Ancient trees line the post road, an ancient post town beneath Chicken Crow Mountain - Chicken Crow Post Station

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People's yearning for the history of ancient towns remains unabated. Some are drawn to the gentle beauty of ancient towns in southern China, born and flourished by water; others admire the charm of merchant culture in ancient Shanxi towns; still others appreciate the unique style of ancient towns along the Silk Road or the Tea Horse Road.

Ancient towns in Hebei may lack the charm of the water towns in southern China, and they are not as beautiful as Lijiang or Dali, but they give off a sense of depth and weight.

One ancient city was established due to a post station and named after Mount Jimin. The mountain peak rises to 1129 meters above sea level and is known as the "solitary peak outside the Great Wall." It has been a famous mountain since ancient times, with emperors from various dynasties visiting Mount Jimin to admire the northern scenery. The Jimin Post Station city at the foot of the mountain was an important transportation hub connecting Beijing to Zhangjiakou and other places in ancient times, and also a significant military base, possessing great historical and aesthetic value.

Within the ancient city are ancient city walls over 300 meters long, built with blue bricks and compacted yellow earth. The walls are 15 meters high, with two major gates, east and west, each topped with turrets. Five main streets crisscross the ancient city, dividing it into 12 districts, complete with government offices, shops, granaries, palaces, temples, and ancestral halls. It resembles a miniature Pingyao, often called Zhangjiakou's "Pingyao".

Standing atop the relatively intact city walls offers a wide view encompassing Mount Jimin nearby, the surrounding fields, and the multicolored, uneven post station below, creating an overall atmosphere of age and history.

Passing through the thick gate reveals a straight road stretching to an unseen point. At one time, countless horses and travelers must have walked this path.

An ancient post station, a thousand-year-old road. This ancient city, weathered by centuries, exudes an undeniable sense of desolation and majesty, yet still whispers tales of its past.

Today, whether from a tourism or cultural relic perspective, the well-preserved Jimin Post Station city retains its former glory and holds immense historical value.

He Family Courtyard: When the Eight-Nation Alliance invaded Beijing, Empress Dowager Cixi and Emperor Guangxu fled west to Shaanxi. On their way through Huailai County, the discerning Empress Dowager Cixi surprisingly chose not to stay in the ancient Huailai city, but in the smaller Jimin Post Station. The courtyard is filled with brick houses adorned with carvings of dragons and phoenixes. The second courtyard wall still bears the inscribed characters "鸿禧接福" (Hongxi Jiefu), commemorating her stay.

Taishan Temple: A visit to Jimin Post Station is incomplete without viewing the murals of the Taishan Temple. Despite being over 300 years old, the murals in the hall remain clearly visible, their rich layering captivating.

Wenchang Palace: This served as a place of study for wealthy local children in Jimin Post Station and also functioned as the local Confucian temple.