The HuiLuan Stele and the Imperial Well

The HuiLuan Stele and the Imperial Well

The HuiLuan Stele, also known as the Stele of the Khitan’s Departure, is located on the west side of Xinhua Street (formerly Imperial Well Street) in Puyang County. It serves as a physical testament to the historical “Chanyuan Alliance” between the Song and Liao dynasties and is a provincial-level cultural relic protection unit.

In the early winter of 1004 during the Jingde era of Emperor Zhenzong of Song, the Khitan led the Liao army in a southern invasion of the Song Dynasty, advancing to the gates of Chanzhou City. Emperor Zhenzong Zhao Heng, after earnest persuasion from Kou Zhun and others, personally led his troops to the front, advancing north to Chanzhou. He ascended the North Gate Tower to oversee the battle. The morale of the Song army soared, leading to a major defeat of the Liao forces. Following negotiations, the two sides concluded the “Chanyuan Alliance.” Before returning to the capital Bianjing (modern-day Kaifeng), Emperor Zhenzong composed a poem and erected a stele within Chanzhou City to commemorate his victorious campaign against the Liao and the establishment of the alliance.

The HuiLuan Stele stands 2.6 meters tall, 1.3 meters wide, and 0.36 meters thick. Its inscriptions document the Battle of Chanzhou between the Song and Liao and the process of concluding the “Chanyuan Alliance.” It is traditionally attributed to Kou Zhun, featuring vigorous, elegant, and fluid calligraphy.

The Imperial Well is located south of the HuiLuan Stele. When Emperor Zhenzong personally led the campaign to Chanzhou, he drank from this well and praised its sweet and refreshing water. The citizens flocked to use its water, hoping to share in the imperial blessing. The well later became known as the Imperial Well, and the street to its south was named Imperial Well Street.