Xingcheng Ancient City

This was built in 1428. It is one of the ten "Best Preserved Ancient City from Ming Dynasty". The ancient city is right beside Xingcheng Railway Station, and it is very convenient for visitors to spend half day in. The entrance for the ancient city itself is free, while one needs to pay if he wants to enter some temples or walk onto the city wall. In 1626, Ming General Yuan ChongHuan 袁崇焕 used the cannons imported from Portugal (红夷大炮 = "Western Cannons") to seriously injure Nurhachi at the East Gate of Xingcheng. Nurhachi died in the same year. The Battle of Ningyuan 宁远之战 (Xingcheng used to be named Ningyuan) was the first battle that Ming defeated Jin. It was an important battle in Ming's history.