Tian Tadang Ancient Ruins

Tian Tadang Ancient Ruins

The Tian Tadang Ancient Ruins are a cultural tourism attraction.

The Tian Tadang Ancient Ruins are a cultural tourism attraction located in Maojia Natural Village, Guangxi Village, Yinjiang Town, Yinzhou District, on the eastern side of Shanghuashan Mountain. Shanghuashan is one of Ningbo’s well-known historical stone quarries, leaving behind dozens of ancient quarry pits, among which Tian Tadang is one of the more typical examples. It lies about 500 meters west of Maoja Quarry. According to the quarrying history of Shanghuashan and findings from the Third National Cultural Relics Survey—including the discovery of a buried waterwheel inside the quarry, as well as records indicating that quarrying was banned from the late Qing Dynasty onwards—it is estimated that mining here began at least before the Ming Dynasty and continued intermittently until modern times. After the turn of the century, to preserve the historic site, the local government decided to completely shut down quarrying activities. Today, there are dozens of quarry pits of various sizes, including one that is 13.8 meters wide, 15.2 meters deep, and 7 meters high. Larger ones feature towering boulders that are difficult to measure, with slogans such as “Victory forever belongs to the Chinese and Korean peoples!” written on the rock faces. Notably, the buried waterwheel discovered during the survey serves as evidence of the water-powered tools once used in quarrying operations, providing important physical material for the study of quarry drainage techniques.

The stone extracted here is one of Ningbo’s well-known types of Xiaoxi Stone, historically used in constructing houses, bridges, and tombs. It serves as an irreplaceable physical testament for studying the development of Ningbo’s architectural history and also reflects the hard labor of the quarry workers. As such, it holds significant historical research value. In 2010, it was designated as part of the ninth batch of district-level cultural heritage protection units in Yinzhou District, and in 2016, following an adjustment in Ningbo’s administrative divisions, it was placed under the jurisdiction of Yinzhou District.

Information provided by: Yinzhou District Cultural Relics Management Office

Guangxi Village: Nestled against mountains and beside water, Guangxi Village is located in the central area of Yinjiang Town and serves as the hub of the town’s economic development. It governs four natural villages (Maojia, Guangxi, Xiaoxi, and Dingshan), covering a total area of 4.6 square kilometers, including over 600 acres of arable land and 4,600 acres of forested land. The village has 963 households, with a registered population of 2,220 people, including more than 3,000 non-agricultural migrant residents, 85 Party members, and over 200 private enterprises. In 2008, the village achieved a total industrial and agricultural output value of 702.39 million yuan, with collective village funds reaching 1.8 million yuan, and an average per capita income of farmers amounting to 1,100... More detailed information about Guangxi Village++