The ancient Xinghceng city was built in the 3^rd year in the reign of Xuande Emperor in the Ming Dynasty (1428AD). It was a satellite city of Ningyuan City. It was rebuilt in the Qing Dynasty and was renamed Ningyuanzhou City. The ancient city was made up of an inner city and an outer city. The outer city has disappeared after nearly 600-year wind and rain erosion. The inner city has basically maintained its original appearance though it was repaired for many times in many dynasties. Ancient Xingcheng City is a National Priority Cultural Relic Protection Site including the city wall, the four city gates, the bell and drum tower, the memorial archway, and the Confucian Temple, and it is a national 4-A scenic spot. 

　　The city wall of Ancient Xingcheng City is 8.8 meters high. The circumference of the wall is 3247 meters. There are four gates. The Bell and Drum Tower is in the center of the city. The satellite city of Ningyuan City was an important military town of the defense system in the northeast of the Ming Dynasty. The famous general Yuan Chonghuan defeated the Later Jin army here for many times. In the 6^th year in the reign of Tianqi Emperor of the Ming Dynasty (1626AD), Taizu Emperor Nurhachi of the Qing Dynasty led the army to attack Ningyuan City. He was badly wounded and was defeated. In the 7^th year in the reign of Tianqi Emperor of the Ming Dynasty (1627AD), Taizong Emperor Hongtaiji attacked Ningyuan City and was defeated, too. 

　　The Ancient Xingcheng City is slightly square. There is a gate in the middle of each side. Outside each door is a semi-circular urn city. The base of the wall is built of rectangular slab of stones. The exterior side of the wall is built of big black bricks, while the interior side of the wall is built of large stones. In the middle of the wall is rammed earth. The two-storey embrasured watchtower with corridor around on each gate is connected by brick paths. It consisted of the interior city and the exterior city but the exterior city has disappeared. The barbettes are on the corners of the wall and they protrude from the wall. They were used for setting red-barbarian cannons. Taizu Emperor Nurhachi of the Qing Dynasty was badly hurt by a red-barbarian cannon in Ningyuan Battle between the Ming Dynasty and the Qing Dynasty and he died after he went back to Shengjing. The Quixing Building is at the southeastern corner. The avenues and streets in the city intersect in a cross shape. The magnificent Bell and Drum Tower stands in the center of the city. The Bell and Drum Tower and the embrasured watchtowers on the gates of the city wall are all grand and spectacular.