China Water Ancient City (Liaocheng Ancient City)

China Water Ancient City (Liaocheng Ancient City)

China Water Ancient City, also known as Dongchang Ancient City or Liaocheng Ancient City, covers an area of just 1 square kilometer but is surrounded by a lake spanning 6.3 square kilometers. Its stunning water town landscape, characterized by “city within water, water within city, unity of city and water, and mutual reflection,” is breathtakingly beautiful. The unique global urban form of “round sky and square earth” is found nowhere else.

The ancient city is situated in the middle of Dongchang Lake within the urban area of Liaocheng. It retains the city walls from the Northern Song Dynasty. The city is square-shaped, with a total area of about 1 million square meters. The city wall was initially built in the third year of the Xining era of the Song Dynasty (1070), originally as an earthen wall. In the fifth year of the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty (1372), Chen Yong, the Commandant of Dongchang Pingshan Guard, rebuilt it with bricks. The wall is 3.5 kilometers in circumference, 11.7 meters high, 6.7 meters wide at the top, and 11.7 meters thick at the base. The inner wall was rammed with a mixture of lime, clay, and sand, while the outer wall was constructed with bricks and stones. The city has four gates, each topped with a gate tower and protected by a barbican. The barbicans of the south, east, and west are designed with turning entrances; the south gate faces east like a phoenix’s head, the east and west gates face south like the phoenix’s wings, and the north gate faces north like the phoenix’s tail—hence the name “Phoenix City.” All four gate towers feature double-eaved hip-and-gable roofs with upturned corners: the east gate is called “Chunxi” (Spring Joy), the west “Qingyuan” (Clear Distance), the south “Zhengde” (Upright Virtue), and the north “Xuanwu” (Martial Declaration). In the seventh year of the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty (1579), over 2,700 crenels and 27 watchtowers were added to the walls; the four gate towers were renamed: the east “Yinbin” (Welcoming Guests), the west “Nari” (Receiving the Sun), the south “Nanxun” (Southern Breeze), and the north “Suoyue” (Lock and Key). Each gate is equipped with a water gate and drawbridge. The northeast and northwest corners of the city once housed two towers: “Wangyue” (Gazing at Mount Tai) and “Lvyun” (Green Cloud). The city is tall, solid, and highly defensible, presenting an imposing presence that overlooks the surrounding areas, earning the reputation of a “Phoenix City that cannot be conquered even if breached.”

The ancient city is a reconstructed site built upon Ming Dynasty ruins, centered around the renowned Guangyue Tower. A cross-shaped pedestrian commercial street divides the urban area into four sections. The main cross street serves as a pedestrian shopping street, lined mainly with traditional-style businesses.

The city wall was initially built in the third year of the Xining era of the Song Dynasty (1070), originally as an earthen wall. In the fifth year of the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty (1372), Chen Yong, the Commandant of Dongchang Pingshan Guard, rebuilt it with bricks. The wall is 3.5 kilometers in circumference, 11.7 meters high, 6.7 meters wide at the top, and 11.7 meters thick at the base. The inner wall was rammed with a mixture of lime, clay, and sand, while the outer wall was constructed with bricks and stones. The city has four gates, each topped with a gate tower and protected by a barbican. The barbicans of the south, east, and west are designed with turning entrances; the south gate faces east like a phoenix’s head, the east and west gates face south like the phoenix’s wings, and the north gate faces north like the phoenix’s tail—hence the name “Phoenix City.” All four gate towers feature double-eaved hip-and-gable roofs with upturned corners: the east gate is called “Chunxi” (Spring Joy), the west “Qingyuan” (Clear Distance), the south “Zhengde” (Upright Virtue), and the north “Xuanwu” (Martial Declaration). In the seventh year of the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty (1579), over 2,700 crenels and 27 watchtowers were added to the walls; the four gate towers were renamed: the east “Yinbin” (Welcoming Guests), the west “Nari” (Receiving the Sun), the south “Nanxun” (Southern Breeze), and the north “Suoyue” (Lock and Key). Each gate is equipped with a water gate and drawbridge. The northeast and northwest corners of the city once housed two towers: “Wangyue” (Gazing at Mount Tai) and “Lvyun” (Green Cloud). The city is tall, solid, and highly defensible, presenting an imposing presence that overlooks the surrounding areas, earning the reputation of a “Phoenix City that cannot be conquered even if breached.”

In January 1947, Liaocheng was liberated. To prevent the enemy from recapturing the city, the walls were demolished and have since been rebuilt. Guangyue Tower still stands tall in the center of the ancient city. Radiating outward from Guangyue Tower are four main streets—east, west, south, and north. Extending from these four streets are the four gates, four exits, and four barriers. The urban streets are laid out in a clear grid pattern, intersecting perpendicularly like a chessboard. The ancient city uses a cross-shaped pedestrian commercial street to divide the urban area into four sections. The main cross street is a pedestrian shopping street, lined mainly with traditional-style businesses. Loudong Street focuses on leisure, wellness, and health; Louxi Street is a fashionable, high-end shopping street; Loubei Street is a dining street; and Lounan Street is a cultural street. The central blocks of urban units are designed as charming residential areas, mainly featuring traditional courtyard homes, with street-front buildings used for small folk-style shops—shops in the front, residences in the back—offering flexibility and convenience.

The ancient city area consists of nine streets, eighteen lanes, and seventy-two alleys. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, most government departments were concentrated in the northwest part of the ancient city. Even today, elderly residents can easily point out where the provincial office, Confucian temple, and post station once stood. The southern half of the old city was home to wealthy families, and some streets were named after nearby temples or residences. The historical legacy has endowed Dongchang Ancient City with rich cultural artistry and a vibrant daily life. Traditional folk arts such as paper-cutting, Dongchang gourds, and woodblock New Year paintings, along with heritage streets like Zhuangyuan Street, Kaoyuan Street, Shixian Alley, Huoshenmiao Street, and Guandimiao Street... When it comes to these cultural landmarks, long-time residents of the ancient city speak fondly.