Huangsiqiao Ancient Town



Fenghuang Ancient City, a small city under the jurisdiction of the Tujia Autonomous Prefecture of Hunan
Province, borders northern Guizhou Province and eastern Chongqing Municipality. Surrounded by mountains
and girdled by the Tuojiang River, this small, quiet city is famous for its beautiful landscape, and as
birthplace of several celebrated Chinese personages.

The Huangsiqiao Ancient Town, located at Alaying town and 30 kilometers west of Fenghuang Ancient City,
was originally known as Weiyang City and was founded in 687AD during the Tang Dynasty.

There is a story told about how the town got its name. There was once a silk worker who lived in the area.
With the money he had earned over many years he built a bridge over the river so that the Miao people could come more easily to the town and buy
his silk. The bridge thus helped to increase contact between the Han and Miao people. As the family name of the silk worker was Huang, the Miao
people named the town where he lived Huangsiqiao (meaning Yellow Silk Bridge).

The ancient city of Huangsiqiao is part of the Southern Great Wall and claims to be the best-preserved stone city in China. The present city wall
was built in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and all buildings are made of stone. It covers an area of little more than 2,900 square meters and there
are three old city gates to the east, west and north. Each of the gate towers stands more than 10 meters high. From the gate tower, one can enjoy
brilliant views of the surrounding countryside.

The town is over 600 meters in circumference with gate towers to the east, west and north. About one
hundred families live in this old town, which is also site of several old tilted houses. Huangsiqiao is the
best-kept fortress in China. From its top you can see endless fertile lands shining in the setting sun.
Thousands of years ago it was the most important fort in the west, and its history is full of wars.