Huangheshilinyangguangjiayuannongjialejiedaizhongxin

As a child, I memorized the ancient poem: "The Yellow River flows far away among the white clouds, a solitary city nestles upon the Ten Thousand-Ren Mountain. Why should the Qiang flute blame the willows? The spring breeze does not reach the Yumen Pass." It wasn't until I arrived in Jingtai County, Gansu Province, that I learned there truly is a solitary city beneath the "Ten Thousand-Ren Mountain." This solitary city is a Ming Dynasty military relic called Yongtai City. Although 400 years old, it's still inhabited. Surprisingly, there are several small villages within the solitary city. [TeaDrinker] Jingtai County, Gansu Province, is a relatively unknown small county. Yongtai County sits at the foot of the Helan Mountains, with rolling hills and the vast Gobi Desert stretching as far as the eye can see. Because the ancient city has gates on all four sides, each with a gate tower, from an aerial view, the entire fortress resembles a giant turtle, crawling in a sea of ​​sand. For this reason, this ancient Yongtai City has been aptly nicknamed "Yongtai Turtle City." 🐢 Yongtai Ancient City is a large earthen fortress built for garrison defense during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Surrounded by a moat, it is considered a textbook example of an ancient Chinese military fortress. The Yongtai site, with a history of over 400 years, was a garrison fortress in Gansu Province during the Ming and Qing dynasties, occupying a crucial strategic military position. Surprisingly, villagers still live within the ancient city, including a village called "Wenxi Village." The ancient city originally housed a complex of ancient buildings, including the Big Buddha Temple, the Pavilion of the Gods, the Jade Emperor Hall, and several archways. These buildings, a blend of Eastern and Western styles with a Gothic flair, have been designated a county-level cultural relic protection site. The Yongtai site holds significant value for the study of the Ming Dynasty's border defense system and the site selection and layout patterns of ancient cities. 🚗 It is reported that with the impending construction of the Heishanxia Reservoir on the Yellow River, the area where Yongtai Ancient City is located will become part of the reservoir, potentially submerging the fortress. So, if you want to see this 400-year-old desert turtle city, come early. [Coke] Location: Yongtai Village, Shitan Township, Jingtai County, Gansu Province. The best vantage point for photographing Yongtai Turtle City is with a drone. You can capture the vast mountains in the distance, a solitary city suspended between heaven and earth, and a strange sense of loneliness arises. This is the awe-inspiring power of history and culture. It's a truly worthwhile place to visit. Seize the opportunity to visit now while the crowds are still low. Once these historical sites fill up, they lose their charm and become less interesting. [Cheers] #GansuTravel #NingxiaTravel #NorthwestTravel #NationalDayTravelDiary #ThePlacesMyFriendsOnFacebook

The Yellow River Stone Forest, located in Baiyin City, Gansu Province, is a large-scale and majestic natural landscape and is now a national nature reserve.