Jiming Post House: Exploring Ancient China's Transportation Hub

Posthouses were essential in ancient China when people rode horses to send messages and official documents. Because the physical strength of horses was limited, they could not reach a faraway destination in one go. Hence, people had to change horses along the way, and house stations were established along the main road. Later, the horse stations also functioned as hotels to provide accommodation and meals for officials and businessmen passing by, as post houses to convey information and mail, and as military fortresses to guard against enemies. Among a great number of post houses, the Jiming Post House is the largest one along the north main roads.

The Jiming Post House was first established in 1219 by Emperor Taizu of the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) before setting up his empire. In the eighteenth year (1420) during the Yongle Period of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), it was developed into the largest post house along the north post road, in which government offices, storehouses, opera pavilions, and temples were built. In the eighth year (1472) of the Chenghua Period in the Ming Dynasty, city walls were constructed around the post house. The city wall was renovated in the third year (1738) during the reign of Emperor Qianlong in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Although the post house has lost its original functions nowadays, tourists can still have a glimpse of its past splendors by the preserved ancient buildings.