Huangcheng Ancient City

Huangcheng Ancient City

Huangcheng Ancient City is a cultural heritage site protected at the provincial level in Henan Province.

Huangcheng Ancient City is located in Huangcheng Village, Junzhao Township, Dengfeng City. To the north lies Ma'anshan Mountain, to the south is Chenyao Reservoir, to the east is Wangjiagou, and to the west is Chenguang River. Surrounded by water on three sides, it is easily defensible. The ancient city is roughly rectangular in shape, approximately 600 meters long from north to south and over 220 meters wide from east to west, covering an area of about 150,000 square meters.

Many sections of the surrounding walls still remain above ground. The northern wall is the best preserved, with a base width of over 10 meters and a height of about 10 meters. The eastern wall has a remaining height of 4 meters and a base width of about 6 meters. The western wall has a base width of 6 to 7 meters and a height of about 5 to 10 meters. The southern wall is about 5 meters high. There is a gap about 7 meters wide on the eastern section of the northern wall, likely the site of a gate. On the eastern section of the southern wall, there is a gate that is 8 meters wide, with adjacent walls 13 meters wide. The walls were built using rammed earth, with layers 6 to 9 centimeters thick. The ramming pits are pointed-bottomed and round-bottomed, with diameters of 3 to 4 centimeters.

According to historical texts such as the "Zaodao Shu" and "Luoshi," "Emperor Yao invited Xu You to perform the abdication ceremony at Huangcheng. Huangcheng is where Xu You lived in seclusion." Xu You, said to be a native of Huaili in Yangcheng (today’s Jishan Mountain south of Gaocheng Town, Dengfeng) in ancient times, once lived in seclusion on Jishan Mountain and also in Huangcheng. This dates back to the early Longshan Culture period, when a city may have already existed. The current archaeological findings suggest that Huangcheng was initially built during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, with repairs made during the Han Dynasty. Reinforced rammed earth walls were discovered on the inner side of the northern wall, with layers 18 to 20 centimeters thick and mixed soil quality, including gray-white earth and red-yellow clay blocks. As late as the end of the Qing Dynasty, local residents further reinforced the city walls to defend against bandits. The city is relatively well-preserved, dating to a similar era as the Zheng-Han Ancient City and Dengfeng’s Yangcheng, but features advanced ramming techniques such as internal wall tie rods.

Third Batch of Key Cultural Heritage Sites Protected at the Provincial Level in Henan Province

Source: Zhengzhou Municipal Bureau of Cultural Relics

Junzhao Township: Located about 30 kilometers west of Dengfeng City, Junzhao Township borders Zhengzhou (the provincial capital) to the east, the ancient capital Luoyang to the west, Ruzhou to the south, and Yanshi to the north. It governs 21 administrative villages, has a population of 38,000, and covers 54,000 mu of arable land. It is part of the shallow mountainous region of western Henan. The area boasts abundant resources, convenient transportation, beautiful surroundings, and a simple, honest folk culture.

Junzhao is a veteran revolutionary base area. In 1944, Commander Pi Dingjun led the Eighth Route Army’s Anti-Japanese Vanguard Detachment into the mountainous region of western Henan to establish an anti-Japanese base. In September of the same year, the Dengfeng Anti-Japanese County Government was established in Hongshitougou Village of our township. The people of Junzhao shed blood in the war... More detailed information about Junzhao Township++

Further Reading:

· Third Batch of Cultural Heritage Sites Protected at the Provincial Level in Henan Province