Yancheng Ruins

Yancheng Ruins

The Yancheng Ruins are a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The Yancheng Ruins are located about 7 kilometers south of Changzhou City, Jiangsu Province, west of Hutang Bridge in Wujin County.

The Yancheng site spans approximately 67 hectares of land and water, about 47 hectares of which are cultivated. The city has three layers—the outer city, the inner city, and the central city—each encircled by its own moat. The outer city is an irregular circle with a circumference of 2,580 meters, an east-west diameter of over 800 meters, and a north-south diameter of around 750 meters. Its remaining walls are about 10 meters high and vary in width from 25 to 50 meters. The surrounding moat is typically 40–50 meters wide and over 3 meters deep. The inner city is square-shaped, located northeast within the outer city, with a perimeter half that of the outer city at 1,252 meters, a height of 10.5 meters, and a width of around 20 meters, making it higher than the outer city. The central city, also known as the royal city or “Purple Silk City,” lies slightly north of the center of the inner city. It is also square, with a perimeter of 457 meters, a height of about 11 meters, and a width of approximately 7–10 meters. Each of the three cities has its own gate. The outer city’s main entrance is on the northwest side, commonly called the “City Gate”; the inner city’s entrance is southwest, nicknamed the “Ringing Bell City”; and the central city’s entrance is on the south side. Each city is further enclosed by its own moat. Between the inner and outer cities on the western side, there are three earthen mounds about 10 meters high, aligned from south to north, possibly serving as watchtowers or observation platforms.

According to historical records and artifacts unearthed since 1957—including three dugout canoes, bronze plates, primitive celadon, and geometric-patterned pottery—it is estimated that these relics date back to the Western Zhou and Warring States periods. Therefore, the site is believed to originate from either the Western Zhou or Warring States era.

Given the scale and features of the city, it does not resemble the capital of an ancient emperor but more like a military fortress for troop encampment. Yancheng is situated in the central region of the Wu Plain, nestled between mountains, lakes, and close to the sea. Thus, it held significant strategic importance when the Yan lords used it to resist the Zhou dynasty. Today, the site is well-preserved and serves as a rare historical resource for studying urban development from the Western Zhou through the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods. (National Cultural Heritage Administration)

Address: South of Changhong West Road, Wujin District, Changzhou City

Type: Urban Park & Historical Site

Recommended Visit Duration: 1–2 hours

Phone: 4001880005

Opening Hours:

9:00-17:00

Ticket Information:

Door Price: 20.0 RMB

Further Reading:

· First and Second Batch of Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units

· Third Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units