Ruins of Xiaocheng City

Ruins of Xiaocheng City

The ruins of Xiaocheng City are a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Era: Song Dynasty

The ruins of Xiaocheng City are located in Xiaocheng Village, southeast of Beiguantao Town, Guan County. Also known as Zhuma City or Xiemǎ City, the ancient city site still retains remnants such as a general's platform, arrow towers, gate towers, millstone caves, beacon towers, a horse-watering well, and the "Ten Thousand People Pit" where Empress Xiao of the Liao Dynasty executed surrendered and captured soldiers. It serves as an important historical testament to the signing of the "Chanyuan Treaty" between the Song and Liao dynasties. Experts from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences have commented that Xiaocheng is "unparalleled south of the Great Wall in terms of its grand scale and excellent preservation."

According to historical records and archaeological excavations, Xiaocheng was square-shaped, with a perimeter of 10 Chinese miles and a total area of 1.69 million square meters. The city walls were built from rammed earth, with each layer 13 centimeters thick, and arrow towers and gate towers at the four corners and gates. "Xiaocheng Morning Mist" was one of the Eight Scenic Spots of old Guantao County. Gu Zuyu, a renowned geographer of the Qing Dynasty during the Kangxi era, recorded in his 1692 geographical work "Reading History and Studying Geographic Records": "Xiemǎ City is seven Chinese miles southeast of the county. It is said that in the early years of the Jingde era of the Song Dynasty, when the Khitan army reached Chanyuan, Empress Xiao of the Khitan once led her troops to camp here, hence the name. There is also a Xiaocheng in the county, which is said to have been built by Empress Xiao of the Khitan."

The names of many villages around Xiaocheng are rich in anecdotes related to the Song-Liao wars, with some village names originating from specific battles—stories that are intriguing to explore. In May 2013, the State Council approved and announced the seventh batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units, with the Xiaocheng ruins included, making it a national-level cultural heritage site. To strengthen the protection and utilization of this site, Guan County has also made new plans, covering a total area of nearly 2 million square meters. Major construction components include the Khitan Ancient Style Area, featuring attractions such as a Khitan horse farm, the general’s platform, and military roads; and the Xiaocheng City Wall Area, including features such as the city wall, four gates, moats, and beacon towers.

In 1996, the Institute of Archaeology of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences sent an exploration team to Xiaocheng, conducting two months of survey and excavation, yielding a series of findings. Experts commented: "The Xiaocheng ruins are 'unparalleled south of the Great Wall in terms of their grand scale and excellent preservation.'"

In May 2013, it was approved and announced by the State Council as part of the seventh batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units