The Ancient City Wall of Chuzhou Prefecture

The Ancient City Wall of Chuzhou Prefecture

The Ancient City Wall of Chuzhou Prefecture is a cultural relic protection unit of Zhejiang Province.

The Ancient City Wall of Chuzhou Prefecture is located in Lishui City, Zhejiang Province. The wall was first constructed in the ninth year of the Kaihuang era of the Sui Dynasty (589 AD) and has a history of more than 1,400 years. With its long history and clearly documented construction date, the wall features a distinctive layout characteristic of mountainous prefectural cities, along with scientifically sound masonry techniques. It stands as a physical testament to the study of the development history of ancient Chinese city walls and the layout of ancient cities, possessing significant historical, scientific, and artistic value.

Initially built during the Tang Dynasty, the wall was reconstructed in the 27th year of the Zhiyuan era of the Yuan Dynasty (1290 AD) by using half of the original site. Six gates were established: Wangjing, Yanquan, Xingchun, Nanming, Kuocang, and Tonghui. In the 42nd year of the Jiajing era of the Ming Dynasty (1563 AD), Magistrate Zhang Dashao renovated and expanded the wall, replacing bricks with stones. It underwent multiple renovations and expansions during the Chongzhen era of the Ming Dynasty, and the Kangxi and Yongzheng eras of the Qing Dynasty. Existing structures include the Nanming Gate and adjacent sections of the wall, the brick notice wall at Wangjing Gate, sections of the wall on the southwestern foothills of Wanxiang Mountain, Dongtian Tower, sections of the wall north of Xingchun Gate, and the city moat. The Nanming Gate and the adjacent ancient wall are situated against the mountain and beside the river, standing along the Ou River. The gate has a rectangular plan, covering an area of 382.5 square meters, with a semicircular barbican on the southern side covering approximately 353 square meters. The section from Nanming Gate to Xingchun Gate and from Kuocang Gate to Wanxiang Mountain remains relatively intact. The wall is built with slanted square-block dry-laid stones, filled internally with sand, gravel, and rubble. The battlements are constructed with bricks, while the stone parts reach a remaining height of about 5 meters and a maximum width of 5 meters, serving both defensive and flood-prevention functions. Dongtian Tower is built along the slope, with a building atop and a passageway for pedestrians below.

The Ancient City Wall of Chuzhou Prefecture has a long history and clearly recorded construction date, features a distinctive layout characteristic of mountainous prefectural cities, along with scientifically sound masonry techniques. It stands as a physical testament to the study of the development history of ancient Chinese city walls and the layout of ancient cities, possessing significant historical, scientific, and artistic value.

Location

Lishui City, Zhejiang Province

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of Cultural Relic Protection Units of Zhejiang Province