Wangshi is a market town in the northern Earth Kingdom province of Shanbei, just inside the border with the neighboring West Shuizu State. It was established by royal edict during the [[Avatar/Dynastic History of the Earth Kingdom|Tu Dynasty]] to promote trade in the region, and to appease the regionally-powerful mercantile interests of the Ganjinese. The town has walls and a marina on the Bear River, connecting the Ba Sing Se highway to a thriving riparian trade. Lately, the town has fallen under the control of three powerful local families, who have blocked the appointment of a royal official and instead control public affairs themselves with the help of mercenaries. They are widely tolerated because they have, so far, successfully prevented warlords from "drafting" the military-age population of the village, though the "taxes" the Three Families collect to reimburse their warlord-bribing expenses have become fairly onerous. 

There are three developed hot springs, each associated with a spirit, though there are no reputable claims of sightings of such spirits. 

Besides service industries for travelers, Wangshi has a moderately developed secondary industry in metalwork and stonecrafting. Ethnically, the town is about two-thirds Zhongzu, with some Yonggan and Beituzhu, Shuizu sailors, and a large ethnic enclave of Ganjinese in the old town center.