PLACE GUIDE

Yongtai Fortress 永泰古城

Yongtai Gucheng

Yongtai is a Ming military settlement enclosed by substantial rammed-earth walls on the dry plateau.

Aerial view of an oval walled town covered in snow
Aerial view of Yongtai Fortress, the snow-covered walled 'turtle city' in Jingtai County · 永泰古城航拍，白雪覆盖的龟城 Source-recorded photograph date: 2023-02-25. · China News Service · 中国新闻社 · CC BY 4.0
Photo adjustments

Full frame retained; proportionally resized and converted to WebP. No retouching or changes to the photographed subject. Card displays may crop the view.

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About Yongtai Fortress

Its outline led to the nickname Turtle City, with the south gate and projecting barbican suggesting the head. Passing that entrance reveals a quieter settlement within the defensive shell. The most useful comparison is between the carefully controlled gateway and the broad earth walls: both show how local materials were shaped into a fortified place.

Construction began in 1606 (万历三十四年) under the supervision of the Minister of War, Li Wen (李汶), and was completed in the sixth month of 1608. The fortress was built by the Ming rulers to defend against attacks from northern minorities and stationed 2,000 infantrymen and 500 cavalry. It was listed as a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level (全国重点文物保护单位) in 2006.

The fortress has a perimeter of 1,710 meters, measuring 520 meters east to west and 500 meters north to south. Its walls, built of rammed loess mixed with sand, stand 8 to 12 meters high, with a base 6 meters wide narrowing to 5 meters at the top. Due to desertification, the village within the walls is now mostly abandoned, its population having fallen from about 1,500 in the 1950s to around 100 today.

What to look for

  • The south gate and projecting barbican at the entrance to the enclosure.
  • The tall rammed-earth walls and the settlement’s turtle-like plan.

Location & getting there

Getting to Yongtai Fortress

Travel to Yongtai Village in the Sitan area of Jingtai County and approach through the southern gate area. Arrange the return road transfer in advance; the settlement is separate from both Jingtai town and the Yellow River Stone Forest.

General visit reminders

Choose the building, exhibition or part of the historic area you most want to see, then leave time to explore its setting. Check the venue’s current opening and reservation arrangements directly; a place appearing on the map does not mean every building or gallery is accessible on your travel date.

Combine your visit

A suggested order for the documented features and stops.

  1. South gate and barbican

    Understand the controlled defensive entrance.

  2. Internal lanes

    Compare the inhabited settlement with its military enclosure.

  3. Public exterior wall viewpoints

    Step back to read the earthwork profile without climbing fragile sections.

This is an editorial sequence. Check access and any road or boat transfers; it does not establish a walking route, common ticket or guaranteed same-day connection.

AI illustration: Weathered layers in an old rammed-earth wall (general reference, not this place).
AI illustration · AI 示意图（景观类型参考，非实拍） · 夯土遗址层理近景 — A general visiting detail, not an exact view of this place.
Historic towns & villages · 古镇古村／民族聚落 →

Find Yongtai Fortress

永泰古城 · 白银

Amap · 高德地图Approximate pin · 近似位置Apple Maps · 苹果地图

The pin marks the area, not the entrance.

More places nearby

Approximate straight-line distances between map pins, not travel distances.

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Sources & visit information

The sources below support the place-specific description and arrival information. Suggested combinations are editorial planning ideas; confirm current opening, entry arrangements and transport services for your date.

Visitor information adapted and edited from Wikipedia contributors, “永泰城址” · CC BY-SA 4.0. Source revision 90815628.

Background paragraphs translated and condensed from Wikipedia contributors, "永泰城址", Chinese Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0. Source revision 90815628.

Background paragraphs condensed from Wikipedia contributors, "Yongtai Fortress", English Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0. Source revision 1365399384.

China Revealed · Editorially updated 2026-10-07