Ruins of Champion City

Ruins of Champion City

The ruins of Champion City is a cultural tourism attraction.

Ruins of Champion City

The ancient city of Champion is located among four villages—Champion, Sulu, Tangzhong, and Shangcang—in Zhangcun Town, Dengzhou, stretching 500 meters from north to south and 400 meters from east to west, covering an area of 200,000 square meters. A large number of Han dynasty bricks and tiles can be seen on the surface, while pottery and bronze artifacts have been unearthed underground multiple times. During the Qing dynasty, a Han dynasty stone stele column was also excavated here. The site is now part of the campus of Dengzhou No.1 Primary School in the urban area.

The Ming dynasty's "Jiajing Nanyang Prefecture Records" states: "Champion City is fifty li northwest of the prefecture, that is, the Han dynasty’s Champion County. Emperor Wu granted Huo Qubing the title of Marquis of Champion here. Dou Xian was also enfeoffed here."

The "Qing Dynasty General Gazetteer" says: "The ancient city of Champion is forty li northwest of Dengzhou. In the sixth year of the Yuanshuo era of the Han dynasty (123 BC), the Luyang Township of Rang County and the Linmazhao Settlement of Wan County were carved out to form the Champion Marquisate, which belonged to Nanyang Commandery. (Commentary on the Geography Chapter of the Book of Han) Ying Shao said: Emperor Wu granted this title to Huo Qubing in response to his deputy Fu Jiezi, because Qubing’s military achievements surpassed all others, hence the name Champion. Both the Eastern Han and the Wei-Jin dynasties continued this practice. In the first year of the Zhenguan era of the Tang dynasty (627 AD), it was incorporated into Xincheng. The 'Yuanhe Gazetteer' states that Champion City is forty li south of Lintuan County. In the second year of the Yonghe era (137 AD), Dou Xian was granted the title of Marquis of Champion but refused it. In the fourth year (139 AD), Dou Xian’s title as Grand General and his seals were revoked, and he was regranted the title of Marquis of Champion and sent to govern the fief."

Champion Village: Located in the southern part of Zhangcun Town, Champion Village is 4 kilometers from the town center. Henan Provincial Road 53 (Dengnei Road) runs north-south through the village. The village preserves the ancient ruins of the Champion Marquisate. Currently home to 3,120 people, including 350 members of the Gaoshan ethnic group, Champion Village consists of 18 villager groups, with 3,223 mu of arable land. It includes five natural villages, 42 Party members, and one primary school. The Poyu River flows past the western part of the village, and the Guanyang Road, a town-level road, crosses the village from east to west. Around 80% of the villagers are primarily engaged in agriculture, growing crops such as wheat, corn, soybeans, peanuts, and tobacco, while some run small businesses, provide transport services, or deal in agricultural products... Detailed information about Champion Village++