Tongwancheng Ruins
统万城
Capital of the Xiongnu-founded Great Xia kingdom. Its white walls, built of rammed earth about 1,600 years ago, stand in the Mu Us Desert and are locally known as the 'White City'.
Tongwancheng was the capital of the Great Xia state, founded by the Xiongnu chief Helian Bobo starting in 413 CE. It is the only surviving capital site of the Xiongnu. The site lies in Baicheng Village, Hongdunjie Town, about 45 km north of Jingbian county seat. The walls are rammed from a mixture of lime and sand and still look whitish. The towering western corner tower and its 'horse-face' buttresses stand against the bleak landscape of the Mu Us Desert. The site is a national key cultural relic protection unit and national archaeological park. At the entrance, a museum uses video to reconstruct the city. Walking the full circuit of the walls takes about 2 hours with no shade, so bring water and sun protection. You will need to drive yourself or hire a car.
Opening hours
About 08:30–18:00