The Xindeng Ancient City Wall, part of the “Chinese Ming and Qing Dynasty City Walls”, has recently been added to the “China World Cultural Heritage Tentative List”. This marks a major milestone in its journey toward World Heritage status.
A Thousand Years of History
Originally built in 891 AD during the Tang Dynasty (Da Shun era) and reconstructed in 1556 during the Ming Jiajing reign, the Xindeng Ancient City Wall boasts a rich history spanning over a millennium.
The wall once stretched approximately 2,100 meters, with over 1,700 meters still standing today. Rising 5–7 meters tall, it is among the best-preserved ancient city walls in Zhejiang Province. Surrounding the wall is a moat, fed by water from the Ge Stream via the Hugong Dam. The moat, which stretches around 2,400 meters, varies in width and is elegantly shaped like a jade bracelet.
A Masterpiece of Ming and Qing City Wall Design
The Xindeng Ancient City Wall is a rare and well-preserved example of county-level city walls from the Ming and Qing Dynasties. It serves as a valuable model of ancient Chinese city wall construction, showcasing the architectural advancements and design principles of the time.
Beyond its structural ingenuity, the wall reflects the spatial organization of ancient Chinese cities and embodies the deep-rooted traditions of Chinese rituals and urban planning. As a vital witness to the evolution of Chinese urban civilization, it holds immense cultural and historical significance.
As it moves closer to World Heritage recognition, the Xindeng Ancient City Wall stands as a symbol of China’s enduring cultural legacy and a testament to the ingenuity of its ancient builders.