Historic relics need protection in Inner Mongolia

Khara-Khoto, also known as Heicheng, in Ejin Banner of North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, appeals to visitors due to its profound history.

It was established in 1032, and later became a key business hub during the Western Xia Empire (1038-1227), an empire built by the Tangut people.

Heicheng is the largest and most intact ancient city along the Silk Road, attracting large numbers of visitors every year. During this year’s National Day holiday, Heicheng received more than 100,000 visitors.

“I can imagine how prosperous the city was, and my feelings about it are complex after seeing its remains,” said Huang Fengqi, a visitor from Guangdong province.

Modern-day Heicheng was rebuilt and enlarged during the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), and the city is rectangular –– 470-meters long east-west and 384-meters wide south-north, covering an area of 180,500 square meters. Nearly 2,000 people once lived here.

A large number of cultural relics were found in Heicheng, including characters from the Western Xia era recorded in a Chinese bilingual dictionary which initiated the study of Western Xia’s characters and literature in China.

“In the early 20th century, China made four major discoveries of cultural relics which attracted the world’s attention, and the documents found in Heicheng were one of them,” said the deputy director of the local press, publication, radio, film and television bureau.

Influenced by factors such as the weather and development of tourism resources, cultural relics on the ground gradually started to disappear in Heicheng. More efforts are expected to be made to protect the relics.

A historical site at Heicheng in Ejin Banner of North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region. [Photo/Chinanews.com]

Pagodas in Heicheng, Ejin Banner of North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region. [Photo/Chinanews.com]

The remaining city walls in Heicheng, Ejin Banner of North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region. [Photo/Chinanews.com]