Qingcheng Scenic Area

Qingcheng Scenic Area

“Qingcheng” was built in 1740 AD as another military barracks constructed by rammed earth here under the order of Emperor Qianlong after the Ming City was destroyed by an earthquake, hence the name “Qingcheng.” Nationwide, there are only two such closely situated barracks, namely those at Zhenbeibao, which shows that the eastern foothills of the Helan Mountains held significant military value back then. The shape of Qingcheng resembles a giant tortoise crawling down from the Helan Mountains, symbolizing “a lucky turtle descending the mountain, bringing good fortune,” following the advice of a feng shui master consulted by the Qing official in charge of building the barracks. The feng shui master predicted based on the terrain: “This place will surely produce emperors, generals, and ministers in the future.” However, for over two hundred years, only soldiers and shepherds passed through its gate. It wasn’t until the 1980s that Qingcheng truly produced many “emperors, generals, and ministers” of the film world.

Qingcheng Gate

The main attraction inside the fortress, the “Film and Television Street,” is a must-visit location for film crews shooting at the Zhenbeibao Western Film Studio. Every shop, storefront, and vendor stall on the “street” has appeared in over 100 films and TV productions. Its appearance was designed by film art directors to perfectly reflect the characteristics of different eras. Zhang Xianliang replaced the crude materials of the set with authentic Ming and Qing architectural components, instantly transforming the film scene into textured ancient buildings, making visitors feel as if they’ve stepped into a time tunnel and traveled back over 100 years to the Qing Dynasty.

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, when the country was undergoing widespread demolition and construction but lacked awareness of cultural relics, Zhang Xianliang collected a large number of ancient architectural components—some were relocated in their entirety, such as the “Guanyin Pavilion,” the “Private School,” the “Ancient Stage,” and the Ming and Qing-era archways located in the street exhibition hall. These are all part of the precious traditional material culture, and visitors are welcome to admire them.