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The Ancient City of Chengyang

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The Ancient City of Chengyang, located underground in Hujia Town, Heze City, Shandong Province, has been identified by cultural relics authorities as an ancient city from the pre-Qin period. It existed through the Qin, Han, Wei, Jin, Tang, and Song dynasties but was destroyed by war and floods during the Jin Dynasty. Based on records from "Records of the Grand Historian" (Shiji), "Book of Han" (Hanshu), and geographical texts from the Tang and Song dynasties, this city was the ancient capital of the Cheng State during the Western Zhou Dynasty, known as Chengyang, and also served as the county seat of Chengyang under the Jiyin Commandery during the Qin, Han, Wei, and Jin periods. It was abolished during the Northern Qi Dynasty. In the Tang Dynasty, the county of Leize was re-established here under the jurisdiction of Puzhou. It continued through the Tang, Five Dynasties, and Song periods. In the second year of the Zhenyou era of the Jin Dynasty, the county was abolished and reduced to a town. The town of Leize lasted for two hundred years through the Jin and Yuan dynasties but was destroyed by the Yellow River flood in the first year of the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty, becoming buried under silt. During the Ming Dynasty, a military settlement called Pingyang Tun was established on the ruins of the abandoned city. Eventually, it became completely buried underground.

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The Ancient City of Chengyang is a cultural relic protection unit of Shandong Province.

The Ancient City of Chengyang, located underground in Hujia Town, Heze City, Shandong Province, has been identified by cultural relics authorities as an ancient city from the pre-Qin period. It existed through the Qin, Han, Wei, Jin, Tang, and Song dynasties but was destroyed by war and floods during the Jin Dynasty. Based on records from "Records of the Grand Historian" (Shiji), "Book of Han" (Hanshu), and geographical texts from the Tang and Song dynasties, this city was the ancient capital of the Cheng State during the Western Zhou Dynasty, known as Chengyang, and also served as the county seat of Chengyang under the Jiyin Commandery during the Qin, Han, Wei, and Jin periods. It was abolished during the Northern Qi Dynasty. In the Tang Dynasty, the county of Leize was re-established here under the jurisdiction of Puzhou. It continued through the Tang, Five Dynasties, and Song periods. In the second year of the Zhenyou era of the Jin Dynasty, the county was abolished and reduced to a town. The town of Leize lasted for two hundred years through the Jin and Yuan dynasties but was destroyed by the Yellow River flood in the first year of the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty, becoming buried under silt. During the Ming Dynasty, a military settlement called Pingyang Tun was established on the ruins of the abandoned city. Eventually, it became completely buried underground.

"Records of the Grand Historian · Biographies of Merchants": “From the east of the Honggou Canal to the north of Mang and Dangshan, within the territory of Julu, lies this region of Liang and Song. Tao (Dingtao) and Suiyang were also major cities. In the past, Emperor Yao once resided in Chengyang (northeast of Heze), Emperor Shun fished in Lake Leize, and King Tang of Shang stayed in Bo (southeast of Cao County). The local customs still retain the legacy of the ancient kings—upright and honorable, with many gentlemen, fond of farming. Though lacking in mountainous or riverine riches, they manage with simple clothing and food to build up their savings.” (Sima Qian locates the birthplace of Emperor Yao in Chengyang, Emperor Shun fishing in Lake Leize, and King Tang of Shang rising in Bo, all within today’s Heze City.)