Plan at a glance
Area and visit time
Xingcheng Ancient City is in Gucheng Subdistrict, Xingcheng, Huludao, Liaoning. Its main entrance is Yanhui Gate at the South Gate, where ticketing and parking are concentrated. The streets are free to enter, while the city wall, Bell and Drum Tower, Ji-Liao Military Commander's Office (蓟辽督师府) and Confucian Temple are ticketed attractions. Tickets may be sold individually or as part of a sightseeing pass. Check which sites are included before purchasing. No reservation is needed for the old town.
You can walk the historic streets throughout the day. Ticketed sites typically open from 08:00 to 17:00. Allow about 1–2 hours for the South Gate, the stone archways and one section of the wall; add the Bell and Drum Tower, the Commander's Office and Confucian Temple for a 3–4 hour visit. Actual time depends on each site's opening hours that day.
Evening performances
The old town stages the live outdoor show 《就在宁远》 (Jiu Zai Ningyuan) and introduced the interactive play 《宁远风云》 (Ningyuan Fengyun) in 2026. Check that day's notices for showtimes, venues, ticket prices and finish times. Interactive street performances and light shows on the city wall may also take place on selected dates. Check the current program for schedules and ticket requirements.
Tickets and visit details
View visit options for this attraction and confirm the visit date and current arrangements before you go.
Choose your visit
City wall, stone archways, and Bell and Drum Tower
Xingcheng Ancient City was founded in 1428, during the Ming dynasty's Xuande reign. Its wall is about 3.27 km around, with one gate on each of its four sides. From the South Gate wall, you can look over the barbican and the old-town streets. The Zu clan stone archways on South Main Street and the Bell and Drum Tower at the central intersection are two of the easiest landmarks to spot on a walk along the main street.
These sites suit visitors interested in Ming-era walled-town layouts, gate defenses and stone carving. Each corner of the wall has a platform, and the southeast corner tower overlooks the streets. South Main Street preserves two Ming-era archways honoring the paternal cousins Zu Dashou and Zu Dale for their service defending Liaodong. They stand close together, but their carvings differ; stop to view both as you walk along the street.
Military Commander's Office and Confucian Temple
The Commander's Office is a reconstruction of a Ming-era military commander's headquarters. Wax figures and artifacts depict military and political scenes from the late Ming period. The Confucian Temple is inside the old town, with red-walled courtyards and old cypress trees. Set aside time to enter both; each has its own entrance, opening hours and ticket arrangements.
History enthusiasts can visit the wall and exhibition sites on the same walking route. Families with children may start with the wall and Bell and Drum Tower, then decide whether to enter the indoor sites. For recreated folk streets and performances, visit Guandong Hulu Ancient Town, a separate themed park elsewhere in the city. The red walls of the Confucian Temple and the front of the Zu archways are photo spots; follow the signs for photography rules inside heritage sites.
Build your day
1–2 hour short route
Enter through Yanhui Gate at the South Gate. First see the barbican and gate defenses, then climb the wall through an open entrance near the South Gate for a view over the old-town streets. Descend and walk along South Main Street to see both Zu clan archways, then return along the same route to the South Gate. Allow about 1–2 hours; the section of wall you can visit depends on which parts are open.
3–4 hour main route
Enter through the South Gate and climb the wall first, then visit the Zu clan archways, Bell and Drum Tower, the Commander's Office and Confucian Temple in that order. Return to the South Gate along streets that are open to visitors. Each site has its own entrance and ticketing, so adjust the order to fit its admission window that day. Use the entrances that are open for climbing and descending the wall.
Daytime visit and evening show
If you are seeing an evening performance, visit ticketed sites before they close, then go to the venue named in the show notice. When buying tickets, check whether the evening show and daytime attractions are sold together. Arrange your return trip separately after the performance.
Get there
South Gate entrance and railway stations
For driving directions, search for “兴城古城景区—延辉门（南门）” (Xingcheng Ancient City Scenic Area — Yanhui Gate / South Gate). The main street, ticket office and parking are near this entrance. A taxi from Huludao North Railway Station to the South Gate takes about 30 minutes. That estimate does not apply to Xingcheng Railway Station or Xingcheng West Railway Station; check the station printed on your ticket before arranging a ride.
Parking and transfers between attractions
There are parking lots near the South Gate, and fees vary by lot; check the posted rate at the entrance. For a transfer to Xingcheng Seaside Scenic Area, set your destination to the specific beach, bathing area or viewpoint, since access points along the coast have different distances and connections. To visit Juehua Island, go separately to Xingcheng Land–Island Ferry Terminal (兴城陆岛交通码头) and take a boat. The old-town walking route does not lead to the ferry terminal.
Know before you go
Tickets, opening hours, and temporary closures
The old-town streets are free. The wall, Bell and Drum Tower, the Commander's Office and Confucian Temple sell separate tickets or may be covered by a pass, depending on that day's offer. Check ticket counters and last-entry times for each site before going in. Construction may close sections of the main street; follow the areas open to visitors.
The streets remain open throughout the day, but shops and restaurants have their own hours. Wall routes and the entrances used to climb up or down depend on which sections are open.
Photography, food, and seaside conditions
The light from 15:00 to 17:00 works well for photos of the wall and stone archways, but ticketed sites usually stop admitting visitors at around 17:00. Check their hours before planning a photography route. Jellyfish advisories apply to seaside activities in summer; if you are heading to the coast the same day, check beach conditions and local notices.
Nearby places to eat include Baixing Kitchen (百姓厨房), known for tofu pudding, braised eggplant with abalone and potato, and mantis-shrimp dumplings; Dongshan Baijia Snacks (东山百家小吃), which serves Northeastern home-style food; and Haiwangfu (海王府), with dishes such as haichang laofan (海肠捞饭) and guobaorou (锅包肉). Opening hours, queues and prices change, so check current information before choosing where to eat.