Black City Ruins, A Timeless Echo of Prosperity Buried in Sands

On the Gobi desert, approximately 26 kilometers southwest of Dalai Kubu town in Ejina Qi, Alxa League, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region

The most remains of Black City's site

4.7

Historical site

Introduction

Located about 26 kilometers southwest of Dalaihubu Town, the seat of Ejina Banner's government, in the desert Gobi, is the largest and most intact ancient city site on the "Silk Road"-the Xiaheicheng (Heishuicheng) of the Western Xia Dynasty. The scenic area includes the Hongcheng site, Datongcheng site, and the Strange Forest. Visitors can tour the area by internal sightseeing car (30 yuan per fare), with multiple departures, but during the National Day period, there may be crowded conditions. Sightseeing cars only operate during the National Day period. At other times, visitors can rent a car from the town, and drivers do not need to purchase tickets. Heicheng was a post station for the Yuan Dynasty corridors leading to the Lingbei Province in the mid-14th century. It was an important military castle and garrison fortress on the border of the Western Xia Dynasty, and is now a ruined city. The southern wall and southern gate site are still well-preserved, and a relatively intact ancient church can be seen in the southwest, with the dome and wall style of the chapel identical to that of an Islamic mosque. Although buried in the sand, the streets and building walls in the city are still clearly discernible. At the northwest corner of the city wall, there is a pot-shaped tower that can still be seen in the desert 10 kilometers away. Near the Datuta, there are two groups of earthen towers, but only remnants remain. The entire ancient city site evokes an infinite sense of desolation and tragedy.

Address

On the Gobi desert, approximately 26 kilometers southwest of Dalai Kubu town in Ejina Qi, Alxa League, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region

Opening hours

08:00-18:00 (Monday-Sunday, January 1-December 31)

Transportation

Arriving at the scenic area: 1. There is no public transportation from town to the scenic area, and the one-way charter fee is about 60 yuan (on normal days). 2. If you hire a car from town to the scenic area and enter the scenic area for sightseeing (including from the Grotesque Forest to the Black City) before returning to town, the total car fee is about 100-120 yuan (on normal days), and local drivers do not need tickets. Sightseeing bus during National Day: 1. The shuttle bus has many trips, but there are more people, and it takes some physical effort to squeeze onto the bus. The shuttle bus has two stops at the Grotesque Forest and one stop at the Black City. 2. If you get off at the "second stop" at the Grotesque Forest and walk for about ten minutes, you can reach the Red City. 3. There is a station in Datong City, but currently few tourists go there because the site is fenced off with barbed wire. If you get off at this stop, you need to inform the driver in advance.

Phone 0483-2245196;18248301014