#Ancient City Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in May)
Gansu Impressions: Watch 'Hexi Corridor' and Visit the Ancient City of Liqian
Gansu Impressions: Watch 'Hexi Corridor' ❤️ and Visit the Ancient City of Liqian
If you missed the popular attractions in Jinchang from the last issue, hurry up and check it out.
Today, I want to single out the ancient city of Liqian in Jinchang to talk about.
The ancient city of Liqian, a mysterious millennium-old city, is located in Yongchang County, Jinchang City, Gansu Province, at an altitude of 2,400 meters and dates back more than 2,000 years. It was first established during the Western Han Dynasty and was an important city and military fortress. The existence of the Liqian ruins proves that descendants of ancient Romans once lived here.
The architecture of the ancient city mainly features a blend of Etruscan architectural techniques, ancient Greek architectural techniques, and Han Dynasty architectural styles. However, due to historical changes, sand erosion, and human destruction, it has not been preserved intact.
Liqian became well-known due to the hypothesis proposed by the Oxford University Sinology professor D. D. Leslie regarding the historical relationship between the Han Dynasty and Rome—the mystery of the disappearance of the First Roman Legion.
He believed that in 53 BC, when Crassus led seven Roman legions to a disastrous defeat at the hands of the Parthian army in the Battle of Carrhae, Crassus's eldest son did not die in battle but instead led more than 6,000 men of the First Legion to break through the defense line and never returned to Rome, their fate unknown. It is speculated that they may have eventually settled in Liqian Village, Yongchang County, Gansu Province, China. In Chinese history, ancient Rome is called Liqian, hence the Romans were also known as the Liqian people.
Today, in the ancient city of Liqian, there is a Buddhist holy site with a blend of Chinese and Western elements—Jinshan Temple. From a distance, it looks like a magnificent Christian church, but it is actually a Buddhist holy site with the sound of chanting.
Highlight, highlight!!! If you want an immersive travel experience, after wandering around the ancient city of Liqian, you can stay at Jinshan Temple at night. Get up at two or three in the morning, put on a robe, and join the monks in the temple for morning prayers, seeking your long-lost original intention amidst the chants of Amitabha. Although it will be tiring, it is a unique experience!
After the morning prayers, you may encounter the surprise of a morning mist clearing or a heavy snowfall in October! Then, have a quiet breakfast with someone who shares your destiny.
Many people come here to practice Buddhism, some for a long stay, others for a short one. In any case, Buddha guides those with destiny, and here the soul feels at peace, no longer troubled, and those twisted things can be soothed.
Time flies, and more than two thousand years have passed with the wind. The Liqian County, which was once specially established for the ancient Romans, has now become ruins amidst the vicissitudes of history, and those Liqian people who came from afar and died in a foreign land have also gradually become little known in the splendid Chinese civilization.
All that remains are their descendants, who, with the unique traits created by their ancestors' genes, tell the world a legendary story full of twists and turns in the long river of history.
ulric_6172
Strolling through the least popular towns in Hexi Corridor| Liqian Ancient City
|Liqian Ancient City. Strolling through the least popular towns in Hexi Corridor
Yongchang County is under the jurisdiction of Jinchang City, Gansu Province, located in the northwest of Gansu Province, at the eastern part of the Hexi Corridor, the northern foot of the Qilian Mountains, and the southern edge of the Alashan Plateau. It is an important town on the Silk Road in the Hexi Corridor.
⛩️ Scenic Spot Introduction
Liqian Ancient City
Liqian, also known as Liqian, is an ancient city in the Western Han Dynasty of China, with the earliest documentary record in 60 BC. Liqian Village, also known as Zhe Lai Village. Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty incorporated Hexi into the territory of the Han Dynasty, and the Han Dynasty set up Liqian County, which was successively under the jurisdiction of Zhangye and Wuwei, and was an important commercial and military fortress on the ancient Silk Road.
Liqian is located in Jiaozhuang Township, Yongchang County, Jinchang City, Gansu Province, and is famous for the hypothesis of "Roman legions stranded in China". This hypothesis believes that in 53 BC, when Crassus led seven Roman legions to be defeated by the Parthian army in the Battle of Carrhae, Crassus's eldest son did not die in battle, but led the First Legion with more than 6,000 people to break through the defense line, never returned to Rome, and disappeared. It is speculated that they may have finally settled in Liqian Village. In 2007, scientists also found through genetic identification of local people that their Y chromosomes are mostly of East Asian local types, and most of the haplotypes have nothing to do with Romans. The hypothesis of "Roman legions stranded in China" lacks evidence.
🎫Ticket Information
Free visit, open all day
🚗Traffic Information
It is about 15 kilometers from Beiwudang Mountain to Liqian Ancient City by car, and the parking lot in the scenic area is 10 yuan/time.
🍱Food Recommendation
Navigate to "Bell Tower Snack City", there are many local special foods, such as buckwheat cold noodles, kang pot and local special noodles
GlobalAdventurer_555
Strolling through the least popular towns in Hexi Corridor
Yongchang County belongs to Jinchang City, Gansu Province, located in the northwest of Gansu Province, in the eastern part of the Hexi Corridor, at the foot of the Qilian Mountains, and on the southern edge of the Alashan Plateau. It is an important town on the Silk Road in the Hexi Corridor.
⛩️ Brief introduction of the attractions
1️⃣ Yongchang Wudang Mountain
Yongchang Wudang Mountain, also known as Jinshan and North Wudang Mountain, is located on the west side of Beihai Scenic Area in Yongchang County, Jinchang City, Gansu Province. It was also a cultural center of Taoism and Buddhism during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, with Taoist buildings being the majority. The North Wudang Mountain Temple was built before the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty and was gradually completed during the Guangxu period, forming a complete architectural complex.
The entire building of North Wudang Mountain was finally destroyed around 1966. All the antique buildings you see now were newly built by Yongchang County in 1994. From the foot of the mountain to the golden top, 15 buildings such as Dajue Temple, Guanyin Hall, Sanqing Palace, Baxian Pavilion, Baizi Cave, Dacheng Hall, and Confucius Temple were built. The mountain road was renovated, and more than a thousand brick and stone steps were built from the mountain gate to the golden top. The following year, all the temples were painted with murals or statues. The newly built North Wudang Mountain Temple integrates Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism. All buildings are divided into three parts: Buddhist buildings at the foot of the mountain, folk gods buildings in Baizi Cave at the waist of the mountain, and Taoist and Confucian cultural buildings from Baizi Cave to the golden top.
2️⃣ Li Jing Ancient City
Li Jing, also known as Li Jing, is an ancient city in the Western Han Dynasty in China. The earliest documentary record is 60 BC. Li Jing Village, also known as Zhe Lai Village. Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty opened up the Hexi Corridor and set up Jiuquan, Dunhuang, Zhangye, and Wuwei, and Hexi was included in the territory of the Han Dynasty. The Han Dynasty set up Li Jing County, which was successively under the jurisdiction of Zhangye and Wuwei, and was an important commercial and military fortress on the ancient Silk Road.
Li Jing is located in Jiaojia Village, Yongchang County, Jinchang City, Gansu Province, and is famous for the hypothesis of the Roman Legion's stranding in China. This hypothesis believes that in 53 BC, when Crassus led seven Roman legions to a disastrous defeat in the Battle of Carrhae, Crassus's eldest son did not die in battle, but led the First Legion with more than 6,000 people to break through the line of defense. , Never returned to Rome, disappeared, and speculated that it might finally settle in Li Jing Village. In 2007, scientists also found through genetic identification of local people that their Y chromosomes are mostly of East Asian local types, and most haplotypes have nothing to do with Romans. The hypothesis of the Roman Legion's stranding in China lacks evidence.
🎫Ticket information
Both attractions are free to visit and open all day
🚗Traffic information
Self-driving from Jinchang City to North Wudang Mountain is about 50 kilometers, and the scenic area has a free parking lot.
It is about 15 kilometers from North Wudang Mountain to Li Jing Ancient City by self-driving, and the parking lot in the scenic area is 10 yuan/time.
🍱Food recommendation
Navigate to 'Clock Tower Snack City', there are many local special foods, such as buckwheat cold noodles, kang pot and local special noodles
🗺Tour guide
Reserve 2 hours for visiting North Wudang Mountain, and your calves will be sore the next day after climbing the mountain. You can do some stretching exercises for your muscles after climbing the mountain. It is recommended to reserve 1.5 hours for playing in Li Jing Ancient City. You can arrange to go to North Wudang Mountain for 2 hours in the morning, go to Yongchang Snack City to experience folk snacks at noon, and play in Li Jing Ancient City for 1.5 hours in the afternoon.
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