincial-level sites, and 29 municipal- or county-level sites. In 2006, it was designated as a Historical and Cultural Town of Hebei Province by the provincial government, and it is currently… More detailed information about Tianchang Town++

Further Reading:

· Third Batch of Provincial-Level Cultural Heritage Protection Units in Hebei Province