Hey Hey and a Big G'Day toya,

Long train journeys during which you don’t know when your stop is, nor do you or anyone else seem to have any idea. Which is a little worrisome especially when the guy next to you is actually from the at town!

He thought we’d arrive at 3:30am but thankfully we arrived at 1:30am and after grabbing a cab to find a cheap hotel I was told by the Dong Xing Hotel (in the LP) to take another cab and go stay at the beach. After telling her I was here to see the ancient city she just told me they couldn’t help me even though they weren’t full and that no other small hotel in the area could help me either.

Well, don’t stop me after I’ve already started the Hotel Shuffle!
I walked across the road and checked straight in for not much more coast!

Now to the Ancient City Walls, Bell Tower & a great few days!

Despite being one of only four Ming Dynasty cities to retain their complete outer walls and boasting an up and coming beach resort, Xingcheng has stayed well off the radar of most travellers and within the walls can also be found the oldest surviving temple in all of northeastern China.

As it sits only twenty minutes (9km) from the Liaoning Gulf, Xingcheng’s three main beaches are fast becoming a crowded mecca for domestic tourists seeking relief from the bustling heat of summer. The area is also blessed with natural hot springs, discovered during the Tang Dynasty and the town is now marketed as a health destination and is frequented by groups of Chinese Officials on government sponsored 'business’.

It’s not going to stay peaceful for long!

Xingcheng has a long and distinguished history, and was established as a county as far back as the Liao Dynasty in BC 990. After being dissolved by the Yuan, it was resurrected during the Ming Dynasty under the name Ningyuan, and gained strategic importance as the first defensive outpost outside the Great Wall. Xingcheng's city walls have stood since they were first constructed in 1428 and were instrumental in helping the Ming defeat the great Manchu commander Nurhaci at the pivotal Battle of Ningyuan in 1626.

As well as its City Walls, the Drum Tower which sits slap in the middle of the old City, and along with the Watch Tower are all intact and you can easily walk the Walls entire length in around an hour, but during my visit the northern wall was closed for restoration. Being so small the cities other two attractions can be found just inside the east gate. The Gao House, the former residence of General Gao Rulian, who was one of Xingcheng's most famous sons, that has a small exhibition photos of the city during the 1920’s, sits next to the impressive and well maintained Confucius Temple that was built during the 1430’s.

Beers N Noodles toya…..shane
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The soundtrack to this entry was by the Lemonheads
The album was ‘Come On Feel The Lemonheads’
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