Huangduobao Ancient City

Huangduobao Ancient City

Huangduobao was once a key stop along the Silk Road, locally referred to as the "Forbidden City of Guyuan." Its origins are rooted in a long history. During the Tang Dynasty, it was called "Shimen Town," and in the early Song Dynasty, it was known as "Old Shimen City." In the fourth year of the Shaosheng era of the Song Dynasty (1097), Zhang Jie, the governor of Weizhou, rebuilt and fortified Pingxia City.

According to the "Geographical Records" and the "Biography of Zhang Jie" in the History of Song, the construction of Pingxia City caused great alarm among the ruling class of the Western Xia. Emperor Chongzong of Western Xia, Li Qianshun, along with his mother, Empress Dowager Xiao Liang, personally led troops to attack the city. After several days of siege without success, the enraged Empress Dowager Xiao Liang scratched her own face in fury and withdrew in resentment. From then on, the power of the Western Xia gradually declined, and they sought peace with the Song Dynasty multiple times. In the second year of the Yuanyou era of the Song Dynasty (1099), the military postal route from Zhenrong Army to Xi’an Prefecture was established, and a "Shimen Post" was set up here. In the second year of the Daguan era (1108), Huaidi Army was established. The name Huangduobao came into use after the Ming Dynasty. It refers to the fort built by Huang Duo, the great-grandson of Huang Cheng, the commander of Guyuan Guard during the Ming Dynasty, at the northwest corner of the ancient city. He stationed troops there, and thus the place was renamed "Huangduo City," also known as "Huangduobao," a name that has been used ever since.

Huangduobao Ancient City consists of an outer city and an inner city, resembling the structure of a "回" (double-square) when viewed from above, much like the layout of Guyuan City. According to local elders, the inner city walls were thirty-six feet high, while the outer city walls stood thirty feet tall. From the inner city, one could overlook the entire outer city. Its majestic presence rivaled that of Beijing’s Forbidden City. In 1988, it was listed as a regional-level cultural heritage site by the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. Today, to the west of Huangduobao Town near the border with Haiyuan County lies the Sikouzi Reservoir, and to the south is the Hejiagou Reservoir. The Panxi Highway runs east to west through the area, giving the region a strategic location and convenient transportation. Historical sites within the area—including the Xumishan Grottoes, the Tang-era Shimen Pass, Pingxia City, Huaidi Army, and Lingping Fort—offer visitors a glimpse into the rich past of this ancient frontier fortress.