Handan Zhao Wangcheng Site Park

Handan Zhao Wangcheng Site Park

Handan Zhao Wangcheng Site Park is a cultural tourism attraction.

Zhao Wangcheng, also known as the Palace City of the Zhao Capital, is located southwest of Handan City, Hebei Province. It is the best-preserved and the only remaining ancient city site from the Warring States period in China, and is listed among the first group of Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level. Zhao Wangcheng was built around the time when the State of Zhao moved its capital to Handan. According to historical records, in the first year of King Jinghou of Zhao (386 BC), the capital was relocated from Zhongmu to Handan. It lasted through eight kings for a total of 158 years until the eighth year of King Qian of Zhao (228 BC), when it was occupied by the Qin State. In 209 BC, the Qin general Zhang Han attacked King Xie of Zhao and ordered the “razing of its walls,” leading to the destruction of this once-famous capital. It gradually became ruins thereafter.

Zhao Wangcheng consists of three smaller cities: East City, West City, and North City. The layout resembles the Chinese character “品” (pǐn), covering a total area of 5.12 million square meters. The surrounding site retains rammed earth walls that are 3 to 8 meters high, winding and undulating. Inside, there are well-organized and densely distributed building foundations, along with over ten large rammed earth foundation sites underground, and multiple gate remains around the perimeter.

The West City is relatively intact and nearly square, with sides about 1,420 meters long. There are five large earthen platforms on the site, among which the “Dragon Platform” in the central-southern part is 285 meters long, 265 meters wide, and 19 meters high. It served as the main palace building foundation of the time. To the north of the Dragon Platform, there are two other large rammed earth platforms, forming a north-south central axis. On both sides of the axis, six rammed earth platforms and underground building foundations remain on the surface, forming a grand complex of palatial buildings centered around the Dragon Platform.

The East City is separated from the West City by just one wall. It is 1,442 meters long at its longest from north to south, and 926 meters wide at its widest from east to west. In the central-southern part of the city, there are two large earthen platforms facing each other from north to south. Legend has it that these were the “South General’s Platform” and “North General’s Platform,” where the King of Zhao reviewed troops and appointed commanders. There are also underground rammed earth foundations between the two platforms and to their north and south.

The North City is an irregular square. Except for a section of the southern part of the western wall, which still has some remnants above ground, the rest only has underground wall remains. The earthen platform in the western part of the site is second in size only to the Dragon Platform, and stands opposite another platform outside the western wall, forming yet another group of palatial building foundations.

Transportation Guide

Location: West Section of South Ring Road, Handan City, Hebei Province

Getting There: Take bus No. 305 within Handan City and get off at the Hansteel Fertilizer Factory Residential Compound stop.