BEIJING (INP): Enjoying the reputation of great military city and as a strategic gateway on the northern border, Datong was a city with strategic and military importance in ancient China. During the recent visit of foreign media delegation to the Datong city, it was learned that covering an area of 3.28 square kilometers, Datong ancient city is one of the ancient preserved cities still in good condition in China. As most of the important ancient cities in northern China , Datong ancient city still remains its traditional city layout dating back from the Tang and Song Dynasties and fully developed in the Ming dynasty , conforming a typical layout of residential wards which that plan of the city takes look as chessboard. The four main roads , namely Heyang Road in the east, QingyuanRoad in the west, Yongtai Road in the south and Wuding Road in the north, meet at Sipailu (Four archway building ), taken as the landmark of the center of the ancient city. These four roads divide the ancient city into four wards with different function.

There were four towers at the four main streets of the city, namely Taiping Tower (The tower of eternal peace) on Heyang street in the east, beacon tower on Qingyuan street in the west , drum tower on yongtai street in the south and kuixing tower on the Wuding street in the north . Most popular historic and cultural sites constructed in the Liao,Jin , Yuan, Ming , Qing dynasties are located in Datong ancient city, among which the most famous ones are Huayan temple , Shanhua temple and nine dragon wall. It was also learnt that the ancient city walls of Datong was built in the Ming dynasty , when he was based in Datong as military governor. It utilized the old ramparts of previous dynasties. Watch towers , corner towers , gate towers and archery towers that protruded from the wall were located at regular intervals along the wall. Datong city wall together with city moat, suspension bridges, barbicans, moon cities and forts were a strong fortification built to withstand attack in war. In 2008, an overall project of preservation and rejuvenation of historical and cultural city undertaken by Datong local government started.

Datong city wall was restored to its original magnificent scale and appearance as in the Ming dynasty. Being located under No.11 watch tower on the western section of Datong city wall, Datong city wall ruins museum is a city wall theme museum. Covering an area of 1,920 square meters, the museum has two storeys. The upper storey exhibits 36 old photos of Datong city wall. The lower storey exhibits city walls ruins dating back to the northern Wei, Liao, Jin and Ming dynasties and unearthed ornamental parts of the city wall, such as bricks, stone compactor, water gate etc. The exhibition wall of the museum has four themes namely ancient capital , ancient rejuvenation solid city wall and military city defending Beijing which demonstrate the history, restoration, architectural character and cultural connotation of Datong city wall.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP) — Pak-China