Handan of the Zhao State (Ancient City Ruins)

The ancient city of Handan of the Zhao State

The ancient city of Handan of the Zhao State is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The ancient city of Handan of the Zhao State is located in Handan City, Hebei Province.

The ancient city of Handan of the Zhao State was the site of the capital of the Zhao State during the Warring States period, and Handan was one of the most prosperous cities of that era. The name "Handan" first appeared in the "Gongyang Commentary on the Spring and Autumn Annals." The city was initially part of the State of Wei, then the State of Jin, and after the Partition of Jin among the Three Families, it belonged to the Zhao State. From 386 BC, when King Jing of Zhao moved the capital here, until the Zhao State was conquered by the Qin, it served as the capital for eight generations over a total of 159 years. Famous historical stories such as “Returning the Jade Intact to Zhao,” “King Wuling of Zhao Adopting Foreign Clothing and Archery,” “Learning to Walk in Handan,” “Harmony Between the General and the Prime Minister,” and “Besieging Wei to Rescue Zhao” all took place during this period when Handan was the Zhao capital.

In 1972, through meticulous surveys, the overall layout of the ancient city was largely revealed. The ruins consist of two parts: the Royal City of Zhao (Zhao Wangcheng) and the Greater Northern City (Da Beicheng). The Royal City of Zhao served as the palace city of the Zhao State, with an L-shaped layout divided into eastern, western, and northern sections, covering a total area of 5.12 million square meters. Today, rammed earth city walls ranging from 3 to 8 meters in height still stand around the city. The city foundation is 16 meters wide, with 2–3 city gates on each side. Inside the city, there are many large-scale rammed earth foundations arranged in an orderly fashion, which are believed to be the remains of palace buildings. The palaces were laid out symmetrically, reflecting a clear hierarchy. The Dragon Terrace (Longtai), situated along the central axis, is the largest structure, measuring 265 meters in width from east to west, 285 meters in length from north to south, and 19 meters in height. It served as the main palace building in the Royal City of Zhao.

The Greater Northern City is located northeast of the palace city, with most of its foundations buried beneath modern-day Handan. Above ground, almost no remains are visible. The city had an irregular rectangular layout, stretching 6,100 meters from north to south and 4,000 meters from east to west. The area housed workshops for bone processing, iron smelting, casting, and pottery, as well as commercial and residential districts. The Greater Northern City gradually declined and fell into disrepair after the Han Dynasty. To the northwest of the city site lies the mausoleum area of the Zhao kings.

As the capital of the Zhao State, Handan was one of the cities with a highly developed political, economic, and cultural scene at the time. To this day, the city preserves many cultural relics and historic sites, such as the Cangong Terrace where King Wuling of Zhao trained his troops, the Chajian Ridge associated with the story of adopting foreign dress and archery, the Xuebu Bridge known from the poetic line “Lost in copying others’ steps, laughed at by the people of Handan” by Li Bai, as well as the Dressing Tower, Black Dragon Cave, and others. These sites are popular destinations for scholars and visitors seeking a connection with history.

In 1961, the ancient city of Handan of the Zhao State, as an ancient site from the Warring States period, was included by the State Council in the first group of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Further Reading:

· Second Group of Cultural Relics Protection Units in Hebei Province

· First Group of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units