Nanshan City Ruins

Nanshan City Ruins

The Nanshan City Ruins are a cultural heritage site protected at the provincial level in Liaoning Province.

The Nanshan City Ruins are located on a terrace atop the eastern peak of Dongshan Mountain, approximately 200 meters east of Nanshan Village, Nanshan Town, Qingyuan Manchu Autonomous County, Liaoning Province. The site stretches 450 meters from north to south, reaches a maximum width of 160 meters from east to west, has a city wall perimeter of 1,120 meters, and covers an area of 3,000 square meters. The ruins were initially built during the Warring States to Western Han period, dating back more than 2,000 years. Situated upstream of the Liu River and surrounded by steep cliffs, the site offers wide visibility and guards the strategic passageway between the Huifa and Hun Rivers from east to west, as well as the north-south route between Liaoning and Jilin. It served as a relatively well-preserved military stronghold in the late Warring States period and holds significant geographical importance. Multiple archaeological excavations have revealed that parts of the mountain city walls remain intact. The northern part of the city features rugged terrain, with some sections of the walls constructed from rammed earth and stone. There are four gates in total—two main ones on the east and west, with the eastern gate leading into a relatively flat, circular area that served as the city’s main thoroughfare. The western gate is smaller. Inside the city, there are three corner platforms (watchtowers), all of which are well-preserved. To the south of the western gate stands a stonework mound, 8 meters high and 15 meters in diameter, built from blue stones. At the center of the city lies a spring, which was the sole water source for its inhabitants at the time. On the southern section of the eastern wall, there are three house foundations, each approximately 10–12 square meters in size.

The unearthed relics mainly consist of sandy red-brown pottery, followed by sandy gray pottery. Artifacts include pots, jars, and dou (food vessels). Among the pottery, iron objects such as sickles and mattocks typical of the Central Plains Yan and Han cultures from the late Warring States to early Western Han period have been found, serving as clear evidence of the influence of Yan-Han culture in the region. These findings are considered cultural remains from the Iron Age in the Liaodong area. The location of the ruins atop a mountain peak reflects choices made based on the political environment and military defense needs of the time. Therefore, the Nanshan City Ruins represent an early “fortified settlement” of the indigenous Iron Age culture in the Liaodong region and provide valuable material for studying the politics, military affairs, and ethnic cultures of the Liaodong area during the Warring States to early Han periods, as well as the origins and structural characteristics of later Goguryeo mountain fortresses. After being discovered in 1984, the site was listed as a county-level cultural heritage protection unit, and a preservation archive was established. In 2004, it was designated as a municipal-level cultural heritage protection unit. In 2008, with approval from the provincial government, the Nanshan City Ruins in Qingyuan Manchu Autonomous County were listed as a provincial-level cultural heritage protection unit. It is also the second provincial-level protected site in Qingyuan following the “Qing Dynasty Willow Palisade Ruins.”

Protected Area: Within the mountain city and within 50 meters outside the outer base of the city walls.

Construction Control Zone: A first-class construction control zone extending 100 meters beyond the protected area.

Nanshan Village: Nanshan Village…… More details about Nanshan Village++

Further Reading:

· Eighth Batch of Provincial Cultural Heritage Protection Units in Liaoning Province