[2025 Jingtai Attraction] Travel Guide for Yongtai Ancient City (Updated Apr)

Hey everyone!! Not sure where to go for the May Day holiday? 🙋‍♀️ Save this amazing 2-day Lanzhou route 📌, you'll regret missing it for a whole year 😭! 🌄This route covers stunning landscapes including Danxia landforms, grasslands, forests, hills, and the Gobi Desert, with surprises all along the way 🎉. It's perfect for either a 2-day trip or a 3-day self-driving tour 🚗! Just follow the order I've shared and you're good to go~ 👉I've prepared two routes for you, Route A and Route B are in opposite directions, both offering breathtaking scenery 👇 ● A: Lanzhou → Yongdeng Kushui Danxia → Yongdeng Lu Chieftain's Office → Tianzhu County Small Three Gorges → Tiantang Town Temple → Tianzhu Danxia (the highland pastures between Tiantang Town and Tianzhu are incredibly beautiful) → Tianzhu Huazang Temple → Yongtai Ancient City in Jingtai → Jingtai Yellow River Stone Forest → Return to Lanzhou ● B: Follow Route A in reverse Now let me give you details about each must-visit spot 📸, save this guide 👇 🟠Kushui Danxia A free, undeveloped Danxia wonder very close to Lanzhou! Every photo looks like a professional shot 📷 🗺️Navigation: Yongdeng County Kushui Town Danxia Self-driving Campsite 🎫Ticket: Free 🆓 🟡Yongdeng Lu Chieftain's Office Known as the "Little Forbidden City" of western China, it's a grand and well-preserved palace-style architectural complex 🏛️ 🗺️Navigation: Former Site of Lu Chieftain's Office 🎫Ticket: 20 yuan ⏰Opening hours: 8:30-18:00 🟢Tianzhu Small Three Gorges Surrounded by towering mountains, the environment is breathtakingly beautiful 🌳, and it's free!! 🔵Tiantang Town Located at the border of Gansu and Qinghai provinces, adjacent to Tianzhu Small Three Gorges and Beishan National Forest Geological Park 🌲. Though small, the town has an amazing atmosphere that makes you feel super comfortable~ 🟣Tiantang Temple Dating back to the Tang Dynasty, this grand temple is renowned in Tibetan areas 🙏 🎫Ticket: 25 yuan ⏰Hours: 8:00-18:00 🟠Tianzhu Danxia Located in Benkang Village, Tianzhu, these Danxia formations are covered with dense forests 🌴. The mountain shapes are unique, offering a different experience from Zhangye Danxia, and it's free!! 🟡Tianzhu Highland Pastures On the way from Tiantang Town to Tianzhu County, you'll pass numerous highland pastures 🐂 with impressive herds of white yaks. The scenery at dusk is so beautiful it'll make you scream, and casual photos look like magazine covers! 🟢Tianzhu Huazang Temple Located in Tianzhu County, it was one of the national guardian temples during the Qing Dynasty 🏯 🎫Ticket: Free ⏰Opening hours: 8:00-18:00 🔵Yongtai Ancient City in Jingtai (Turtle City) A well-preserved ancient military fortress with a unique turtle-shaped layout 🐢. As one of the most intact Ming Dynasty ancient cities in China, it perfectly embodies the concept of "a lonely city among ten thousand mountains"~ 🟣Jingtai Yellow River Stone Forest A rare geological wonder! Canyons, peak forests, the Yellow River, Gobi Desert, and oases perfectly blend here 🌄. Stone formations hundreds of meters high rise from the ground, making you instantly feel how small humans are! 🗺️Address: Navigate to Jingtai County Yellow River Stone Forest 🎫Ticket: 40 yuan, transportation package: 68 yuan ⏰Hours: Ticket sales stop at 4:30 PM, closes at 5:30 PM ⛺️Travel equipment tips: Definitely wear shoes suitable for hiking 👟, and don't forget a sun hat 🧢! Pair with nice clothes 👗 to take atmospheric photos in minutes~ Outdoor tables and chairs are also recommended so you can stop and enjoy the scenery anytime 🏕️ 🍽️Food recommendations: 1️⃣Stir-fried yak meat 🥩 in Tiantang Town, tender and juicy, you'll fall in love with the first bite! 2️⃣"Yibuer Beef Noodles" 🍜 in Tianzhu County, with rich broth and chewy noodles, a must-try! 3️⃣"Donglaishun Sour Meat" 🥘 in Jingtai County, with a unique flavor that lingers! Everyone, head to Lanzhou this May Day holiday 🚀 and experience the unique charm of the Northwest!

#Mainland Travel Yongtai Ancient City is also known as "Turtle City" My first impression of the ancient city came from a documentary I watched in middle school. From that time on, I was full of yearning for the mystery of the ancient city. At that time, there were still residents in the village and a few students in the school. Now when you step into the ancient city, you will see ruins. There are only two or three households left, mostly elderly people who look after their sheep. Most of the dilapidated houses have been demolished. There are many broken walls left. … 📌 Recommended tour routes from Lanzhou: Depart from Lanzhou - Yellow River Stone Forest - Yongtai Ancient City - Tianzhu County - Tiantang Town Basically two days is enough, three or four days if you have enough time 🗺️ Address: Yongtai Ancient City, Jingtai County, Baiyin, Gansu 🚗 Transportation: Self-driving is recommended (more than 2 hours from Lanzhou and Zhongwei) One and a half hours from Yellow River Stone Forest 2 hours from Tianzhu County About 2 hours from Wuwei City 🎫 Tickets: Free and open 24 hours a day (A similar visitor center is being built nearby, I don’t know if it will be developed and charged in the future) 📷 Take photos: In the morning and evening, there will be flocks of sheep entering and leaving the city gate (recommended on a sunny day) 🍽️ Catering: Recommend "Donglaishun Sour and Rotten Meat" in Jingtai County

Baiyin, a city named after a precious metal, seems to have a noble and mysterious aura. Located on the banks of the Yellow River, it boasts beautiful mountains and rivers, fertile land, and a rich historical and cultural heritage. It is the site of the Great Yu's water control relics and one of the origins of the legends of Fuxi and Nuwa. When you enter Baiyin, you will feel the overwhelming historical and cultural atmosphere. Even though time has passed like water, the ancient and mysterious aura still permeates every corner of the city. 🏨 The Red Army Meeting Building witnessed the hardships and glory of the revolutionary years, while the Yongtai Ancient City takes you back to the era of war and horses. The Long March Victory Park, with its miniature landscapes, recreates the hardships and tragedies of the Long March, making you feel as if you have traveled through time and space to relive that glorious era. 🌲 The Yellow River Stone Forest shows us the grandeur of Baiyin. The towering stone pillars, each with its own unique shape, are like works of art carved by Mother Earth, each telling a story of a thousand years. Entering this magical land is like stepping into Pandora from Avatar, with surprises at every step and awe at every turn! 🌌 In addition to the scenery, there are many interesting experiences waiting for you! For example, you can try riding a camel through the stone forest, feeling the sound of camel bells and the wind and sand on your face, which is simply too cool! 🐪 The Yellow River Stone Forest is not just a scenic spot, but more like a heavy history book, waiting for us to read and savor. 📚 🪐 In Baiyin, you can not only feel the magic of nature, but also appreciate the profoundness of human civilization. Especially when you stand on top of the stone forest and look down at the surging Yellow River, you will understand that all the fatigue and troubles have been healed by this magical land. At that moment, you will feel that all the waiting and anticipation are worth it! 🌟

Who knew! Gansu has such an ancient city ✨ Yongtai Ancient City was built in the 36th year of the Wanli period of the Ming dynasty, more than 400 years ago. It is a military fortress made of rammed earth, and a well-preserved ancient castle. Due to a lack of water resources, the ancient city was once abandoned, but its appearance still attracts many tourists. 👀 Climb the ancient city wall to overlook the whole view of Yongtai Ancient City, and see the snow-capped peaks of the Qilian Mountains in the distance. The roads inside and outside the ancient city crisscross, making it very suitable for taking photos. Some residents still live in the ancient city, and they have retained their traditional way of life, making you feel like you have traveled back in time. The ancient city is very quiet at night, with only the stars and the sound of insects to accompany you. 👀 I stayed here for one night and felt the charm and tranquility of the ancient city. It was an unforgettable travel experience!

If it weren’t for the publication of National Geographic in 2010 I might not know about this shockingly low-key national key cultural relic protection unit: Yongtai Ancient City This place arose because of the war In the thirty-sixth year of Wanli in the Ming Dynasty, this prominent fortress was built to resist invasion. There is an urn on each side of the oval-shaped city surrounded by a moat. It looks like a golden turtle, with not only a head, but also four legs. It is also called Yongtai Turtle City. More than 400 years Yongtai Ancient City resists the never-ending wind and sand under the Qilian Mountains day after day, and is visibly weathered and collapsed every year. Now the moat and the buildings on the city wall no longer exist. It is rated as one of the top ten disappearing scenery in China. Yongtai Ancient City 🎫Tickets: None 📍Location: Sitan Township, Jingtai County, Baiyin City, Gansu Province 🚗Transportation: It takes about 3 hours to drive from Lanzhou, and public transportation is inconvenient. ‼ ️Recommendation: Go by car or charter a car. You can go on a one-day tour with the Yellow River Stone Forest and the Greater Dunhuang Film and Television City. It’s great value for money. Easter Egg: When the sheep passed through the ancient city gate, I almost traveled through time

Yongtai Ancient Castle is located 25 kilometers southwest of Jingtai on the ancient Silk Road. It was built in the 36th year of the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty and has a history of more than 400 years. Because the castle is shaped like a turtle, it is also called "Turtle City". It was an important military fortress built by the Ming Dynasty to defend against the invasion of ethnic minorities in the north and is also a key location on the way to Qinghai, Hetao, Xinjiang, and Tibet. At that time, three castles, Yongtai, Zhenlu, and Baoding, were built along the ancient Silk Road between Lanzhou and Wuwei. Today, only Yongtai Castle has been preserved.

Recommended Reason: You can feel the vicissitudes of the Ming Dynasty military fortress. Although remote, it has a unique charm. The city walls are majestic, and you can experience the collision of sophistication and antiquity, making it suitable for walking pets. Attraction Address: Located in Jingtai County, Baiyin City, Gansu Province, with a history of over 400 years. Attraction Transportation: Both self-driving and chartered cars are available, and sedans can pass. Must-Visit Attractions: City gates, city walls, shepherd scenes, and a cultural school built in the early Republic of China. Ticket Information: Free all day. Other Tips: 1. The ancient city is a national protected unit, do not step on or damage it. 2. Bring a drone for aerial photography for better photo effects. 3. It may be renovated and upgraded in the future, with additional tourist facilities.

Located in the southwest of Jingtai County, Baiyin City, Gansu Province, Yongtai Ancient City controls the throat of the ancient Silk Road and is the only way from Chang'an to the Western Regions. First built during the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty, Yongtai Ancient City has a history of more than 400 years. It was a military fortress during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, and an important barrier against foreign enemies. Walking into the ancient city, you will be attracted by the quaint frontier loess landscape here. It is like a fairy tale world, and the rows of abandoned earth walls seem to exude vitality. This ancient city is currently in an undeveloped state. Walking inside, you can still smell the aroma. It is said that the few residents are villagers from nearby villages, and the government invited them to live here. The architecture of Yongtai Ancient City is unique, with towering city walls and majestic city gates. The entire city is oval in shape, like a sleeping giant turtle. The ancient buildings in the city are scattered in an orderly manner, including the Jade Emperor Pavilion, the General's Mansion, the Martial Arts Field... each one exudes a simple and elegant atmosphere. Standing on the city wall and looking into the distance, you can see the surrounding mountains and the winding Yellow River, and a magnificent picture slowly unfolds before your eyes. The buildings here are indeed very unique. If they are well developed and maintained, and some of the ruins are preserved, leaving traces of history here, it may become a very distinctive local landscape!

I hope it can exist forever This ancient city, which has experienced 400 years of wind and sand on the Gobi desert, may our descendants also be fortunate enough to see it Yongtai Ancient City, also known as Yongtai Turtle City Named for its turtle-like shape (I thought it was amazing when I first saw it! It was an important military fortress during the Ming Dynasty There is also a primary school built during the Republic of China period within the city The overall ancient city still retains the original house layout and architectural structure The walls made of earth mixed with straw, the roofs with mortise and tenon structures (the description may not be accurate, corrections are welcome) The moment you pass through the city wall, you will have the illusion of traveling through time because ancient cities that are preserved this intact are really very rare (no arguing) Now, the walls in the city have only undergone basic maintenance In the city, you will, like me, imagine its past Prosperity, taverns, beacon fires - these words may not be enough to represent the traces left here History says that Yongtai Ancient City is a textbook example of an ancient military fortress, it once protected the local people's peace and tranquility And now, fortunately, due to the silent guardianship of those who live here, we can still see it after 400 years!

In the vast lands of Northwest China, there lies an ancient city sculpted by wind, sand, and the passage of time. It quietly tells the tales of historical vicissitudes and glory; this is Yongtai Ancient City. This is not just a journey, but also a cultural exploration through time, allowing one to feel the profound history and the magnificent beauty of nature amidst the symphony of the ancient and the modern. Must-visit Attractions • Stroll along the Ancient City Wall: Walking on the mottled walls, one can almost hear the sounds of ancient warriors and horses. Though the walls are now in ruins, they remain majestic. Circling around is the best spot for taking photos and making memories. • Explore the Pottery City: As part of the ancient military defense system, the design of the Pottery City is ingeniously superb. Stepping inside, you can personally experience the wisdom and bravery of the ancients. • Visit Ancient Residences: The ancient residences scattered throughout the city, each brick and tile tells a story. Entering these old houses, it's as if one can hear the echoes of past lives, experiencing the simplicity and tranquility. • Sunset Viewing: The sunset at Yongtai Ancient City is particularly spectacular. The golden sunlight sprinkles on the ancient walls, casting a mysterious and warm hue over the entire city, making it a paradise for photography enthusiasts. Detailed Address Yongtai Ancient City is located in Sitantan Township, Jingtai County, Gansu Province, China, about 25 kilometers from Jingtai County. Travel Tips • Self-drive: Depart from Lanzhou, take the Beijing-Tibet Expressway to Baiyin City, then switch to Provincial Road 201 to reach Jingtai County, and finally take the rural roads to Yongtai Ancient City. The total distance is about 200 kilometers with good road conditions, suitable for self-driving exploration. • Public Transportation: You can take a train or long-distance bus to Jingtai County, then rent a car or hire a car locally to get there, about a half-hour drive. Food Recommendations • Hand-grabbed Mutton: When in the Northwest, how can you miss the authentic hand-grabbed mutton? The meat is fresh and flavorful, a great choice for replenishing energy. • Beef Noodles: A Gansu specialty snack, with clear soup and tasty noodles, perfect for breakfast to keep you energized all day. • Roasted Whole Lamb: Enjoy a traditional roasted whole lamb feast at a farmhouse near the ancient city, experiencing the warm hospitality and bold dining culture of the Northwestern people. Recommended Nearby Attractions • Yellow River Stone Forest: About 60 kilometers from Yongtai Ancient City, a unique geological wonder, rafting on the Yellow River on sheepskin rafts offers a distinctive experience. • Jingtai Salt Lake: Known as 'China's Mirror of the Sky,' about 40 kilometers from the ancient city, it is another excellent spot for photography enthusiasts. • Tiaoshan Farm: Experience the fun of picking, taste fresh fruits and vegetables, and enjoy the leisure and comfort of pastoral life. Yongtai Ancient City, a historical cipher waiting for you to decipher. Here, every step is a tribute to the past, and every gaze can feel the weight of time. Pack your camera, shoulder your bag, and let's walk into this city of sealed memories, embarking on an unforgettable journey through time!

👉Wenlv Jun's exploration of this ancient city🏯 Although named 'ancient city', it is virtually undeveloped and unadvertised Some locals still live their normal lives here Beyond the town lies the endless Gobi Desert, with the Qilian Mountain Range in the distance🏞 The yellow earth rammed walls enclose nearly a hundred simple dwellings🏘 The occasional passing residents, the sound of horse bells, the breeze of the desert A casual snapshot is a beautiful Western Region scroll🌈 It made me, an unexpected visitor, slow down my pace. . This is Yongtai Ancient City🏯, 2.5h drive from Lanzhou, a military fortress built by the Ming government to defend against invasions by ethnic minorities from the north, established in the 36th year of the Wanli era (1608), with a history of over 400 years. It is now a national key cultural relics protection unit. . ✅✅✅Recommended features 1⃣Simple architecture The rammed earth walls and gates look very vicissitudinous, and there are nearly a hundred old earth houses in the city, including residential houses, schools, and other buildings, which are very different from the newly built ancient cities elsewhere. . 2⃣Zero commercialization There are only convenience stores and small restaurants serving local residents, no small commodity shops, and no various noisy commercial facilities, everything is so authentic, outshining a host of ancient cities in the country. . 3⃣Photography The desert scenery combined with the ancient city gates and dwellings is suitable for various styles of photos. The ancient city under the afterglow of the setting sun is very atmospheric. . 4⃣Stargazing spot Far from the city and without light pollution, you can see a very spectacular night sky and the Milky Way. . 5⃣Few people There are very few tourists here, quiet and serene. It is very suitable for friends who like off-the-beaten-path places. . 📍Navigation: Yongtai Ancient City, Baiyin, Gansu 🎫Ticket: Free 🅿️There is a large parking lot outside the city, no parking fee. . ✅✅✅Tips: 1. There are only 2 small restaurants in the city where you can eat. 2. There are several homestays in the city, you can inquire about accommodation on your own. 3. Yongtai Ancient City is close to Wuwei, highly recommended for combined tours. . 🚗3-day 2-night travel route suggestion 𝐃𝐚𝐲𝟏: Lanzhou➠Yongtai Ancient City➠Wuwei Museum➠Dayun Temple➠Tengger Desert Scenic Area 𝐃𝐚𝐲𝟐: Wuwei Confucian Temple➠Western Xia Museum➠South City Gate➠Jiumo Luoshi Temple➠Haizang Temple➠Desert Sculpture Park 𝐃𝐚𝐲3: Leitai Han Tombs➠White Pagoda Temple➠Shenzhou Desert Wildlife Park➠Return trip . 🏠Accommodation | Wuwei Hilton Garden Inn ✔Convenient parking, many surrounding amenities. . 🥙【Food Recommendation】 ▪Wang Lao San Delin's special lamb head with fragrant noodles: Local specialty noodles, paired with spicy lamb offal, appetizing! ▪Old Hezhou Lao Ma's big plate chicken: A decades-old shop that only serves one dish, big plate chicken. The chicken is tender and flavorful.

On the day we entered Baiyin City, we visited the ancient city of Yongtai on a sandy day with a temperature of minus 12 degrees Celsius. My hands and feet started to feel numb a few minutes after I got off the car. The few herdsmen left in the city had probably gone out to herd sheep. There was no sign of people except for the barking of dogs. There was only knife-cut sand and the remaining loess walls from the Ming Dynasty, an isolated city and a mountain of thousands of blades, just like the real scene of Longmen Inn. Unable to withstand the raging wind, we quickly returned to the car and went to the Yellow River Stone Forest, but it was not open due to the strong wind. We could only take pictures of the Yellow River from the outer observation deck, which was our first time to visit. In order not to waste time before the flight, we had to rush to the Gansu Provincial Museum in Lanzhou to take a quick look at it, and the children could also complete the stamp task.

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.

This is a large earthen ancient city for military defense during the Ming and Qing dynasties. It is also the filming location for many film and television works such as 'The World's Granary', 'Mythology', 'Mulan', and others. 'A solitary city amidst towering mountains' is the most fitting description for this place. Constructed in the 36th year of the Wanli era of the Ming dynasty, Yongtai Ancient City, which has a history of over 400 years, was built by the Ming government to defend against invasions by northern ethnic minorities. Once completed, it became a military fortress, with the Lanzhou Deputy General stationed within this castle. At that time, in addition to the stationed soldiers and cavalry, the city also had affiliated facilities such as a gunpowder field, forage field, mill, and horse farm. 📌TIPS: 📍Location: Search for 'Yongtai Ancient City in Baiyin' in the navigation system. 💰Admission: Currently free of charge. 🅿️Parking: There is a parking lot right at the entrance of the ancient city, free of charge. ⏰️Visiting time: About 1 hour. 🔶Due to the ancient city being located in the Gobi desert, the ultraviolet rays are very strong, and sandstorms can arise suddenly. Therefore, it is essential to prepare polarized glasses and sunscreen to avoid sunburn. 🔷The roads within the ancient city are all dirt and gravel, so a pair of comfortable sports shoes is necessary. 🔶The entire Yongtai Ancient City is shaped like a 'turtle', hence it is also known as 'Turtle City' or 'Yongtai Turtle City'. This shape can be fully appreciated from an aerial drone view. (The use of drones is allowed in the ancient city) 🔷There are only two small restaurants in the ancient city that offer meals, which you can try. There are also small shops, but of course, you can also bring your own food, especially drinking water. 🔶Yongtai Ancient City is well-preserved, with a reservoir outside the city, but there is a water well every few dozen meters within the city, making it very convenient for daily water use. 🔷The entire ancient city has not been commercially developed, retaining its original flavor, and it is a less popular and niche attraction with fewer tourists, allowing ample time to truly experience the ancient city's appearance from four hundred years ago. 🔶On the way to the scenic spot, there are freshly picked watermelons for sale on both sides of the county road leading to the attraction, which are very sweet, juicy, and also very cheap. Taking a few with you will make the trip worthwhile.

The night sky over Yongtai Ancient City in Gansu is not filled with the hustle and bustle of traffic, but with a sky full of stars. An impromptu trip allowed me to experience the charm of the ancient city. At around 9 p.m., the Yongtai Turtle City star photography plan was suddenly mentioned, so I set off with a friend, and we arrived at half past one in the morning. After a night of hard struggle, I finally felt the unique charm of this ancient city

"Snow is falling on the mountains and the beacons are cut off without smoke." We have been to dozens of ancient towns and cities. But Yongtai Ancient Town may be the most unique and beautiful one we have ever visited. We set out from Wuwei early in the morning and drove for about two hours. When we arrived at Yongtai Ancient City, it was sunrise. The snow-covered Shoulu Mountain looks even more gentle under the morning light, silently guarding the ancient city. The snow covers the rammed earth buildings with a layer of white gauze, concealing the vicissitudes and desolation, yet making them very harmonious. Walking into the ancient city, many of the nearly 100 rammed earth houses have become ruins, making it even more desolate. There were not many people living in the city, but occasionally shepherds would pass by with their flocks. This is the ancient city of Yongtai. Also known as Turtle City, it is a large earthen ancient city used for garrison defense during the Ming and Qing dynasties. It is more than 400 years old and is known as a textbook example of an ancient Chinese military fortress. ✅️tips 1⃣The tower at the South Gate was demolished some time ago. The city tower is not an ancient building and it endangers the main body of the city platform, so there is nothing wrong with its demolition. 2⃣This is also a good place to take pictures of the starry sky. 3⃣Local shepherds drive their sheep out of the city to graze in the morning and bring them back to rest in the evening. We were lucky enough to encounter the sheep four times. (You can also use money to pose for photos) 4⃣Winter is the off-season and there are basically no tourists. This also means that there are basically no tourist packages, so please bring your own dry food. 5⃣Zhizunbao and Fairy Zixia are not here. But it has that feeling. 🎫Tickets: None 🚗Transportation: Navigation to Yongtai Ancient City, Baiyin, Gansu, self-driving is recommended 🅿Parking: There is free parking outside the city

|Yongtai Ancient City. The ancient city lost in the sands of a hundred years🏯|Yongtai Ancient City 🔸This is a lonely ancient city on the Gobi Desert, built during the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty, and it has been over 400 years now. The wind and sand have blown away the prosperity of the past, and the ancient city we see now is in ruins, which is vastly different from the scene at that time. Most of the buildings in the ancient city have collapsed, leaving only broken walls, and the surrounding environment has become desolate. 🔸There are not many residents in the ancient city, only a few scattered households, besides the inn is the grocery store. 🔸In the evening, the herdsmen drove the sheep back to this lost ancient city at a leisurely pace, forming a beautiful sunset scroll. 🔸There are 4 urn cities around the ancient city, resembling the shoulders and feet of a turtle. Overlooking with a drone, it looks like a turtle, so it is also jokingly called 'Yongtai Turtle City'. 🔸Not far from the entrance of the ancient city, there is a deserted pool, which was originally the local drinking water source. However, due to environmental degradation and the large-scale migration of local residents, this pool has gradually become deserted and has become a pool for sheep to drink water. —— 📍|Location: Yongtai Ancient City, Baiyin City, Gansu Province, 2 and a half hours from Lanzhou 🚘|Transportation: The road is paved all the way, there is open space at the entrance of the scenic spot for parking, and cars can also drive in 🎫|Tickets: Free 📸|Shooting: It is recommended to bring a drone, aerial photography, the city is full of ruined houses, the scenery is relatively single

Yongtai Ancient City is located at the foot of Tiger Mountain in Sitan Township, southwest of Jingyuan County, Baiyin City, Gansu Province. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, it was a military fortress. The ancient city is also known as "Yongtai Turtle City" because it looks like a golden turtle from a bird's eye view. The 'turtle' shape has been said to represent 'heaven is round and earth is square' in astronomy since ancient times. The turtle's back shell is similar to a circle, like 'heaven', and the belly shell is similar to a square, like 'earth'. The many celestial bodies in the sky, such as the sun, moon, and stars, cover the sky, implying that the turtle can convey the way of heaven. There are still a small number of residents who have not left. Several generations have been guarding the old houses in the ancient city because they have feelings and can't bear to leave. These typical pure wooden mortise and tenon structures of the northwest old houses, carved flower porches, diamond-shaped wooden windows, still exude the taste of early life. According to them, their ancestors were frontier soldiers who left their hometowns to build the ancient city and guard the border. Afterwards, they lived here generation after generation. The name 'Yongtai' means 'to always decide to repel the enemy, to be peaceful and peaceful', and the beautiful wish is realized and continued. Almost every household in the ancient city is raising sheep, especially in the early morning, the dense flock of sheep rush out of the ancient city, forming a spectacular landscape. In order to see the flock of sheep, I got up early and stood next to the high ground outside the city, like a flowing cloud. They linger by the lake to drink leisurely, the clouds in the sky, the clouds on the ground, the reflections in the lake, it's quite interesting. Yongtai Ancient City

The sun is like fire in the uninhabited area, and the gold is melted in the wilderness. The lonely desert beach is colorless, tasteless, not sad, not happy. It is this most cruel existence that makes people yearn for and miss. 'A lonely city with thousands of mountains' is the most appropriate description of this place. Yongtai Ancient City, which was built in the 36th year of Wanli in the Ming Dynasty and has a history of more than 400 years, was built by the Ming government to defend against the invasion of northern minorities. After its completion, it became a military fortress, and the Lanzhou commander was stationed in this castle. At that time, in addition to soldiers and horse teams, there were also gunpowder fields, fodder fields, mills, horse farms and other institutions in the city. The rammed earth-built Yongtai Ancient City Once, the city was full of water and grass, and the city was full of people. Today, it is no longer the same as before, only the bird's eye view of the ancient city, which looks like a golden turtle, stands as usual in the barren wilderness, telling the sparse tourists about its past and present. The dusty stage has sung the loudest drama outside the Great Wall, the old beams have carried the saddest battle of life and death, the broken walls have witnessed the prosperity and decline of a dynasty, and after the glory and disgrace, it is the long silence of history. Passing by your world, it is a distant vicissitudes, a border taste, a yesterday that cannot be reached, and a gradually fading away that cannot be retained. Although there are countless footprints bustling during the day, they always can't step through the thick stone road to leave a footprint. Four hundred years of unscrupulous wind, it seems to make everything in front of me lose its name, pushing and shoving time, deep and shallow, making the last turtle city in the world only become a corner of history..... 💡 TIPS: Location: Navigate and search for Baiyin Yongtai Ancient City. Tickets: Currently free of charge. Parking: The parking lot is at the entrance of the ancient city, free of charge. Tour time: about 1 hour. Because the ancient city is in the Gobi Desert, the ultraviolet rays are very strong, and the sandstorm will rise at any time. So polarized glasses and sunscreen must be prepared to avoid sunburn. The ancient city is all dirt roads and stone roads, a pair of comfortable sports shoes is necessary. The entire Yongtai Ancient City is known as the 'Turtle City' and 'Yongtai Turtle City' because it looks like a 'turtle'. This shape needs to be seen in full view with a drone. (Drones are allowed in this ancient city) There are only two small restaurants in the ancient city that provide meals, which can be tasted. There are also small shops, of course, you can bring your own food, especially drinking water. Yongtai Ancient City is well preserved, the reservoir is outside the city, but there is a well every few tens of meters in the city, and it is very convenient to fetch water for life. The entire ancient city is zero commercial and zero development, original flavor, and this is a cold, niche attraction, with fewer tourists, there is plenty of time to feel the style of the ancient city 400 years ago. The county road to the scenic spot has watermelons picked from the field on both sides, so sweet, so much water, and very cheap, take a few away, it's worth the trip. 📝 There is more travel information on the homepage~

Located in Jingtai County, Baiyin City, Gansu Province. It has a history of more than 400 years and is a textbook example of an ancient Chinese military fortress. Because it looks like a golden turtle from a bird's eye view, it is also known as Yongtai Turtle City🕋 In the vast Gobi Desert, Yongtai Turtle City, an ancient military castle from the Ming Dynasty 400 years ago, stands in the Gobi Desert🏜️There are still people living there❗️ At its peak, there were more than 1,300 households, but now there are less than ten. The city gates and walls are still there, as are the collapsed, dilapidated, uninhabited houses. 🛖 As the sun sets, shepherds herd their sheep back to the fold, adding a touch of color to the farming era. There is a primary school built in the early years of the Republic of China in the ancient city, named Wenhuaren School. There are no students, but the style of the Republic of China architecture is still preserved and it is well maintained. 🎫Tickets: Free all day 🚗Transportation: You can drive or charter a car, take the bridge bus🉑️ 📸Photography: Bring a drone for aerial photography✈️, you can use slow shutter speed to take photos of city gates and sheep 📸Photography suggestions: 1️⃣The biggest highlight of the ancient city is the shepherds driving the sheep out of the city (sunrise) and into the city (sunset). Make an appointment with the locals in advance for the shepherd's time. The fee is 100 yuan per time (the sheep can go in and out twice). If there are more people, you can join together. Reservations can usually be made at convenience stores and small restaurants. 2️⃣ Share a few camera positions for photographing sheep: on the left and right sides of the ancient city's 瓮城 (inside the first city wall) (silhouettes and backlighting can be photographed facing the sunset), outside the city wall (the sunset shines a golden light on the wall), and inside the inner city wall to take close-ups of sheep and shepherds. 3️⃣A tripod is a must, and you should also bring a neutral density filter to shoot with a slow shutter speed to capture the dynamics of the sheep. 4️⃣All the original buildings in the ancient city have been demolished, leaving only some bungalows built after the liberation. Most of them are now vacant, which can make some desolate films. 5️⃣It is recommended to go to the ancient city in the afternoon, take pictures of the ancient city walls and interiors, and then take pictures of the sheep walking back outside the ancient city before sunset. Generally, the sheep will drink water in the lake outside the city. 6️⃣The dead tree in the middle of the lake is also a good scene for taking photos. 7️⃣ Not far from the ancient city, there is a highway with mountains as the background, which is suitable for character blockbusters. stay: ☑️You can stay in Jingtai County. The conditions of several farmhouses that provide accommodation in the ancient city are poor. Of course, friends who like to experience retro inns can try ☑️Geographic location: 27 kilometers southwest of Jingtai County, Baiyin City, Gansu Province ⚠️Note: The ancient city is a national protected unit, please do not trample or damage it

Although it is called an ancient city, it is actually basically undeveloped and unpromoted. There are still some locals who still live here as usual Outside the town is the endless Gobi Desert, and in the distance is the Qilian Mountains🏞 The loess rammed walls surround nearly a hundred quaint houses🏘 The occasional passing residents, the sound of carriage bells, the breeze in the desert A casual shot is a beautiful picture of the Western Regions🗺 This uninvited guest couldn't help but slow down his pace. . 🎈This is the Yongtai Ancient City🏯, which is a 2.5-hour drive from Lanzhou. It is a military fortress built by the Ming government to defend against the invasion of ethnic minorities in the north. It was built in the 36th year of the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty (1608) and has a history of more than 400 years. It is now a national key cultural relic protection unit. . ✅✅✅Recommended features: 1⃣ Ancient buildings The walls and gates built of rammed earth look very old. There are still nearly a hundred old houses made of loess in the city, including residences, schools and other buildings, which are very different from the newly built ancient cities in various places. . 2⃣0 business 0 development There are only convenience stores and small restaurants serving local residents. There are no small commodity stores and no noisy commercial facilities. Everything is so authentic, which beats all the ancient cities in China. . 3⃣ Take photos and produce films The desert scenery, ancient city gates and houses are suitable for photos of all styles. The ancient city under the afterglow of the sunset is even more atmospheric . 4⃣A great place for stargazing It is far away from the city and there is no light pollution. You can see the spectacular starry sky and Milky Way at night. . 5⃣ Few people There are few tourists here, and it is quiet and peaceful. Very suitable for friends who like unpopular places . 📍Navigation: Yongtai Ancient City, Baiyin, Gansu 🎫Tickets: None 🅿️There is a large parking lot outside the city, no parking fee . ‼ ️Tips 1. There are only two small restaurants in the city where you can eat 2. There are several B&Bs in the city, you can consult for accommodation yourself 3. Yongtai Ancient City is close to Wuwei, so it is highly recommended to visit it together . 🚗3 days and 2 nights itinerary suggestions 𝐃𝐚𝐲𝟏: Lanzhou ➠ Yongtai Ancient City ➠ Wuwei Museum ➠ Dayun Temple ➠ Tengger Desert Scenic Area 𝐃𝐚𝐲𝟐: Wuwei Confucian Temple➠Xixia Museum➠South City Gate➠Kumaraji Temple➠Haizang Temple➠Desert Sculpture Park 𝐃𝐚𝐲3: Leitai Han Tomb➠Baita Temple➠Shenzhou Desert Wildlife Park➠Return . 🏠Stay | Hampton by Hilton Wuwei ✔Convenient parking and many surrounding facilities ✔ Clean and tidy . 🥙【Food Recommendation】 ▪Wang Lao San De Lin’s Special Lamb Delights: Local specialty noodles, paired with fried lamb offal, very appetizing! ▪Laohezhou Laoma Dapanji: A decades-old restaurant that only serves Dapanji. The chicken is tender and tasty

Yongtai Ancient City is located in Yongtai Village, Sitan Township, Jingyuan County, Baiyin City, Gansu Province. It is a large-scale earthen ancient city for military garrison defense during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Yongtai City is 520 meters long from east to west and 500 meters wide from north to south, covering an area of more than 300,000 square meters. There are semi-circular moon cities built on the east, west, and north sides of the city. Relics such as stone steles have been unearthed, and there is a moat around the city. This city is known as a textbook example of ancient Chinese military fortresses!

Driving into the ancient city, as if entering the scene in the TV scene, this is another hidden world. Yongtai The ancient city has a history of more than 400 years and was built by the Ming government to defend against the invasion of minorities in the north. Upon completion, it will become a military fortress, and Lanzhou will be stationed in this castle. At that time, there were more than 2,000 soldiers in the city and 500 horsemen. There were gunpowder fields, forage yards, mills, and horse farms. The city wall is made of loess, with a circumference of 1717 meters, a wall height of 12 meters, a city base of 6 meters and an area of 318 acres. The entire city plane is elliptical, the city gate opens to the south, the outer gate is built, the outer door is called "Yongning Gate", the inner door is called "Yongtai Gate", and the door is slightly westward, resembling a glans. Today, there are less than 100 people living in this ancient city, most of them old people and children. Most of the villagers here are mainly grazing, just happened to return to the flock. At this moment, I really want to be a shepherd here.

Before going out to play, most of the time is spent on the traffic and tourist photos of the scenic spots, and this trip for photography is still very interesting, after all, I am an Aquarius that likes new things. This trip to Gansu, and my sister deliberately brought Hanfu, which is a martial arts dream of Miss Sister. sister is the model of this trip. The wind on the wall of Yongtai Ancient City is very big. In her words: "This is a place where the wind is so big that it will blow the false eyelashes" Climb to the wall to see At sunset, the size of this ancient city is still very large. Its just a baptism of history, and its slowly being forgotten. Looking at the light at sunset, flashing a few. There is a pond at the gate of the city, the setting sun is reflected in the lake, and the flock of the late returning, this scene is really like the scene in the movie.

Yongtai Ancient City, now located in Sitan Township, Jingtai County, Gansu Province, was built in the 36th year of Ming Wanli (1608). It has a history of more than 400 years and was built by the Ming government to defend against the invasion of minorities in the north. Upon completion, it will become a military fortress, and Lanzhou will be stationed in this castle. At that time, there were more than 2,000 soldiers in the city and 500 horsemen. There were gunpowder fields, forage yards, mills, and horse farms. Yongtai City Wall is made of loess, with a circumference of 1717 meters, a wall height of 12 meters, a city base of 6 meters and an area of 318 acres. The entire city plane is elliptical, the city gate opens to the south, the outer gate is built, the outer door is called "Yongning Gate", the inner door is called "Yongtai Gate", and the door is slightly westward, resembling a glans. It is built on the four sides and is shaped like a tortoise. There are five beacon towers in the north of the city that are gradually going away, resembling a turtle tail. There is a moat in the city, about 6 meters wide and about 1 to 2.5 meters deep. The shape of the entire city resembles a tortoise, hence the name "Kurch City."