Nancheng Scenic Area

Nancheng Scenic Area

Nancheng was not only one of the eastern gateways, but also served as the seat of the county (prefecture or state) government for nearly 800 years, from the seventh year of the Taishi era during the Southern Dynasties to the second year of the Jingding era in the Southern Song Dynasty. It was a renowned political, economic, and cultural hub of the coastal region, a center for the gathering and distribution of people and goods, as well as a key military stronghold. Having endured the commercial turbulence and bloodshed of dozens of dynasties, even when Sun Yat-sen was drafting his “Strategy for National Reconstruction,” Nancheng still thrived with bustling trade, described as “where land and water routes converge, and Yangyu Road is a vital thoroughfare.” The massive throughput of the port boosted the local economy and attracted numerous domestic politicians, merchants, scholars, as well as eminent Taoist priests and Buddhist monks. Some of them wrote books and gave lectures here, while others established Taoist altars or built temples to promote values such as “kindness, tolerance, benevolence, filial piety,” and “loyalty, righteousness, courtesy, wisdom, and integrity.” These teachings nurtured the souls of the local residents, giving rise to unique customs and rich local culture, while also cultivating a great many scholars, literati, and distinguished figures.

In the seventh year of the Taishi era during the Southern Dynasties, due to seawater encroachment, the seat of the Donghai County government was moved from Xinxian (now Chaoyang Town) on the northern side of Nanyuntai Mountain to Nancheng. Magistrate Liu Shanming “built a wall eight to nine feet high using stacked stones” to construct Phoenix City. In the thirteenth year of the Zhenguan era in the Tang Dynasty, Chancellor Wei Zheng inscribed the three large characters “Ninghai Gate” for the southern gate of Nancheng. During the Southern Song Dynasty, Chancellor Jia Sidao reinforced and connected the walls originally built during the Sui and Tang Dynasties to defend against Jin troops, extending the city wall to a circumference of thirteen kilometers. From the second year of the Duanping era to the second year of the Jingding era in the Southern Song Dynasty, the seat of the Haizhou government was relocated to Phoenix City, commonly known as “Donghai Zhou.” During the Yongle era of the Ming Dynasty, Huai’an Commandery Assistant Zhou Dezhu further heightened the original city walls by two and a half inches. In the Shunzhi era of the Qing Dynasty, Minister of War Su Nahai, under the pretext of “ineffective maritime bans,” forcibly relocated residents from islands along the southeast coast (including Yuntai Mountain) inland in an event called “Haijin” (Sea Ban), leading to the decline and desolation of Phoenix City. It wasn’t until 1678, after 16 notable figures from Donghai County jointly petitioned the imperial court and argued their case, that the “Haihai” (Sea Reopening) policy was reinstated, allowing scattered residents to return home. However, Nancheng never regained its former glory. During the Xianfeng era of the Qing Dynasty, the ancient city underwent large-scale restoration, and Huang Jinyun, Prefect of Haizhou, inscribed the four large characters “Ancient Phoenix City,” which remain well-preserved to this day. In 1958, Phoenix City was demolished, leaving only the southern gate. In 2006, the city gate was restored with funding from the Municipal Cultural Relics Management Committee, becoming a landmark of Nancheng.