Nantang Ruins

Nantang Ruins

The Nantang Ruins are a protected cultural heritage site of Tianjin Municipality.

The Nantang Ruins are located approximately 3,000 meters northeast of Liugangzhuang Village, Xiaowangzhuang Town, Dagang District, Binhai New Area, Tianjin. They date back to the Han, Tang, Song, Yuan, and Ming dynasties.

The ancient architectural ruins of Nantang are located within the Dagang Reservoir in the Dagang District of Tianjin, close to the side of Liugangzhuang Village in Xiaowangzhuang Town. The entire site sits on a high platform covering an area of about 300 square meters. The platform rises about 1.5 meters above the ground surface and has an irregular circular shape that is higher in the west and south but lower in the northeast. The surrounding area of the ruins consists of overgrown wasteland filled with reeds, and the site itself is covered with dense weeds. On the high platform of the ruins, there is currently one stone stele and one lotus-shaped stone pedestal. The stele is located in the central-southern part of the high platform, measuring 2.4 meters in length, 0.9 meters in width, and 0.27 meters in thickness. Its edges are decorated with patterns, and inscriptions appear on both sides, though due to severe weathering, only a small amount of text remains legible. To the east of the stele lies a lotus-shaped stone pedestal, which features carvings such as lotus petals (upward lotus motifs), qilin (mythical creature) reliefs, double beast reliefs, and floral patterns. Scattered around the platform are numerous fragments of tiles, bricks, and porcelain pieces dating from the Tang, Song, Jin, Yuan, and Ming dynasties.

After investigation and evaluation by experts from the Municipal Cultural Relics Bureau, the ancient architectural ruins of Nantang were identified as remnants from the Tang Dynasty. This discovery fills a gap in the historical record of Tang-era architectural remains in the southern part of the city. The finding has also played a positive role in advancing archaeological research in the southern region of Tianjin.

On January 5, 2013, the Tianjin Municipal People’s Government designated the site as part of the fourth batch of Protected Cultural Heritage Sites of Tianjin Municipality.

Further Reading:

· Fourth Batch of Protected Cultural Heritage Sites of Tianjin Municipality