Off-the-beaten-path travel destination says goodbye to the crowds: Yongtai Turtle City

In the vast expanse of land, a solitary city stands quietly, surrounded by towering mountains. I once caught a glimpse of its photo online, and the sense of age and mystery made me decide to embark on a journey of discovery. Yongtai Ancient City, also known as Yongtai Turtle City, has a name that harbors a wealth of stories. It is rumored to have been the filming location for the movie 'Decisive Battle at Shama Town' starring Sun Honglei, bearing the imprints of history. In the season between the end of winter and the beginning of spring, this ancient city is almost free from tourist disturbances, making it particularly peaceful. Apart from some remnants of the city walls and a small school from the Republic of China period, this Ming Dynasty ancient city now only has ruins left, as if narrating the past glory and decline. The clumps of yellow earth underfoot and the distant snow-capped mountains form a magnificent picture. Imagining the soldiers stationed at the frontier and their families spending their lives on this land, one cannot help but feel deeply moved. Decades of a person's life, centuries of an ancient city, are just a moment in the river of time. And our travels are precisely for exploring these forgotten corners, to feel the beauty that has been settled by the years.