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Jingbian County Attractions 靖边县景点
Tongwan City 统万城
According to Sima Qian, the Xiongnu were the descendants of the Xia Dynasty's last ruler. These nomadic people lived in steppe area, especially in the Ordos and Northern China. Many people speculate these nomads are better known as the Huns. Nevertheless, it is proven that the Turkic people and the Xiongnu are linked genetically.
The relations between the Han and Xiongnu were difficult. As the Xiongnu were gaining territory and growing more powerful, the Han wanted to get rid of them. But is was the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty, Qin Shihuang, who drove them some 350 km north and had a wall built as defense against them.
Tongwancheng, the capital of Daxia, was built in 419 BC by the Xiongnu right on the border with Inner Mongolia north of Jingbian. From a distance it looks like a ship, that's why it's so special.
The city is divided into 3 parts: the walled palace with a watch tower at each corner, the inner city and the outer city. Its white color comes from a mixture with sand, white powdered earth and glutinous rice water.
For centuries the Wuding River dried up and the city disappeared in the desert for more than 1,000 years.
Because Tongwancheng is the only ruined city of the Xiongnu excavated, it is of great cultural and historical importance. The ruins will become a part of world heritage by UNESCO.
The site itself is amazing, but known by few people. Even most of the Chinese people have never heard of it, only those who live close to this place have.
Tongwancheng is also merily mentioned in travel guides. So if you go there for a visit, most likely you are the only one there. Nevertheless, the ticket office offers you a DVD or VCD about Tongwancheng, which you can buy for a respectable price.
You can have your picture taken sitting on a camel or buy some old-looking pots or knives. Whether they are real relics, that I don't know, but they can be a nice souvenir.
I strongly suggest you take more than one hour to look around. Try to find a watch tower or some walls in the far distance or just enjoy the dessert's beauty. You can easily climb the 'ship' and once you've reached the top, the panoramic view of the Maowusu desert is quite impressive.
