The ancient city site of Aolunsumu, also known as Zhaowang city, was once the capital of the Wanggu Tribe. The tribe has a close relationship through marriage with Genghis Khan, the founder of the Yuan Dynasty ( 1271-1368).

Aolunsumu ancient city  [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Aolunsumu ancient city  [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The ancient city wall was once 570 meters wide and 960 m in length, with four gates facing different directions. A barbican entrance - a semicircular enclosure between the outer and inner city gates – also stood outside the city wall to protect the city.

Cultural relics discovered at the site of the ancient city include a mansion, a Nestorian church, a Catholic church, a lamasery and a Confucian temple.

Aolunsumu ancient city  [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The ancient city was the largest political, economic, cultural and religious center of the Wanggu Tribe in Yuan Dynasty. It served as a summer palace of Alatan Khan of the Tumd Tribe. Alatan Khan was the 17th grandson of Genghis Khan who lived during the middle period of the Ming Dynasty ( 1368-1644).