Ancient City of Sumigou

Ancient City of Sumigou

The Ancient City of Sumigou is a cultural tourism attraction.

The Ancient City of Sumigou, abbreviated as Sumi City, is located on the alluvial plain of the Huifa River about four kilometers east of Huadian City, and is named after its proximity to Sumigou. The city is roughly square-shaped, oriented in a true north-south direction. The inner city currently stands 3–4 meters high, with a top width of 0.5–1 meter and a base width of approximately 10 meters. The eastern wall of the inner city is 337 meters long, the southern wall is 334 meters, the western wall is 367 meters, and the northern wall is 341 meters, with a total perimeter of 1,381 meters. The outer city currently stands 3–4 meters high, with a top width of 2–3 meters and a base width of 10–12 meters. The eastern wall of the outer city is 697 meters long, the western wall is 535 meters, the southern wall is 747 meters, and the northern wall is 611 meters, with a total perimeter of 2,590 meters. Both the inner and outer cities were built with rammed earth, with layers 10–15 centimeters thick. The four corners of the city project outward, where corner towers may have once stood. The western gates of both the inner and outer cities show clear remnants of barbicans. The inner city faintly shows traces of gate towers on the north and south sides. On three sides of the city (east, west, and south), there are moats, with the one on the west side being the most distinct — it is now about 13 meters wide and 2 meters deep. Scattered across the cultivated land within the city are numerous remnants of cylindrical and flat tiles, as well as grayish-brown earthenware shards and other artifacts. During Japan’s invasion of Northeast China, Japanese archaeologists such as Shigechiro Iwama conducted illicit excavations here, uncovering many relics of the Bohai Kingdom, and published brief reports. Sumi City was traditionally believed to be the Xiongde Prefecture of the Bohai Kingdom’s Central Capital, but recent archaeological studies suggest it may be the site of the ancient Changling Prefecture, an important stronghold along the Bohai “Yingzhou Route.” Sumi City is an important site for studying the architecture of Bohai cities and Bohai history, holding significant archaeological value.