Xingning Ancient City Wall

Xingning Ancient City Wall

Xingning Ancient City Wall is a cultural relic protection unit of Guangdong Province.

Xingning Ancient City Wall is located in Xingtian Subdistrict Office, Xingning City, Meizhou.

Historical records state that in the winter of the third year of the Chenghua era (1467) of the Ming Dynasty, Qin Hong, the magistrate of Xingning, petitioned the court for approval to rebuild the county town, converting the earthen walls into brick walls, which were completed the next summer. The wall was 1.85 zhang high, had a circumference of 626 zhang, and included 903 crenels. A moat was dug around the city, 0.7 zhang deep and 2 zhang wide. In the fourth year of the Jiajing era (1525), four gate towers were added, and the gates were renamed: the east gate as Pingyuan Gate, the west gate as Fucheng Gate, the south gate as Yingxun Gate, and the north gate as Gongchen Gate. Most of the existing Xingning Ancient City Wall dates back to the Chenghua period of the Ming Dynasty.

In the early years after the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the gates and walls remained largely intact. After 1958, the moat was gradually filled in. Today, most of the wall foundations are still preserved, and in the late 1970s, units and residents began constructing factories and residences along the wall. Currently, the South Gate (Yingxun Gate) remains the most intact, while parts of the North Gate’s inner gate still stand. The East and West Gates were demolished during the Cultural Revolution. From what remains, it can be seen that the ancient wall was constructed with kiln-fired blue bricks at the base and rammed earth walls on top—thick and sturdy. Despite over 500 years having passed, the Chinese characters for “city brick” are still clearly visible on the bricks.

The Xingning Ancient City Wall was first built in the third year of the Chenghua era of the Ming Dynasty (1467 AD), making it over 500 years old. The original moat was more than 2 meters deep and 6 meters wide, forming a city with stringent defensive measures. Though it has endured many hardships, it has retained much of its original appearance.

In 2012, it was designated as part of the seventh batch of cultural relic protection units by the People’s Government of Guangdong Province.

Xingtian Subdistrict: Xingtian Subdistrict Office is located in the southwestern part of Xingning City, by the Ning River and in the center of the Xingning Basin. It borders Ningxin Subdistrict Office to the east, Fuxing Subdistrict Office to the southwest, and Xinbei and Ningzhong towns to the north. Covering an area of 31 square kilometers, it governs 12 neighborhood committees and 6 village committees, with a total population of 170,000. It is the seat of the Xingning Municipal Party Committee and Government, and forms part of the central urban area of Xingning.

　Xingtian Subdistrict Office is situated in the central area of Xingning City. Renmin Avenue and Guanshan Avenue are the main thoroughfares passing through the area, making it an important part of downtown Xingning. The Ning River flows gently through the center of the subdistrict... More detailed information about Xingtian Subdistrict ++

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of Cultural Relic Protection Units of Guangdong Province