Beichengzi Site in Tang County

Beichengzi Site in Tang County

The Beichengzi Site in Tang County is a cultural heritage site protected by Hebei Province.

The Beichengzi Site is an ancient site from the Warring States to Han Dynasty periods, located in Beichengzi Village, Beidian Tou Township, Tang County. It lies in a hilly area 13 li northwest of Tang County at the eastern foot of the Taihang Mountains, at an elevation of 188 meters. To the north and south are hills, to the east is a valley, and to the west is flat land. A small river originates in the south, called the Daoliu River, which flows westward into the Tang River.

Originally, Beichengzi was a square-shaped city, stretching 1,200 meters from north to south and 1,000 meters from east to west, covering a total area of 1.2 million square meters. In the northeast corner of the site, there remains a section of broken wall about 480 meters long, 8.5 meters wide, and 7 meters high. The rammed earth layers are distinct, each 8–10 centimeters thick, and gray pottery shards were found within the wall’s earthen layers, providing valuable material for studying city construction during the Warring States to Han Dynasty periods. During the site survey, broken bean trays and ash pottery fragments with cord markings were also discovered.

Through multiple surveys and based on clues provided by local villagers, it is said that this city was called Murong City, originally built by Murong Chui, ruler of the Yan Kingdom. According to the Ming Hongzhi-era Baoding Prefecture Records: “Zhongshan City is 130 li west of the prefecture, belonging to the ancient Xianyu territory of Tang County. In the tenth year of the Taiyuan era of the Eastern Jin Dynasty (385 AD), Murong Chui moved the capital to Zhongshan. This city was likely built by Murong Chui. When Emperor Taizong of Tang campaigned against Liaodong, he stopped here to drink water and sang: ‘Against the enemy, six strategies are employed; at the frontline, eight battle arrays are deployed’—this refers to this very city.” The Tang County Annals revised in the third year of the Guangxu reign during the Qing Dynasty state: “Thirteen li north of Tang County’s urban area, there is a city on the mountain ridge called ‘Zhongshan City.’ It is said to be the site of Emperor Yao’s Tang Commandery, initially established as the capital by Murong Chui, ruler of the Later Yan Kingdom during the Sixteen Kingdoms period.” It is said that because Beichengzi and Nanchengzi are located to the south and north of Zhongshan City, they derived their names accordingly and have been used to this day. In summary, this city should be considered part of the Han-era Zhongshan City site. The discovery and preservation of this site hold significant value for studying China’s history and provide tangible historical material for understanding the development of Tang County.

Beichengzi Village: Beichengzi Village is located 2 kilometers east of Beidian Tou Township, Tang County, and 8.5 kilometers northwest of the county seat in a semi-mountainous area. The village committee currently has six offices totaling 120 square meters. There are eight members on the village’s two committees, with overlapping positions, and 33 Party members. The village governance structure is intact. The village has a total population of 1,069, with 312 households, including 8 poor households and 18 people living in poverty. The village has 786 mu of arable land, of which 200 mu are irrigated, and there are four wells. It is a traditional agricultural village, mainly growing crops such as millet and corn. … Detailed information about Beichengzi Village++

Further Reading:

· Second Batch of Cultural Heritage Sites Protected by Hebei Province