Ninghua Ancient City

Ninghua Ancient City

Ninghua Ancient City is a cultural heritage site protected by Shanxi Province.

Ninghua Ancient City

Ninghua Ancient City (Third Batch of Provincial-Level Protected Sites)

Era: Ming and Qing Dynasties

Address: Ninghua Village, Ninghua Township, 70 kilometers southwest of Ningwu County

Historical records indicate that the ancient city was first built in the Sui Dynasty. After the Tang Dynasty, due to its strategic location, it gradually developed into a military fortress. The imperial court often garrisoned significant military forces here. It once functioned as one of the strategic outposts of Shanxi’s “Crouching Ox City” (Xinzhou), making it a contested military stronghold throughout various dynasties. In the fourth year of the Taiping Xingguo era of the Song Dynasty (979 AD), Ninghua County was officially established. In the 22nd year of the Dading era of the Jin Dynasty (1182 AD), Ninghua County was elevated to the status of Ninghua Prefecture. The ancient city was built in the fourth year of the Taiping Xingguo era of the Song Dynasty (979 AD) and has undergone renovations in subsequent dynasties.

The city is built against a mountain and slopes from east to west. The western part of the city lies adjacent to the Fen River. The ancient city has a perimeter of approximately 2.5 kilometers, with walls standing 10.33 meters high. Most of the existing city walls are well-preserved. There are two ancient barbicans preserved—one to the north and one to the south—both square in layout, featuring double-gate systems. These were restored and expanded on the Song-era foundations during the Ming Dynasty.

Ninghua Ancient City boasts a long history and a wealth of surviving cultural relics and historic sites. In addition to the ruins of the Sui Dynasty’s “Fenyang Palace,” there are also remains of city wall constructions from the Song, Ming, and Qing Dynasties, remnants of Ming and Qing brick city walls, the Guan Yu Temple, the Ming Dynasty cave temple Ninghua Wanfo Cave, Chaoyang Cave, Danban Cave, and other historic structures.

Further Reading:

· Third Batch of Shanxi Provincial Cultural Heritage Protected Sites