Ruins of the Zhoucheng City from the Liao Dynasty in Touxia

Ruins of the Zhoucheng City from the Liao Dynasty in Touxia

The ruins of the Zhoucheng City from the Liao Dynasty in Touxia is a cultural tourism attraction.

Ruins of the Zhoucheng City from the Liao Dynasty in Touxia

The "Geographical Records of the Liao History" states: "All the Touxia military prefectures were established by princes, imperial relatives, ministers, various tribal leaders, who, through military campaigns, captured or resettled people, and formed groups to build prefectures and counties for settlement." The fortified settlements built by the Khitan nobility of the Liao Dynasty to govern and enslave conquered peoples were called "Touxia" or "Touxià" prefectures. Their ruins within the region include the following sites:

(1) Beixiaochengzi Site: Located in Xiaochengzi Town. The "Fengtian General Annals" in the "Kangping County Annals" states: "Xiaochengzi is located 45 li to the northwest of the county, with an earthen wall about 1,000 zhang in circumference, featuring four gates. A stone tablet was found at the north gate, unearthed during farming, now eroded by soil, with only the characters '盆 金 敛镇守' faintly visible." According to the Liao History: "Yu Prefecture is 300 li southwest of Xian Prefecture and 800 li northwest of the Shangjing Linhuang Prefecture; it is suspected to be this city." Volume 6 of China's "Historical Atlas," showing the area near Linhuang Prefecture, indicates that Yu Prefecture is located north of the current county seat, geographically close to the Xiaochengzi site. The "General History of China: Gazetteer of Liao, Jin, and Xia" records: "Fuzhou and Yu Prefecture are both within Kangping County." Is this site Fuzhou or Yu Prefecture? This remains to be verified. The site has now been largely destroyed, with only remnants of the southern wall about 100 meters long, the western wall about 60 meters long, wall remnants about 2.4 meters high, and the top width over 3 meters. The site is rectangular in shape, with numerous fragments of bricks, tiles, pottery, and porcelain inside, dating back to the Liao and Jin periods.

(2) Sanjiazi Site: Located on the western slope of Sanjiazi in Lijingjiangwobao Village, Fangjiatun Town, 22 kilometers southwest of the county seat. It is an earthen square city, each side approximately 300 meters long. The western wall of the site is relatively well-preserved, with 80 meters remaining on the southwestern section of the southern wall, and 70 meters on the northwestern section of the northern wall. The eastern sections of the northern and southern walls, as well as the eastern wall, have been destroyed, leaving only raised earth mounds. The surviving walls are 2–3 meters high, with base widths of 12 meters and top widths of 1.5 meters. The rammed layers of the walls are clearly visible, each about 10 cm thick. Locally known as "Banlacheng" (Half City). Collected artifacts include fragments of roof tiles, tubular tiles, basins, jars, vats, bowls, and jars, as well as a bronze mirror with a twelve-zodiac floral design, all dating back to the Liao and Jin periods. In October 1980, it was designated as a key cultural relic protection unit by the county government.

(3) Nanxiaochengzi Site: Located on the hills west of Wolong Lake in Chahainao Village, Erniusuokou Township, 300 meters south of a large platform known as the so-called "Dianjiangtai" (General Platform). The village below the hill is named Xiaochengzi after the city. This city is an earthen square fortress. Higher in the south and lower in the north, each side is approximately 300 meters long. The original base of the city walls is well preserved, with clear rammed layers. Artifacts found here are abundant. Based on these relics, it is inferred that the city was built during the Liao Dynasty and continued to be used into the Yuan Dynasty. On October 16, 1980, it was designated as a key cultural relic protection unit by the county government.

(4) Chengzigou Site: Located north of Chengzigou Village in Gaidingwobao Village, Zhangqiang Town, 35 kilometers west of the county seat. The site is roughly square in layout, with earthen walls, featuring east and west gates, while the location of the south gate is unclear and there is no north gate. The perimeter is 939 meters. Currently, only 54 meters of the southwestern section of the southern wall remain, the eastern and western walls are intact, the northern wall has severely collapsed, and the western wall is in good condition with a slight outward curve. On the ground within the site, there are gray bricks, fabric-patterned roof tiles, drip tiles, and ceramic fragments, all dating back to the Liao and Jin periods. Iron pots, iron plows, and copper coins unearthed in earlier years are no longer present. In October 1980, it was designated as a key cultural relic protection unit by the county government.

(5) Paoziyan Xiaochengzi Site

Located north of Xiaochengzi Village in Paoziyan Village, Dongguantun Township, 5 kilometers southwest of the county seat. The city is an earthen square fortress, each side 350 meters long. The western wall is completely preserved, half of the northern wall has been excavated, the northern section of the eastern wall is destroyed, but the middle and southern sections still remain, and the southern wall has been excavated. There are many artifacts within the city, which suggest it dates back to the Liao and Jin periods. On October 16, 1980, it was designated as a key cultural relic protection unit by the county government.

Xiaochengzi Town: A town under the jurisdiction of Kangping County. It belonged to Kangping County in 1880, became Hejiawobao Commune in 1958, Xiaochengzi Commune in 1961, a township in 1984, and was established as a town in 1985. It is located in the northwestern part of the county, 20 kilometers from the county seat. It covers an area of 195 square kilometers with a population of 17,000. The Kangxiao and Jinniu roads pass through the town. It administers 14 village committees: Xiaochengzi, Sijianfang, Xiweitang, Sanjiaowobao, Zhaojiadian, Wangjiawobao, Yaoduan, Tuanshanzi, Peijiajie, Mengjiawobao, Fuyu, Xiangyuewobao, Lajiejie, and Lan Zhoujie. The main agricultural products are corn, sorghum, and sugar beet. … Xiaochengzi Town detailed information++