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The Ancient City of Teng State

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Located southwest of Tengzhou City, about 5 kilometers from the city center. Historical records state, "Within twenty li of the ancient city lies a smaller inner city." Today, remnants of the ancient city walls can still be faintly seen. The "outer city" is roughly square-shaped, extending from east to west. Along the southern section of the western wall of the outer city, there is a moat, commonly known as "Xihai Zi," which was the former city moat. At the southeastern and southwestern ends of the outer city lie two low-lying marshy areas filled with water, which were once planted with lotus roots, giving rise to the saying "two pools of lotus flowers, a city of hibiscus blossoms." The "inner city" is situated in the center of the outer city, also roughly square, with a perimeter of over 10 li. Over the past century, local residents have built earthen fortifications on the original city foundations to defend against warfare and floods. Today, the "inner city" stands 3–4 meters above the ground, with locust trees covering the top of the walls, providing dense green shade and fragrant blossoms. Within the city lies Tengcheng Village, surrounded by lush orchards and farmland that exude vitality. In the northeast corner of the city stands a high platform known as the "Wen Gong Platform," also called the "Ling Platform." Below the platform is a pool, traditionally referred to as the "Ling Pool." The "Mencius · King Hui of Liang I" records: "King Wen built a platform and a pool for the people, and the people rejoiced in them, calling the platform the Ling Platform and the pool the Ling Pool." Duke Wen of Teng emulated King Wen by constructing the Ling Platform and digging the Ling Pool, embodying the spirit of sharing joy with the people. During the Ming Dynasty's Wanli era, the Zhenwu Temple was built on the platform. On the left side of the temple’s auxiliary gate, there is a brick-carved couplet by Wei Jicha, a scholar of the Qing Dynasty, which reads: "Ancient relics near the Jing River, once upon a time people looked toward the high platform in memory of the prince; the hereditary title originally belonged to Shu Xiu, do not mistake the flying pavilion for the Prince of Teng." To the east of the high platform, ancient structures such as the "Wenchang Pavilion," "Lvzu Pavilion," "Merit Shrine," and "Rest Shrine" were built. There is also a merit stone inscribed with a magical and moving story. On the platform lies a huge stone engraved with the two characters "壮观" (Grand Sight), written in the hand of Li Bai. In front of the platform stand two ancient locust trees, gnarled and rustic, standing opposite each other with lush branches and leaves. It is said they were planted during the Tang Dynasty's Zhenguan era, over 1,000 years ago, and are revered by locals as "sacred trees."

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The Ancient City of Teng State is a national AA-level tourist attraction and a cultural relic protection unit of Shandong Province.

Located southwest of Tengzhou City, about 5 kilometers from the city center. Historical records state, "Within twenty li of the ancient city lies a smaller inner city." Today, remnants of the ancient city walls can still be faintly seen. The "outer city" is roughly square-shaped, extending from east to west. Along the southern section of the western wall of the outer city, there is a moat, commonly known as "Xihai Zi," which was the former city moat. At the southeastern and southwestern ends of the outer city lie two low-lying marshy areas filled with water, which were once planted with lotus roots, giving rise to the saying "two pools of lotus flowers, a city of hibiscus blossoms." The "inner city" is situated in the center of the outer city, also roughly square, with a perimeter of over 10 li. Over the past century, local residents have built earthen fortifications on the original city foundations to defend against warfare and floods. Today, the "inner city" stands 3–4 meters above the ground, with locust trees covering the top of the walls, providing dense green shade and fragrant blossoms. Within the city lies Tengcheng Village, surrounded by lush orchards and farmland that exude vitality. In the northeast corner of the city stands a high platform known as the "Wen Gong Platform," also called the "Ling Platform." Below the platform is a pool, traditionally referred to as the "Ling Pool." The "Mencius · King Hui of Liang I" records: "King Wen built a platform and a pool for the people, and the people rejoiced in them, calling the platform the Ling Platform and the pool the Ling Pool." Duke Wen of Teng emulated King Wen by constructing the Ling Platform and digging the Ling Pool, embodying the spirit of sharing joy with the people. During the Ming Dynasty's Wanli era, the Zhenwu Temple was built on the platform. On the left side of the temple’s auxiliary gate, there is a brick-carved couplet by Wei Jicha, a scholar of the Qing Dynasty, which reads: "Ancient relics near the Jing River, once upon a time people looked toward the high platform in memory of the prince; the hereditary title originally belonged to Shu Xiu, do not mistake the flying pavilion for the Prince of Teng." To the east of the high platform, ancient structures such as the "Wenchang Pavilion," "Lvzu Pavilion," "Merit Shrine," and "Rest Shrine" were built. There is also a merit stone inscribed with a magical and moving story. On the platform lies a huge stone engraved with the two characters "壮观" (Grand Sight), written in the hand of Li Bai. In front of the platform stand two ancient locust trees, gnarled and rustic, standing opposite each other with lush branches and leaves. It is said they were planted during the Tang Dynasty's Zhenguan era, over 1,000 years ago, and are revered by locals as "sacred trees."

In 1992, the Tengzhou Municipal People's Government renovated the Wen Gong Platform. The platform now features corridors and halls adorned with carved beams and painted rafters, with blue bricks and green tiles, standing tall and restoring its former glory. Inside the halls are life-like wax figures depicting "Duke Wen Consulting on Governance," including Duke Wen seeking governance strategies from Mencius, as well as figures like Ran You and Bi Zhan. A newly built stele forest on the eastern side of the platform displays a collection of inscribed stelae, epitaphs, and stone carvings gathered over the years, including the Tang royal family's carved Buddha stele, the Tang Xingguo Temple stele, the Tang Liangshan Ye Niang stele, the Jin Taiping Temple stele, the Jin Dading stele, the Song Dynasty Emperor Taizu Zhao Kuangyin's imperial edict stele, the Yuan Dynasty Daqing stele, and calligraphy art stones by Hua Shikui, among others, for visitors to view and appreciate.

The long and splendid history and culture of the Teng State, along with the beautiful scenery of the Ancient City of Teng State, make it a cultural destination cherished and longed for by generations.