I came here inexplicably, as if I had traveled thousands of miles through thousands of years, and suddenly there appeared in front of me such a desolate ancient city far away from modern prosperity, which made people wonder what night it was.
There is no blue sky and white clouds, no green trees, no flowers, and no high-rise buildings. There are only gray streets and houses under the gray sky. Everything reveals the simplicity and vicissitudes of time.
Qingzhou, now known as Qingcheng, is a county under the jurisdiction of Qingyang City, Gansu Province. It is located in eastern Gansu, upstream of the Malian River. Because it is surrounded by mountains and two rivers , shaped like a phoenix, also known as Fengcheng. Qingcheng was the land of Yu Gong and Yongzhou in ancient times. It is one of the birthplaces of Chinese farming culture and an important part of the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region. The special mountain topography has made Qingcheng always inhabited by people in all dynasties, so it is called the "living thousand-year-old ancient city".
This morning, I wanted to take a bus to Jiahui Gate in the south and see the city gate up close, but I couldn’t find the bus route online, so I had to use Amap to guide me all the way there.
It is less than 3 kilometers from the Hanjia Hotel where I am staying to Jiahuimen, passing the 10th and 2nd Oil Production Plant of Changqing Oilfield in the middle.
? The bus stop on the road looks like this.
Take a photo of Jiahui Gate from South Street. This is probably the best-preserved gate in Qingcheng. When I came here, I entered the city from here.
Shot from the front of Zhouli Square from outside.
The mounds on both sides are ancient city walls, and a stone tablet has been erected under the city wall to explain.
? Jurye Square was newly built in recent years and has the sculptures of Gyeongju Castle.
What is the meaning of this sculpture? I have no idea.
Among the above, I only know the word "plough". With little knowledge of history, geography, and literature, I am too lazy to study and study temporarily in this square. Being as lax as I am and being erudite have never been relevant to me. However, the word farming indicates that this theme should reflect farming culture.
On the east side of the square is the glass observation deck at the source of the Malian River, where Huanjiang River and Rouyuan River merge to the east and west to form the Malian River and flow southward.
Far across from Jiahui Gate is Wenbi Peak. There is a tower on the peak, and the top of the tower looks like the tip of a pen. It is said that this place is a geomantic treasure land and gave birth to two generations of literary giants, Li Mengyang and Hui Dengjia.
Sorry, I didn’t go up.
On the way back to the hotel, I took a bus. The only bus in the entire county was No. 2. I couldn’t use WeChat, Alipay, or Meituan. Thanks to me, I took out a few pieces of change from my bag.
A close-up shot of Jiahui Gate.
The house near Jiahui Gate. A mural reflecting the garrison of the 359th Brigade of the Eighth Route Army in Qingcheng.
I think, without these modern motor vehicles, this small town thousands of years ago, would it be similar to what it is today?
? At night, the lights were all on. Although it was deserted, it had a bit of neon flashing, and the gray shadows during the day were gone.
The hotel where I stayed.
? For one land and one people, God is fair. This place is barren and desolate like Yan'an, but it has rich oil and gas resources underground. Changqing Oilfield currently has an annual oil and gas equivalent of 50 million tons, and hundreds of companies in Guangqing City provide technical services here.
This living ancient city is low-key and restrained, without any modern ostentation or fancy. It really does not show off its wealth and beauty!