Heishui  Ancient City, regarded as the most complete and largest ruins of the ancient city on the Silk Road, is located in a desert Gobi about 26 kilometers southwest of Dalahubu Town, the seat of the Ejin Banner Government of Alxa League in Inner Mongolia Region.

 

After entering the scenic spot, go deep along the tour road, you can visit the sight-seeing in order: the strange forest, the red city, the Datong city, the Heshui city and other scenic spots.

Heishui City, also called Hei City (Black City), was once an important military castle and garrison fortress on the northern border of the Western Xia Dynasty （1038—1227）. This was also the main station leading to Lingbei Province from the Hexi Corridor in the Yuan Dynasty (1271—1368). There was a large area of ​​oasis around Heishui City. After the middle of the 14th century, the water source began to dry up. As a result, the city finally was disappeared.Now all you see is the remnants of the isolated city in the sand sea.

 

At that time, the former city wall was about 200 meters long on each side, and there was a gate on each side of the east and west. Now,you can see ruins of the South Wall and the South Gate. In the southwestern part of the ancient city, you can also see an ancient church with a relatively preserved shape. The top and wall of the chapel are the same as the Islamic mosque. Although many places are buried by quicksand, you can clearly identify the streets and walls of buildings in the city. There is a bowl-style tower on the northwest corner of the city wall, which can be seen in the desert 10 kilometers away. There are two groups of soil pagoda groups outside the city, but only the base of the pagoda remains. However, the entire ancient city gives an infinitely desolate and tragic feeling for visitors.

The Strange Forest Scenic Spot is 15 kilometers away from the Heshui Ancient City. Walking along the boardwalk to the depths of the forest, you can see the old and dried Populus euphratica forest. The scene here is like an ancient battlefield in which corpses are spreading across the field. Shooting sunsets in the Strange Forest Scenic Spot  has always attracted photographers. Populus euphratica withered in various poses under the setting sun is a shock to the soul! That is a kind of incomplete beauty! Desolate beauty!   

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Travel Tips
Add: Dalahubu Town, Ejina Banner Government of Alxa League in Inner Mongolia Region.
Entrance Fees: CNY 160
Opening Hours: 08:00-18:00

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