Ancient City of Huiyuan

　　Introduction         Historically, Ili was an important passage from Xinjiang to Central Asia. During the Qing Dynasty, Emperor Qianlong established the Ili General here to strengthen governance in the region. The city of Huiyuan was built, along with eight surrounding satellite towns collectively known as the “Nine Cities of Ili.” The best-preserved among them is Huiyuan, regarded as the foremost of the Nine Cities, where the former site of the General’s Office still remains.       At the heart of the Ancient City of Huiyuan stands a grand and towering Bell and Drum Tower. Climbing to the top offers panoramic views of the scenery both inside and outside the city. Lin Zexu once led the local people in developing water conservancy projects here, earning the respect of the Ili General and people of all ethnic groups.       Transportation          The ancient city is 9 kilometers from Huocheng County and 38 kilometers from Yining City. You can hire a car to get there, with prices generally under one hundred yuan.   

　　 Xinjiang Ili