Chajian Ridge Ruins

Chajian Ridge Ruins

The Chajian Ridge Ruins are a protected cultural heritage site of Hebei Province.

Chajian Ridge Ruins

Chajian Ridge Ruins are located within Zhaoyuan Park in Congtai District, Handan City, and comprise six cultural heritage sites: Chajian Ridge, Dressing Tower, Huanggu Temple, Arrow Casting Furnace, Lingshan, and Zhaomei Pool.

Chajian Ridge is a rammed-earth strip-shaped mound, 630 meters long, 20–40 meters wide, and 3–8.7 meters high. Excavations have yielded three-edged bronze arrowheads from the Warring States and Han dynasties, as well as Han dynasty rope-patterned pottery shards. It is indeed part of the western wall of the ancient city of Handan’s northern section.

The Dressing Tower is divided into southern and northern sections. The southern part is 140 meters east–west and 180 meters north–south, with a height of 7–8 meters. Red-fired earth blocks and remnants of rope-patterned tubular and flat tiles from the Warring States and Han periods have been found at the Dressing Tower site, indicating that there were originally structures built atop it.

Huanggu Temple is situated in the central area of the ruins and is a rammed-earth platform, measuring 100 meters east–west and 80 meters north–south, with a height of 2–5 meters. It connects to the south with the Dressing Tower. Excavated architectural relics such as tubular and flat tiles suggest that this was the foundation of a building.

Lingshan is located in the northern part of the ruins. It is an earthen platform, now irregularly triangular in shape, covering an area of 1,540 square meters. Field investigations have confirmed that it is a remnant segment of the ground-level wall at the northwest corner of the western wall of the ancient city of Handan. Both ends have underground rammed-earth extensions. Artifacts unearthed here include basins, jars, tubular tiles, flat tiles, and drainage channels from the Warring States period.

Zhaomei Pool is situated to the east of the Dressing Tower. It is rectangular, measuring 240 meters north–south and 60 meters east–west. The terrain is low-lying, and it is said to be a historical site of the Zhao kings, where the palace maidens used to admire their reflections in the water while applying makeup. The pool is now dry, and the ground is scattered with remnants of artifacts from the Warring States period.

Further Reading:

· Second Batch of Protected Cultural Heritage Sites of Hebei Province