桐城县城修建于隋大业九年（613），明万历四年（1576）在隋代旧址上改建砖城，迄今已逾一千四百年历史。县城外部依托山水的屏障之效及人工修筑的防御设施形成特有的两层城防设计；县城内部布局既是管子因地制宜的城市规划思想与古代仿生象物营造理念双重影响下的共性产物，又是将古代都城规划思想体系融入到地方城市规划中的典型案例，重点体现出县城具备军事防御及政治教化的职能，同时也为现代城市规划提供了些许启示。

The Tongcheng County was built in the ninth year of Daye in Sui Dynasty(613). In the fourth year of Wanli in Ming Dynasty(1576), it was rebuilt into a brick city on the site of Sui Dynasty. The county has a history of more than 1,400 years. The outer part of the county has two-layer city defense system with the mountain and water barrier and the artificial defense facilities. The internal layout of the county town is both a product of the dual influence of Guanzi's idea of city planning based on local conditions and the ancient concept of creating resembling objects, and a typical example of incorporating the ancient system of capital city planning into local city planning, focusing on the city's military defense and political edification functions. At the same time, it also provides inspiration for modern urban planning.