Daqing Mountain Site

Daqing Mountain Site

The Daqing Mountain Site is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Located by the shore of Maoying Lake, it is the site of the Jin Dynasty's Jiangzhou City. The site stretches across the northern part of Gulong Township, situated on the second-level terrace on the left bank of the Nenjiang River. At its western end lies Qingshan Head, the highest point of the site, which stands over 160 meters above sea level. The top of the terrace is flat and has been cultivated into farmland, stretching about 600 meters from north to south. Starting from the western end of Qingshan Head and extending 1.5 kilometers eastward, ancient pottery shards can be found along the way, especially abundant at the edges of the terrace. On the western slope, there are four gullies running from north to south. Except for the southernmost one, handmade pottery shards can be seen on the walls and bottoms of the gullies. The pottery is mainly made of fine sandy yellow-brown or reddish-brown clay, with some sandy yellow-brown pieces. The firing temperature is generally high, resulting in pure colors and hard texture. The vessel shapes include jars, tripods, bowls, cups, etc., with variations in rim styles (flared, straight, or inward-turned), lip shapes (pointed, square, or round), and handles (ring-shaped or button-like protrusions). Bases are either flat, with mock ring feet, or tripod. Decorations are mostly plain, though some are polished, red-coated, or feature geometric patterns of dots, sawtooth appliqués, or fine cord impressions. This site is distinctly consistent with the Baishibao culture and belongs to a Bronze Age cultural site.

The famous battle of Héchūdiàn, a classic example of a smaller force defeating a larger one throughout history, took place here. According to historical records, in late November of the fourth year of the Tiānqìng era during the Liao Dynasty (1114), Jin Taizu Wányán Ágǔdǎ led a rebellion against the Liao, personally commanding 3,700 elite soldiers. Departing from Ningjiang Prefecture (now the ancient ruins in Fuyu County, Jilin Province), they advanced swiftly by night and launched a surprise attack on Jiangzhou City, decisively defeating 100,000 Liao troops. To this day, the bones of the fallen are strewn across Daqing Mountain, and traces of the battle remain visible. Standing atop Daqing Mountain, one can gaze upon the boundless scenery where Maoying Lake merges with the sky, with birds soaring and boats crisscrossing the water—a scene of unique charm.

Naadam is a grand traditional Mongolian festival featuring recreational activities. The Naadam gathering in Dorbod County boasts a long history. During the Qing Dynasty, the local Naadam was divided into three levels: "Husu" (banner), "Nutuk" (district), and "Yela" (township), all organized and presided over by Mongolian nobility. After the establishment of the Dorbod Mongol Autonomous County in 1956, it was decided to hold a county-wide Naadam gathering annually in autumn. The first gathering was successfully held the following year. Since then, every year during that season, farmers, herders, workers, students, and government officials from all townships across the county form representative teams to participate. Delegations from other counties and cities also join in to add to the festive spirit, gradually turning it into a grand celebration for all ethnic groups in the county. Nowadays, besides the county-wide Naadam, each Mongolian-inhabited area also holds its own annual Naadam. The festival now features a rich variety of activities, including the traditional "Three Manly Games" of horse racing, archery, and wrestling, as well as recreational competitions such as bone-tossing, Mongolian chess, throwing games, and "Buur" (a traditional Mongolian sport). Modern elements have also been added, such as cultural performances, mass calisthenics displays, trade fairs, track and field events, basketball, and volleyball competitions.

About twenty li (approximately 10 kilometers) northwest of the Grand Temple lies the ruins of Tashihai Ancient City and its imperial lodge. Tashihai Ancient City was the hometown of Xiao Siwen, the Northern Prime Minister of the Liao Dynasty. Xiao Siwen’s daughter, Xiao Yanyan—commonly known from novels as the “Empress Dowager who personally commanded the chariot and directed the armies”—was born here. Xiao Siwen’s granddaughter, Bodhisattva Ge, was later chosen as the empress by Emperor Shengzong. The name “Tashihai” vividly records the life, death, glory, and sorrow of this empress.

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units