Yongtai village, 400-year-old 'turtle city'

Flocks of sheep walk into the ancient city. [Photo by Cao Zhizheng/ Asianewsphoto.com]

Yongtai village, an ancient city located in Sitan township, Jingtai county, Gansu province, was founded in the Ming Dynasty (1368－1644) as a military fortress to defeat ethnic groups from the north. The ancient wall circling the city stretches for more than 1,700 meters, with a height of 12 meters. There are 12 fort barbettes and four gate towers in it. The shape of the village looks like a turtle, with oval-shaped main part resembling its body, and the gate in the south resembling its head.