Ruins of the Ancient City of Suqian

Ruins of the Ancient City of Suqian

The ruins of the ancient city of Suqian are a municipal-level cultural heritage protection unit in Suqian.

The ruins of the ancient Su’yu City are located in Gucheng Village, Zhenglou Town, Yanghe New District. Commonly known as Gucheng Mountain, the site covers an area of approximately 6.5 million square meters and is a municipal-level cultural heritage protection unit. According to the Chronicles of Suqian, this was once a historic hub along the Si River. During the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, the State of Qiuyou established its capital here; during the Qin Dynasty, it was the county of Qiuyou; during the Eastern Jin Dynasty, it was the county and commandery of Su’yu; during the Northern and Southern Dynasties, it was the Southern Xuzhou, Eastern Xuzhou, and Sizhou; during the Sui Dynasty, it was the Xiapi Commandery; and during the early Tang Dynasty, when Sizhou was renamed from Xiapi Commandery, its administrative center was all located at the ancient Su’yu City. Later, due to the Yellow River diverting into the Si River, the city was destroyed by flooding, and the county seat was moved north to what is now Suqian. The current ancient city is likely shaped by Yellow River floods, forming a terrain that is higher in the south and lower in the north. It is bordered by the unmarked northern slope of Gucheng Mountain and the east-west extending Yellow River embankment, creating a distinct elevation difference. North of the embankment lies a large expanse of farmland, while south of the embankment is the village of Guchengcun, with the old course of the Yellow River (originally the Si River) to the south of the village. During the third national survey of immovable cultural relics, the survey team identified this area as a key focus. Based on field investigations, they first conducted a partial excavation in a section of the northern slope of Gucheng Mountain that had long been waterlogged. The excavation unearthed a large number of ceramic shards and bricks, confirming that the so-called Gucheng Mountain is not a naturally formed hill due to geological changes, but rather an artificially piled-up mound. Next, boreholes were drilled on the northern side of Gucheng Mountain, revealing an east-west rammed earth structure about 460 meters long and 15 meters wide. The height varies, with the highest point about 2 meters and the lowest only 50 centimeters, featuring a gentle slope on the northern face. There are no turning points extending northward at either the eastern or western ends, leading to the conclusion that this rammed earth structure is a remnant of the city wall — specifically, a complete section of the northern wall. After confirming this section of the wall, the survey team continued exploring southward in an attempt to uncover the full layout of the ancient city, but progress was hindered by the thick layer of Yellow River flood sediment. During the exploration, one borehole, upon reaching the base of the wall, brought up a ceramic shard with the shovel, which was later identified as dating back to the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods. Additionally, based on the artifacts excavated from the Gucheng Mountain dissection and the collected pottery shards, the findings range from the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods to the Tang and Song Dynasties, generally consistent with historical records.

Zhenglou Town: Established as Zhenglou Township in 1957, reorganized as a commune in 1958, and reinstated as a township in 1983. Located in the western part of the county, it is 19 kilometers from the county seat. Covering an area of 60 square kilometers with a population of 45,000, it is traversed by the Yang (He)–Zheng (Lou) Highway. The township administers 24 villages: Zhenglou, Zhengxi, Lixin, Dagou, Danian, Xinzhuang, Shuangchen, Yaozhuang, Zhengnan, Taiping, Liangzhuang, Jingou, Qiuzhuang, Zhengdong, Jinshan, Subao, Huli, Fuzui, Wangfu, Chenwei, Shizhuang, Xinzhai, Jiangzhuang, and Zhangdu. The main agricultural crops are wheat, rice, and cotton. Local township enterprises include plywood mills and brick kilns... More details about Zhenglou Town++