Han Dynasty City Site in Suo County

Han Dynasty City Site in Suo County

The Han Dynasty city site in Suo County is a cultural heritage protection unit of Hunan Province.

The ancient city site of Suo County from the Han Dynasty is located in Chengzhi Village, Hanguangdu Town, Dingcheng District, approximately 15 kilometers northeast of Changde City, Hunan Province. Commonly known as the Konglong City, it is also called Hanshou City. According to the *Changde Regional Annals · Cultural Relics Volume*: "The ancient city was divided into a large and a small section, both facing south, with the larger to the east and the smaller to the west, separated by a wall. The large city was about 700 meters long from north to south and 600 meters wide from east to west; the small city was 600 meters wide from north to south and about 300 meters long from east to west. The total area of the two cities is 540,000 square meters." The remaining rammed earth walls are 3–4 meters high and 12–18 meters wide. There were city gates in all four cardinal directions. Watchtowers stood at each of the city’s four corners, with remnants about 7–8 meters high. A moat approximately 30 meters wide encircled the city. The site is scattered with Han bricks, tiles, and pottery fragments. Villagers have previously unearthed ancient bricks and pottery inscribed with the characters “Hanshou City.” To the southeast outside the city lie numerous Han Dynasty tombs, some of significant size. It is said that the tomb of King Ping of Chu from the Warring States period is also located here. Historical records indicate that Suo County City was first built during the Eastern Han Dynasty and is currently the largest and best-preserved Han Dynasty city in Hunan. In 1983, it was designated as a provincial-level cultural heritage protection unit by the People's Government of Hunan Province. On May 3, 2013, the seventh batch of National Key Cultural Heritage Protection Units was announced by the National Cultural Heritage Administration, and the Suo County Han Dynasty Ancient City Site was included.

Since the Suo County Han Dynasty Ancient City Site was listed as a provincial-level cultural heritage protection unit, successive village Party branches and village committees of Chengzhi Village, under the guidance of the district cultural relics authorities, have implemented a series of protective measures: the village committee established a cultural relics protection leadership group, with the Party branch secretary and the village head as the primary persons responsible, and the four group leaders of villagers residing within the site as key members. The mobile phones of the village Party branch secretary and the village head were designated as reporting hotlines. In coordination with cultural relics authorities, a protected zone extending 50 meters around the city moat was delineated. Regulations prohibit unauthorized digging or construction, brick or tile firing, or new housing construction on the city walls within this protected area. Looting or trafficking of cultural relics is forbidden, and any discovered relics must be unconditionally handed over to the relevant authorities. Additionally, the village has an active volunteer cultural relics protection awareness team, led by former village Party branch secretary Su Huanqing.

Over the decades, most villagers in Chengzhi Village, especially those living within the site, have generally complied with cultural relics protection regulations. Instances of unauthorized digging or construction have been promptly discouraged by the village. In May 2012, a family surnamed Zhou accidentally unearthed a Warring States-period ancient tomb while burying a deceased relative, discovering several valuable artifacts. Relatives of the deceased attempted to expand the excavation, but were opposed by fellow villagers, and a young villager surnamed Li promptly reported the incident to the village committee. The unauthorized digging was stopped in time, and the artifacts were handed over free of charge.

Today, the Suo County Han Dynasty Ancient City Site remains largely intact. The surviving city walls are made of rammed clay, standing 3–4 meters high and 12–18 meters wide. The eastern, western, southern, and northern gates are still faintly visible. The watchtowers at the four corners of the city stand approximately 7–8 meters high. The surrounding moat, about 30 meters wide, is still suitable for fish farming. Although the Konglong Taoist Temple to the east of the city has been destroyed, its ruins remain, and Han bricks and tiles are scattered across the site.

Chengzhi Village: Chengzhi Village…… More details about Chengzhi Village++

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Heritage Protection Units