Visit Ba Sing Se
Ba Sing Se is the capital of the Earth Kingdom as well as one of its constituent states, encompassing a large portion of the nation's northeastern corner. The city is by far the largest in the world, essentially being more of a small country than a mere city. As a testament to its grandeur, the Earth Kingdom's roadway network is centered on the city. Ba Sing Se means "Impenetrable City"; it is so named for its world-famous walls, the gates of which have no hinges or other hardware and are opened by the use of earthbending. Within the Outer Wall lies a large expanse of farmland, Lake Laogai, and several mountains. The Inner Wall encloses the city itself. The metropolis is also notable for having a unique system of walls dividing the populace into different parts of the city based on social status. Ba Sing Se is the safest place for refugees or even anyone looking to start anew, it is also the land of oppurtunity. Ba Sing Se is and will always remain strong because the city relies on itself.
City Highlights
The Monorail
In Ba Sing Se, Earthbenders are highly valued and operate many civic projects, from the monorail system to the city's gates. Travel throughout the city, in addition to entering and exiting it, is provided by large, earthbending powered monorails, constructed during the reign of Earth King Yi Ming.The monorails meet in large transit stations, are free to the general public, and make travel within the city much easier.
Ba Sing Se Wall
At one hundred meters tall, Ba Sing Se's Outer Wall is the city's first, and thickest, line of defense. This makes it the largest man-made structure in the world. The wall encircles all of Ba Sing Se, along with the vast Agrarian Zone and a medium-sized lake. It is considered indestructible and is commonly incorporated on maps as a terrain feature. The city has never been fully breached! The Dai Li mandates that soldiers and sentries be placed on the wall at all times, with many of them living in built-in homes inside the wall.
The City Rings
Ba Sing Se is divided into several major districts, with inhabitants sorted in various walled "rings". Citizens are free to travel between the Agrarian Zone, the Lower Ring, and the Middle Ring. The Upper Ring is a particularly exclusive area of the city; it is restricted to citizens with the personal invitation of a citizen of the Upper Ring, the government, or the Earth King himself.
The Palace
Located within the Upper Ring, at the center of Ba Sing Se, the Earth Monarch's palace and surrounding grounds are the spiritual and military center of the entire Earth Kingdom. Here is where the Earth Monarch spends all his days. The palace is structured around a meridian line that cuts through the center of the city, from west to east. The meridian line leads directly to the Earth Monarch's throne. The grounds consist of numerous ceremonial temples, quarters to house the monarch's servants, elaborate gardens, and the monarch's menagerie of exotic animals.
Ba Sing Se - The Safest Place in the World