Why is Huiyuan ancient city called the first important town?

According to the data of China National Culture Resource Library, Huiyuan City is modeled after the traditional buildings in China, with a unified layout. Four streets run through four gates, east, west, north and south, and there are 48 alleys around the streets. In the center of the city is the tall bell and drum tower, which is magnificent. There are more than 200 places in the city, such as General Yili's office, and more than 10,000 houses for officers and men of the Eight Banners 1 10,000. There are also many temples built by various ethnic groups inside and outside the city. The Qing people once called Huiyuan City "the first important town in Xinjiang".

Huiyuan Ancient City (Huiyuan City) is located in Huocheng County, Yili, Xinjiang. Historically, Ili was an important passage from Xinjiang to Central Asia. In order to strengthen the management of Ili area in Qing Dynasty, Qianlong set up Ili General and Huiyuan City here, and built eight satellite cities around it, collectively called "Nine Cities of Ili". Huiyuan City, known as the first of the "Nine Cities of Yili", is well preserved, and the former site of the General's Mansion is still preserved in the city.