Ruins of the Qin Great Wall in Ningxia

Ruins of the Qin Great Wall in Ningxia

The ruins of the Qin Great Wall in Ningxia are a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The ruins of the Qin Great Wall in Ningxia are located in Xiji County, Guyuan County, and Pengyang County of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.

Since ancient times, Ningxia has been a frontier defense line in northern China, often referred to as the “shield of the Central Shaanxi Plain and the gateway of Longdong,” holding significant strategic importance. Starting from the Warring States period, almost every feudal dynasty constructed sections of the Great Wall in Ningxia, earning the region the reputation of being a “museum of the Great Wall.” To this day, ancient walls built in different historical periods—including the Qin, Sui, Song, and Ming dynasties—using various materials such as rammed earth, sandstone, and stone blocks, stretch cumulatively over 3,000 li across Ningxia, forming a spectacular landscape.

The Warring States–period Qin Great Wall entered Ningxia from Jingning County in Gansu, passing into Xiji County. It runs northward along the eastern bank of the Hulu River, passing through Dongpo, Baolin, and Mingrong villages in Jiangtai Township of Xiji County, then turns eastward at the southeastern edge of Jiangtai Township into Malian Township. It continues northeastward along the Malian River, passing through Hongzhuang Township, crossing Didi Gully, and reaching the south of Sunjiazhuang. It then turns east, crosses Haizi Gorge River to the north of Wuzhuang, and loops around the 10-li-long Great Wall Ridge northwest of Guyuan County, including Mingzhuang and Guozhuang, before reaching the western bank of the Qingshui River. Here, the wall splits into two sections: one begins at Haibao, loops around Qiaowa, crosses the Qingshui River, and reaches Zhengjiamo, then follows the riverbank southward to Chenjiasha Wo; the other section heads east from Haibao, crosses the Qingshui River, and also arrives at Chenjiasha Wo, where it merges with the first section before continuing into the eastern hills of Guyuan. Moving southeast through the third team of Shuiquan in Xijiao Township and the Caijiawa production team of Wugou Village, it enters Dunwan in Haiping Village of Hechuan Township, passes through Zhaiwa Village, then proceeds eastward to Huanghe Village in Hechuan Township, and continues southeast to Bai cha and Changchengyuan in Chengyang Township. From Yejiazhai, it turns northeast toward Zhao Shan Zhuang, Caotan, and Mahuawa in Mengyuan Township before heading north out of Ningxia into Chengquwan Village of Maoqu Township in Zhenyuan County, Gansu Province. The total length is approximately 400 li.

In June 2001, the ruins of the Qin Great Wall in Ningxia were designated as part of the fifth group of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units by the State Council.