Situated in the northern suburbs of Shijiazhuang, capital of Hebei Province, Zhengding has long stood as one of the three most strategically important places in north China, the other two being Beijing and Baoding. Its history dates back to the Sixteen Kingdoms (304-439), a turbulent period of Chinese history that saw northern China fragment into a series of short-lived states.

Buttressed by triple-layered gates and four turrets, a rare layout for ancient Chinese cities, Zhengding has weathered countless battles and dynasties. However, from the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) onward, its city walls were gradually torn down, one brick at a time, by locals, who used the bricks as building materials for their own homes. It was in the early 1980s that local authorities began to repair the town's older structures. Its most famous restored site is Longxing Temple, which, at the time it was built in the Song Dynasty (960-1279), was the largest Buddhist monastery complex in China.

Starting in 2015, archaeological excavations have been conducted at Kaiyuan Temple, another of Zhengding's well-preserved landmarks. The local government decided to enclose the unearthed site in a glass case, which allows tourists to observe the archaeological findings without causing any damage.

Efforts have also been made to minimize the negative impacts that these conservation and archaeological projects may inflict on local communities. Rundown blocks have been upgraded into residential-commercial complexes, where residents live in modern apartments above the stores. Roads have been repaired and parking lots have also been added to increase accessibility for both visitors and residents.

(Outlook, February 5)