Xinguangwu Explained

Xinguangwu
Native Name Lang:zh-hans
Settlement Type:Village
Pushpin Map:Shanxi
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Shanxi
Coordinates:39.2157°N 112.7975°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:People's Republic of China
Subdivision Type1:Province
Subdivision Type2:Prefecture-level city
Subdivision Type3:County
Subdivision Type4:Township
Subdivision Name1:Shanxi
Subdivision Name2:Shuozhou
Subdivision Name3:Shanyin

Xinguangwu is a village in Zhangjiazhuang Township (Chinese: {{linktext|张家庄|乡), Shanyin County, Shanxi, China.[1] [2] The population of the village is around 2,000 people.[3]

History

The village was built as a fortification during the Ming Dynasty in 1374 on the site of a settlement that had existed during the Warring States Period. Nearby to the west is Old Guangwu which was built during the Song Dynasty, which although earlier than the Ming Dynasty came about 1,000 years later than the Warring States Period, making in one way the New Guangwu much older than the Old Guangwu.[4]

New Guangwu is to the north of the Yanmen Pass, one of the strategic defensive points of the inner line running through Shanxi of the Ming Great Wall.[5] The village area played a vital part in the defense system around the Yanmen Pass because due to the site's location New Guangwu was first attacked by nomadic raiders coming from the north.[4]

Tourism

Parts of the wall of the fortification still stand, forming the outer wall of the village. Visitors to the village typically stop by on a trek along the nearby section of the Great Wall. The atmosphere of the village has been described as a "time warp" by writer for the New Zealand Herald.[3]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: http://www.stats.gov.cn/tjsj/tjbz/tjyqhdmhcxhfdm/2017/14/06/21/140621208.html . zh:2017年统计用区划代码和城乡划分代码:张家庄乡 . 2017 Statistical Area Numbers and Rural-Urban Area Numbers: Zhangjiazhuang Township . National Bureau of Statistics of the People's Republic of China. zh-hans. 2017 . 6 October 2018 . Chinese: 140621208202 220 新广武村委会.
  2. Web site: http://www.xzqh.org/html/show/sx/25293.html . zh:山阴县行政区划 . Shanyin County Administrative Divisions . XZQH.org . zh-hans. 11 October 2016 . 6 October 2018 . Chinese: 【2014年区划代码和城乡划分代码】140621208张家庄乡(12村):{....
  3. News: Walking the Great Wall . New Zealand Herald . May 15, 2002.
  4. News: Civilisations Thrive on Water . Beijing . September 28, 2017.
  5. Web site: Guangwu Castle . Shanxi China.