Jí Míng Yì, the most complete Ming Dynasty post station preserved in China; large post stations, small cities

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Jí Míng Yì, the name itself sounds like a fairytale forgotten by time. This ancient city, located in Huailai County, Zhangjiakou, Hebei Province, is not only China's best-preserved Ming Dynasty post station but also a time tunnel through history. Imagine the legendary stories of emperors and ministers that once unfolded within this 500-square-meter city.

On the Western Regions avenue opened by Genghis Khan, it initially started as a small "zhanchi". During the Yongle period of the Ming Dynasty, it transformed into the most powerful military fortress and post station around the capital. Seven hundred years of history have allowed this small city to witness the rise and fall of countless dynasties.

The city walls are 12 meters high, with watchtowers at each corner, and elevated towers built on the east and west gates, resembling a small military fortress.

It was not only a relay station for mail and intelligence but also a thriving commercial center. During its heyday, dozens of shops, oil shops, tea houses, and carriage shops flourished, resembling a "shopping mall" of that era. Imagine the spectacular sight of couriers carrying torches and riding horses through the city at night?

The existence of the Empress Dowager Cixi's palace adds a dramatic touch to this ancient city. When the Eight-Power Allied Forces captured Beijing, Cixi and Emperor Guangxu sought refuge here in haste. A brick carving inscribed with "Hóngxǐ Jiēfú" (鴻禧接福) silently records that thrilling period of history.

Today's Jí Míng Yì still retains its original atmosphere. Many original residents still live within the city walls. The lack of excessive development has preserved its primitive charm. Films such as "Blood Battle of Taierzhuang" and "A Chinese Odyssey" have used this location as a setting, highlighting its unique historical charm.

In 2001, it was listed as a national key cultural relic protection unit and was included in the World Cultural Heritage Foundation's list of 100 endangered heritage sites. This is not just an ancient city; it is a living book filled with Chinese history.

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