CHINA[281]

preserved is Dangjia Village on a perilous hill surrounded by other hills on three sides. The only access was a secret path, paved with gray bricks and flagstones, leading to the main street. On top of the gate tower, about 10 m high, a fort was built, fortified by huge rocks on all sides. In times of strife, the castle gate
would be securely shut to ensure maximum safety.
Courtyards inside the castle were built with gray bricks
and tiles. Hancheng was a significant place in ancient
history. The states of Qin, Jin and Wei had vied for the
control of it. It was also economically strategic. Merchants
from all over the country came to trade. Wars and trade
boosted the local
economy and culture
tremendously.
----Ancient buildings
in Dangjia Village
symbolized the
economy and culture.
Having withstood
hundreds of years of
weathering, it has
become a tourist site.
Ironically, even the
locals admitted that
they had never
expected the few
old houses from
their ancestors could
make them rich.

	------Exploring the area had long been a dream of mine, only realized last year. We started driving from Xi'an, and after Weinan, Dali, Heyang, a 230 km drive, we arrived in Hancheng, a historic and cultural place we had longed to visit. An ancient city, on the south of the canyon, by the west bank of the Yellow River, Hancheng was the hometown of Sima Qian, a Western-Han historian and man of letters. ------Hancheng has over two hundred ancient castles. The best
preserved is Dangjia Village on a perilous hill surrounded by other hills on three sides. The only access was a secret path, paved with gray bricks and flagstones, leading to the main street. On top of the gate tower, about 10 m high, a fort was built, fortified by huge rocks on all sides. In times of strife, the castle gate would be securely shut to ensure maximum safety. Courtyards inside the castle were built with gray bricks and tiles. Hancheng was a significant place in ancient history. The states of Qin, Jin and Wei had vied for the control of it. It was also economically strategic. Merchants from all over the country came to trade. Wars and trade boosted the local economy and culture tremendously. ----Ancient buildings in Dangjia Village symbolized the economy and culture. Having withstood hundreds of years of weathering, it has become a tourist site. Ironically, even the locals admitted that they had never expected the few old houses from their ancestors could make them rich.