“Whose hands built these walls?” a child’s voice cuts through the air. We stand before the Xindu Ancient City Wall in Chengdu. It has witnessed centuries of change. The Xindu Ancient City Wall is more than just bricks and mortar. It embodies the spirit of Chengdu, a city steeped in history and resilience. The Xindu Ancient City Wall echoes with tales of emperors and commoners. It whispers of battles fought and victories won.
The first stones of Chengdu’s city defenses were laid in 311 BC by Zhang Yi, a Qin dynasty official. But the Xindu Ancient City Wall we see today largely dates back to the Ming Dynasty, specifically 1371. Li Wenchong, a general, rebuilt the city walls on the foundations of the Song Dynasty city. The Xindu Ancient City Wall wasn’t built overnight. It evolved. It adapted to the changing needs of the city. In 1385, Zhu Yuanzhang, the first Ming emperor, ordered the construction of the Imperial City within Chengdu. This included a new inner wall, enhancing the city’s defenses. Further renovations occurred under the reign of Emperor Qianlong in 1783. These renovations earned Chengdu the nickname “Crown of the Southwest”.
The Xindu Ancient City Wall boasts a triple-layered design. The Imperial City, at the heart of Chengdu, formed the inner layer. The middle layer was marked by the curtain wall. The outer layer consisted of the larger city wall, encompassing the entire urban area. The wall originally had five gates, each a gateway to a different part of the city. One gate was later removed, leaving the remaining four to guard Chengdu’s treasures. The Imperial City’s walls were particularly impressive, reaching heights of 12.5 meters. They even dwarfed the outer city walls, which stood at 9 meters.
Sadly, much of the Xindu Ancient City Wall was demolished in the mid-20th century. The city decided to remove the walls in 1958, believing they hindered modernization. Ten sections remain, offering glimpses into Chengdu’s past. The longest surviving sections are near the North and West Gates. If you look closely, you might find remnants of the past. Some sections reveal the original brickwork, bearing the marks of ancient craftsmen.
The Xindu Ancient City Wall connects Chengdu’s past to its present. It represents the strength and endurance of the city. The walls stand as a reminder of Chengdu’s rich and vibrant history. They invite us to imagine the lives of those who lived within their protective embrace.