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Taiwang Ruins

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The Taiwang Ruins, a Neolithic site in Taiwang Village, Fanhu Township, Xiangcheng County, are located to the west of Taiwang Village in Fanhu Township, Xiangcheng County. The original platform had both inner and outer walls. The inner city was situated at the edge of the original platform, covering an area of 29.4 mu, while the outer city was located about 100 meters around the high platform, covering over 50 mu. Both cities had gates at the southern end, and each had city walls and battlements. There were arrow towers on both the north and south sides of the walls, though none remain today. Due to land excavation over the dynasties and in recent years, two-fifths of the platform has been leveled, with the western half now flattened. The remaining platform is 53 meters long from east to west, 51 meters wide from north to south, and 8.5 meters high. During the Three Kingdoms period, this area was a strategic town southwest of Xudu. With flat terrain and vast fertile fields, it provided abundant food for farmers and was not far from the capital (Xudu), making it an ideal place for garrison farming and military training. Cao Cao once trained troops here, practiced methods of attacking cities and territories, and also reclaimed wasteland to grow grain and store fodder, laying a solid foundation for unifying northern China. To the northeast of Cao Cao’s military training platform, in Chengshang Village, there are the ruins of Lun Cheng (Emperor Wu of Wei's temporary palace), where Cao Cao gathered scholars to discuss state affairs. In the first year of the Jian’an era (196 AD), as Cao Cao sought to dominate the Central Plains and unify the realm, he recruited talents far and wide. It was then that Guo Jia came to join him. Here, Cao Cao and Guo Jia discussed grand strategies and plans for unification. In those days, Lun Cheng was grand and imposing, with majestic city gates, towering arrow towers, and city walls that coiled like dragons. The existing site is 500 meters long from east to west, 400 meters wide from north to south, and 1 meter high, currently covered by residential houses, surrounded by flat land. To the southwest of the ruins lies Yunliang River, a waterway used by Cao Cao to transport grain and supplies. The soil here is yellowish near the surface and black deeper down, with the riverbanks the color of copper and the riverbed the color of iron, hence the name “Iron-Bottom, Copper-Rimmed” Yunliang River. To facilitate reclamation, Cao Cao constructed numerous canals and developed major irrigation works. The Yunliang River was excavated during this time. Back then, a large stone bridge with eight piers and nine arches—30 meters long, 15 meters wide, and 5 meters high—was built over the river. Ships could pass beneath the bridge, which had stone pillars on either side as railings, with carvings of a female and male frog at each end, earning it the name “Golden-Bellied, Stone-Frog Bridge.” Legend says that Cao Chong once used a boat here to weigh an elephant. Trial excavations of the site have uncovered artifacts from the Shang, Zhou, Qin, and Han dynasties. Items found include animal teeth, clam knives, stone axes, sand-tempered pottery, red pottery shards, coarse rope-patterned pottery from the Shang Dynasty, hand-made vertically rope-patterned pottery, pottery li tripods, pottery dou stem bowls, pottery jars, iron swords, painted pottery vases, pottery ding cauldrons, and bronze belt hooks. Excavations indicate that the military training platform is a late Longshan Culture site.

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Taiwang Ruins

The Taiwang Ruins are a cultural heritage site protected by Henan Province.

Taiwang Ruins, Neolithic period, Taiwang Village, Fanhu Township, Xiangcheng County

Located to the west of Taiwang Village in Fanhu Township, Xiangcheng County, the site originally had both inner and outer cities on the platform. The inner city was at the edge of the platform, covering 29.4 mu, while the outer city was located about 100 meters from the high platform, covering over 50 mu. Both cities had gates at the southern end, and each had city walls and battlements. There were arrow towers on both the north and south ends of the walls, but they no longer exist. Due to excavation across various dynasties and in recent years, two-fifths of the platform has been removed, with the western half now razed to ground level. The remaining platform measures 53 meters in length (east-west), 51 meters in width (north-south), and 8.5 meters in height. During the Three Kingdoms period, this area served as a key stronghold southwest of Xudu. With its flat terrain and endless fertile fields, it supported prosperous farming communities, was close to the capital (Xudu), and was thus ideal for stationing troops and conducting military drills. Cao Cao trained his forces here, practiced siege and conquest tactics, reclaimed land, and grew crops and stored fodder, thereby laying a strong groundwork for unifying northern China. To the northeast of Cao Cao’s military drill platform, in Chengshang Village, lie the ruins of Lun Cheng (Wei Emperor’s temporary palace), where Cao Cao gathered strategists to discuss important matters. In the year 196 AD, during the first year of the Jian’an era, as Cao Cao aimed to dominate the Central Plains and unify the country, he actively recruited talent. It was then that Guo Jia came to serve under him. At this location, Cao Cao and Guo Jia engaged in profound discussions on national strategy and the path to unification. In those times, Lun Cheng was a magnificent and commanding site, with lofty gates, towering watchtowers, and walls that wound like dragons. The current site spans 500 meters from east to west, 400 meters from north to south, and 1 meter in height, now overlaid by civilian homes, surrounded by flat terrain. Southwest of the ruins is the Yunliang River, a waterway Cao Cao used to transport military provisions. The soil here is yellowish on the surface and black underneath, with banks the color of copper and a riverbed the color of iron, hence the name “Iron Bottom, Copper Rim” Yunliang River. To support land cultivation, Cao Cao dug many canals and developed extensive hydraulic infrastructure. The Yunliang River was excavated during this period. At that time, a massive stone bridge spanning 30+ meters in length, 15 meters in width, and 5 meters in height, featuring eight piers and nine arches, was constructed over the river. Boats could pass below, and stone pillars lined both sides as railings, with carvings of a female and male frog at each end — hence the name “Golden Belly Stone Frog Bridge.” Legend has it that Cao Chong once weighed an elephant on a boat here. Trial excavations at the site have revealed artifacts from the Shang, Zhou, Qin, and Han periods, including animal teeth, clam knives, stone axes, sand-tempered pottery, red pottery fragments, coarse rope-patterned pottery from the Shang Dynasty, vertically hand-made rope-patterned pottery, pottery li tripods, pottery dou bowls, pottery jars, iron swords, painted pottery vases, pottery ding cauldrons, and bronze belt hooks. These findings suggest that the military training platform is a site of late Longshan Culture.

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