Explore the best-preserved turtle-shaped ancient city in China.

Yongtai Ancient Castle is located 25 kilometers southwest of Jingtai on the ancient Silk Road. It was built in the 36th year of the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty and has a history of more than 400 years. Because the castle is shaped like a turtle, it is also called "Turtle City". It was an important military fortress built by the Ming Dynasty to defend against the invasion of ethnic minorities in the north and is also a key location on the way to Qinghai, Hetao, Xinjiang, and Tibet. At that time, three castles, Yongtai, Zhenlu, and Baoding, were built along the ancient Silk Road between Lanzhou and Wuwei. Today, only Yongtai Castle has been preserved.