Sumi City

Sumi City

Sumi City is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The ancient city of Sumigou, commonly known as Sumi City, is located on the alluvial plain of the Huifa River about four kilometers east of Huadian City, Jilin City, Jilin Province. It derives its name from its proximity to Sumigou.

The ancient city is roughly square in shape, consisting of inner and outer walls arranged in a concentric pattern, oriented precisely north-south. The city walls are built with stone foundations and rammed earth, featuring four gates, although the northern gate has been abandoned. The eastern, southern, and western gates have barbicans, with the barbicans at the western and southern gates relatively well-preserved. Remnants of parapets and corner towers can be found along the eastern and southern walls, and traces of the moat still remain.

Both the inner and outer walls were constructed from rammed earth, with layers 10–15 centimeters thick. The current height of the inner wall is 3–4 meters, with a top width of 0.5–1 meter and a base width of approximately 10 meters. The perimeter of the inner wall is about 1,400 meters. The outer wall currently stands 3–4 meters high, with a top width of 2–3 meters and a base width of 10–12 meters. The perimeter of the outer wall is about 2,600 meters. The four corners of the city project outward, suggesting the possible presence of corner towers in ancient times. Clear remnants of barbicans can be seen at the western gates of both the inner and outer walls. The outlines of north and south gate towers within the inner wall are faintly discernible. A moat surrounds three sides of the city (east, west, and south), with the western moat being particularly distinct—currently about 13 meters wide and 2 meters deep. Scattered across the cultivated land within the city are numerous remnants of roof tiles, including tubular and flat tiles, as well as grayish-brown earthenware shards and other artifacts.

Sumi City is an important historical site for studying the architecture and history of Bohai-era cities, holding significant archaeological value. In May 2006, Sumi City was designated by the State Council as part of the sixth group of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units