Beichang Caochang Ruins

Beichang Caochang Ruins

The Beichang Caochang Ruins are a cultural relic protection unit of Shandong Province.

The Beichang Caochang Ruins are located in Beichang Village, Ertun Town, Decheng District, Dezhou City, dating back to the Jin, Yuan, and Ming dynasties.

Historical records show that as early as the seventh year of the Tianhui era in the Jin Dynasty (1129 AD), Dezhou established the Jiangling Granary to support the storage and transportation of canal grain. By the Ming and Qing periods, the storage facilities along the Dezhou section of the canal had grown to become one of the four major grain depots of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal. The construction and development of these warehouses spurred the prosperity of Beichang, making it not only one of the most important commercial hubs in ancient Dezhou but also gaining fame that extended to the Beijing and Tianjin areas.

The Beichang Caochang Ruins are situated approximately 0.5 kilometers northeast of Beichang Village, Ertun Town, Decheng District, Dezhou City, covering an area of about 104,476.00 square meters. As an important historical site along the canal, the Beichang Caochang Ruins provide crucial evidence for the study of Dezhou’s canal history, transportation and shipping history, and urban development history.

On June 23, 2015, the Beichang Caochang Ruins were designated by the People’s Government of Shandong Province as part of the fifth batch of provincial-level cultural relic protection units in Shandong.

Ertun Town: Ertun Town in Decheng District is located in the northwest of Dezhou City, at the junction of Shandong and Hebei provinces, as well as the border area of three districts and counties—Decheng, Wuqiao, and Jingxian. The town administers eight communities and 18 natural villages, covers an area of 40 square kilometers, and has a total population of 18,000. It is a nationally key town, a provincial-level central town, and an environmentally beautiful township. With a long history and strategic location, it has long been known as the “Northern Gateway of Shandong and Southern Gateway of Beijing.” Moreover, situated on the border between Shandong and Hebei, it serves as a vital passage for various central and southern provinces in China traveling to Beijing, making it a main transportation hub between Shandong and Hebei. The town enjoys convenient transportation and a superior geographical position, and has been historically reputed as the “Nine-Roads-to-the-Sky Hub and Gateway to the Imperial Capital”... More information about Ertun Town++

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of Cultural Relic Protection Units in Shandong Province