Beiting Ancient City National Archaeological Ruins Park is located 12 kilometers north of Jimusa'er County, Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is a national 4A-level tourist attraction. The ruins park covers a total area of 1,071.5 hectares, with a core area of 1.5 square kilometers. The scenic area features the integration of archaeological research, cultural protection, and sightseeing experiences, allowing visitors to deeply understand history and culture by observing archaeological sites and appreciating unearthed cultural relics. The ruins consist of two inner and outer cities. The outer city has a perimeter of 4,596 meters (east wall 1,686m, south wall 850m, west wall 1,575m, north wall 485m), with a residual width of 5-8 meters at the base and a residual height of 3-5 meters. The inner city has a perimeter of approximately 3,003 meters (south wall 610m, north wall 818m, east wall 560m, west wall 1,015m), with a base width of 3-4 meters and a residual height of about 2 meters.
History and Culture
In the second year of Shenjue during the Western Han Dynasty (60 BC), this area was the Jinman City, the seat of the royal court of the Houbu of Cheshi, serving as the predecessor of Beiting Ancient City. In the 14th year of Zhenguan during the Tang Dynasty (640 AD), Tingzhou was established here after pacifying Gaochang. In the second year of Chang'an during the Wu Zhou period (702 AD), the Beiting Grand Protectorate was established in Tingzhou, governing a vast region from north of the Tianshan Mountains to south of Lake Balkhash, extending westward to the Caspian Sea. In the fifth year of Kaicheng during the Tang Dynasty (840 AD), a part of the westward-migrating Huihe people settled in Beiting Ancient City. After the establishment of the Gaochang Huihe regime in 866 AD, Beiting remained one of its political centers. In the second year of Kaixi during the Southern Song Dynasty (1206 AD), Genghis Khan westward conquered and renamed Beiting Ancient City as Bishbalik. In the 10th year of Yongle during the Ming Dynasty (1412 AD), Mahama, the king of Bishbalik, assassinated the Yuan ruler and established the Kingdom of Bishbalik, later relocating its center to Yilibalik, and Beiting Ancient City was destroyed in this war. In 1988, the Beiting Ancient City Ruins were listed as the third batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units. In December 2013, it was designated as a National Archaeological Ruins Park, and in June 2014, it was inscribed on the World Heritage List.
Main Attractions
Beiting Ancient City
The plane of Beiting Ancient City is an irregular rectangular shape from north to south, divided into inner and outer cities, both equipped with moats, horse-faced watchtowers, enemy platforms, corner towers, and city gates. The southern, northern, and western walls of the outer city still exist, with the northern city gate well-preserved. The inner city is divided into two layers, with the remains of gates on the northern and western walls visible. 14 horse-faced watchtowers are still exist outside the city walls, and there is one enemy platform in the middle of the eastern and western walls each. The residual foundations of corner towers in the southeast, northwest, and southwest corners remain. The remains of yamen offices, temples, and market streets in the city can be faintly distinguished, with broken bricks, gravel, and pottery shards scattered everywhere.
Xida Temple
Xida Temple is located about 700 meters west of Beiting Ancient City. It is a Buddhist temple ruin from the Tang, Song, and Yuan dynasties and a royal temple of the Gaochang Huihe. The plane is rectangular (70.5 meters long from north to south, 43.8 meters wide from east to west), divided into northern and southern parts. The northern part is the main hall, featuring large Buddha statues. The hall is surrounded by caves on the northern, eastern, and western sides. Inside the hall, there are both statues (Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, Arhats, Heavenly Kings, Lions) and murals (thousand-Buddha images, Bodhisattvas, images of monastic donors, Dharmapalas, and sutra transformation stories, etc.), with Huihe and Chinese inscriptions visible. The southern part is a courtyard and complex of auxiliary halls, monastic quarters, and storehouses.
Food
Nang Pizza
Combining traditional nang with pizza craftsmanship, it has the crispness of nang and the rich ingredients of pizza, with a unique flavor.
Spicy and Numbing Chicken
Using fresh and tender chicken, paired with seasonings like Sichuan pepper and chili, it is fragrant, spicy, and has a rich taste.
Homemade Noodle Soup
With noodles as the main ingredient, adding mutton, vegetables, and other ingredients, the soup is rich and delicious.
Local Chicken Stewed with Taro
The mellow taste of local chicken combines with the soft and waxy texture of taro, rich in nutrition and sweet in flavor.
Air-Dried Chicken
Chicken is processed by air-drying, with firm meat and a unique air-dried aroma, suitable for steaming or stir-frying.
Pilaf
A classic Xinjiang dish, the rice is distinct and paired with mutton, carrots, raisins, etc., with a rich taste and appetizing aroma.
Tickets
The ticket price is 45 yuan per person, subject to the actual price of the scenic area.
As of May 25, 2025, the official WeChat public account of the scenic area has not been found.
Opening Hours
Open daily from 10:00 to 19:00. Subject to the actual opening hours of the scenic area.
Tour Route
Enter from the south gate, first visit the exhibition board area on the right to understand the background of Beiting Ancient City's construction, and climb the watchtower to overlook the entire city; then go to the east gate to watch the Beiting Poetry Feast scene play; next, go to the north gate to understand military history through historical scene performances; then go to the west gate to experience the prosperous business scene of the ancient Silk Road; finally, arrive at the Beiting Gaochang Huihe Buddhist Temple Ruins to enjoy the music and light show.
Transportation
- Self-driving: Take Jingxin Expressway to Jimusa'er County, then turn to Beiting Road, X208, and Y410 to reach the ruins.
- Public Transportation: First take a bus to Jimusa'er County Town, then transfer to a bus to Hongqi Farm or take a taxi to go there.
Must-Visit Attractions
- Beiting Ancient City: The political, military, and cultural center of the Silk Road's northern foot of Tianshan Mountains from the Tang to Yuan dynasties. The city walls, moats, horse-faced watchtowers, and other buildings are well-preserved, showcasing the scale and grandeur of ancient cities.
- Xida Temple: A royal temple of the Gaochang Huihe, with murals and statues of extremely high artistic value. The "Eight Kings Dividing the Relics" and other murals represent the highest level of Huihe Buddhist art.
Tour Tips
- Wear comfortable shoes as long-distance walking is required in the ruins area.
- Carry sun protection items such as sun hats and sunscreen, as the ultraviolet rays in Xinjiang are strong.
- Hire a scenic area guide to deeply understand the historical and cultural background.
- Reserve 3-4 hours for the tour to fully experience the historical heritage.
Notes
- Abide by the scenic area regulations, and do not touch or climb the ruins and cultural relics.
- Keep the environment clean and do not litter.
- Follow the guidance of staff, especially in archaeological site areas.
- When participating in the "Night Tour of Beiting" project at night, walk along the specified route and pay attention to safety.