Ruins of the Former Zhaoling City

Ruins of the Former Zhaoling City

The ruins of the former Zhaoling city are a protected cultural heritage site of Henan Province.

The Zhaoling Ridge spans approximately five kilometers from north to south and about six kilometers from east to west, with its highest point standing around twenty meters above the nearby low-lying villages — a geographical landscape rarely seen on the Central Plains of eastern Henan. As everyone knows, snow falls during overcast and rainy winter days, yet the "Zhaoling Snow Clearing" phenomenon sees snow descending under a clear summer night sky, hence this unique name. Legend has it that during the Eastern Han Dynasty, a resident of Zhaoling, while stepping out at dawn one summer night to relieve himself, suddenly saw the bright moon hanging high in the sky but silver blossoms falling all around. The ground was white as far as the eye could see, with a heavy snowfall blanketing the land of Zhaoling. The snow had piled up deep, branches were adorned with white flowers, and silver strands hung like tassels. From time to time, a few pet dogs could be seen playing and chasing each other in the snow, appearing and disappearing amid the white. The man, astonished, went closer and touched the snow, but upon closer inspection, there was no sign of snow on the ground or the trees. At dawn, he rushed to tell others, and soon neighbors were all amazed, declaring it a “fairyland spectacle.” According to the Yancheng County Annals, during the reign of Emperor Gaozong of the Song Dynasty, Yue Fei resisted the Jin invasion and once stationed troops in Zhaoling. One summer night at dawn, a sentinel suddenly spotted the area around Zhaoling covered in a vast expanse of white, as if wrapped in a silvery blanket, and couldn’t help but shout in alarm. The soldiers, awakened by the noise, rushed out and also cried out in shock. Yue Fei came out to inspect carefully and then explained to the soldiers: “This is a natural phenomenon caused by the convergence of the qi of heaven and earth. It is an illusory sight — there’s no need to panic.” Only then did the soldiers calm down, and many regarded witnessing such a marvelous scene as a highlight of their lives. The Ming Dynasty literatus Xie Gongyi once wrote a poem about it: “Jagged fortifications stand in the desolate wilds, residual snow and dark clouds hang from tree tops; for a thousand years people speak of Duke Huan of Qi, but none ask anymore about the millet offering.”

Zhaoling boasts a long history and occupies a strategic location, making it a contested military stronghold throughout the ages. During the Warring States period, the State of Wei established the Zhaoling settlement here. In September 2004, with the approval of the State Council and the Henan Provincial Government, the Zhaoling District was established, becoming a new district of Luohe — a city known as China's Food Capital, a National Sanitary City, and a National Advanced Greening City. The Zhaoling New District covers a total area of 405.3 square kilometers, with a population of 497,000. It enjoys convenient transportation, well-developed communications, abundant energy resources, and rich natural reserves. Zhaoling is a place of outstanding people and brilliant culture. It is the hometown of Xu Shen, a renowned philologist, exegete, and lexicographer of the Eastern Han Dynasty, who authored Shuowen Jiezi — the world’s first comprehensive Chinese dictionary. The area is also abundant in historical sites and scenic spots, making it a great destination for tourism and sightseeing.

Further Reading:

· Fourth Batch of Protected Cultural Heritage Sites of Henan Province