Wugu Ancient City

Wugu Ancient City

Wugu Ancient City is a cultural tourism attraction.

To the north of Xingtai Town in Pulandian City lie the undulating peaks of Mount Weiba, where, encircling the mountains, lies an ancient city known as Wugu City. In the mountain valley stands an old temple called Wugu Temple. There is also Qingquan Temple, the best-preserved Buddhist temple in southern Liaoning. These historic sites, with a history of over a thousand years, are famous scenic tourist destinations in the Dalian area.

This ancient city wall was originally named Weiba Mountain City. It was built during the Eastern Han Dynasty and has a history of more than 1,900 years. It served as a military garrison and horse breeding stronghold for defending the northern frontier. During the Sui and Tang dynasties, when the northern ethnic minority Goguryeo occupied Liaodong, the city was further expanded to its current scale. Over the following dynasties, troops were stationed here, making it an important military fortress in ancient northern China. The city was built along the natural mountain terrain, taking advantage of the landscape. With deep valleys and never-ending springs, it provided an ideal location for setting up camp—easy to attack from and defend within. The mountain city is constructed from massive granite blocks, reaching a maximum height of 9.4 meters, with inner walls 1.24 meters high and a top width of 3.29 meters. The original eastern and western walls have collapsed, though their ruins remain, while other sections are well preserved. Within the city are structures such as the Forbidden City, the General’s Platform, the Dressing Tower, a beacon tower, a training ground, and a Horse Watering Bay. It was one of the important mountain strongholds where northern ethnic minorities and the Central Plains were in contention. Legend has it that Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, Li Shimin, once stationed his troops here after defeating Goguryeo during his eastern campaign.

Judging from unearthed artifacts, there are red pottery shards with rope patterns, iron knives with ring handles, Kaiyuan Tongbao ancient coins, and a large number of decorative bricks from the Wei and Jin periods. Archaeological studies indicate that these relics are all over a thousand years old. From the Warring States period to the Wei and Jin dynasties, over three to four hundred years of continuous warfare and social unrest, Weiba Mountain City functioned as a regional governing entity, managing the surrounding areas. It played an underestimated role in stabilizing Liaodong and advancing the local political, economic, and cultural development.