Site of the Ancient City of Acheng

Site of the Ancient City of Acheng

The Site of the Ancient City of Acheng is a cultural relic protection unit of Shandong Province.

The site of the ancient Dong'e City, also known as the Site of the Ancient City of Acheng, is located southwest of Wangzhuang Village in the northwest corner of Acheng Town, Yanggu County.

The site of the ancient Dong'e City belonged to the State of Qi during the Spring and Autumn Period and was called Ke Yi, also referred to as A Yi. Historically, Yanzi, a minister of Qi, once served as the magistrate of A here. During the Qin Dynasty, it was renamed Dong'e, and the Dong'e County was established, with this city serving as its administrative center. In the Northern Wei Dynasty, the county seat of Dong'e was moved eastward, and this city gradually fell into disuse due to siltation from the Yellow River, leaving behind only remnants of its walls today.

The ancient Dong'e City site stretches 2,000 meters from east to west and 1,500 meters from north to south. The cultural layers of the Yangshao, Longshan, and Han Dynasties are about 2.5 meters thick, with numerous ancient artifacts such as pottery, bronze, and iron frequently unearthed. The southeastern corner and sections of the northern wall of the city are relatively well-preserved, while other parts of the wall also stand slightly higher than the surrounding land surface. The southeastern corner wall (also locally called the southern wall) remains intact for 250 meters, nearly 30 meters wide, standing 14 meters above ground and over 2 meters below, clearly showcasing the corner structure of the city’s southeast. The cross-section reveals the wall’s structure, consisting of a main wall and later repairs. The main wall was built using the board-ramming technique with flat layers, each 6–10 cm thick. On top of it stands the “Revolutionary Martyrs’ Memorial Pavilion of Acheng Town, Yanggu County” and the “Tomb of Martyr Li Wanmin.” About 2 kilometers to the north, there are two additional surviving wall segments, namely the northern city wall, also locally called the northern wall. This northern wall consists of eastern and western sections, smaller and shorter than the southern wall.

Acheng Town: Located on the north bank of the Yellow River in the eastern part of Yanggu County, Acheng Town covers an area of 115.1 square kilometers, with a population of 68,000 and 120,000 mu of arable land.

Acheng Town boasts a superior geographical location and a long historical culture. Scenic spots and historic sites within its jurisdiction, such as the Ancient A Well, Haihui Temple, and Sun Bin Pavilion, are renowned both at home and abroad. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, it was "a place where scholars and commoners gathered and merchants thronged," and one of the famous commercial hubs along the canal.

On this ancient land, many notable figures have emerged. Among them, the famous military strategist Sun Bin of the Warring States Period, the Three Kingdoms general Cheng Yu, and the prominent Yuan Dynasty politician Cao Yuan Yong are representative examples. Acheng is also the... [More details about Acheng Town++]

Further reading:

· Second Batch of Cultural Relic Protection Units of Shandong Province