Gaoling

Gaoling is a large town located within a mountain range in the southern Earth Kingdom.

Gaoling is home to both the wealthy Bei Fong family and the Earth Rumble tournaments. An old, well-established city, Gaoling has a spectrum of people residing in it, ranging from the very rich to the very poor.

The town has been untouched by the war, due to it not being in a particularly strategic location. This is evidenced by the attitude of many of its residents.

History
Aang, Katara and Sokka visited the town in the spring of 100 ASC in the episode "The Blind Bandit" and attended a Earth Rumble Tournament. Toph joins their group to teach the Avatar Earthbending, by doing so defying her father and mother.

Layout and Description


Gaoling lies in a valley with steep rock hillsides surrounding it. Most of the citizens inside the town are middle class people whose families have lived in the town for many generations. On the outskirts of the town are very large, expansive estates where the wealthiest families such as the Bei Fongs live.

Master Yu's Earthbending Academy


Built recently by Master Yu as a school for his students, the Earthbending Academy is a large building with a walled central courtyard. Before each class, Master Yu puts out different sized rocks in the courtyard for the students to Earthbend with. This large courtyard is an ideal place for the young Earthbenders to train -- here they can sling rocks around without accidentally hurting any passers-by.

Bei Fong Estate


The Bei Fong Estate is a large home owned by the richest family for miles around. It has a large garden surrounding it and the symbol of a flying boar over their front gate. The estate is guarded by at least two guards whose uniforms are similar to an earthbending soldier's, save that they are colored with white and green instead of the usual green and brown.

Earth Rumble Stadium
A large, literally underground wrestling stadium owned by Xin Fu. It consists of a large rectangular stone platform for earthbenders to battle on. Around this are rows of seats for spectators. The stadium is lit with glowing green gemstones hanging on the ceiling.

Trivia

 * Gaoling (高陵) meaning "tall hill", is also a name of a county in Shaanxi, a Central province in China. In the Avatar world, it is located in the South, which coincidentally goes with Toph's knowledge of Chu Gar, Southern Praying Mantis Kung Fu.
 * Gaoling is heavily influenced by Korean culture in both their dress and hairstyle.

Notable Figures

 * Toph Bei Fong
 * Lao Bei Fong
 * Poppy Bei Fong
 * Master Yu
 * Xin Fu
 * The Boulder

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