Dutou Ancient City Ruins

Dutou Ancient City Ruins

The Dutou Ancient City Ruins are a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The Dutou Ancient City Ruins are situated on the mountainside of Leigong Ridge, south of Dutou Village in Fenshi Township, Linwu County, across the river from the village. The site features well-compacted city walls standing 5–7 meters high, with a semi-circular moat surrounding three sides—southeast, southwest, and northwest. Near the city, there is a Qin-era kiln where numerous artifacts have been unearthed, including stacked large tiles adorned with coarse and fine rope or string patterns. Centered around the ruins, within approximately 2 km to the west and north, there are extensive remains of Han Dynasty tombs and kiln sites. This ancient city site indicates that during the Qin Dynasty, the Dutou area was densely populated.

For thousands of years, Fenshi Town has been a vital passageway from southern Hunan to Guangdong and the sea, once serving as a salt transport hub in the region. The old street of Fenshi began to take shape in the late Ming Dynasty, initially as a cargo wharf. Gradually, shops emerged, and as more businesses appeared, a street formed. It has a history of over 500 years. The street is lined with closely arranged shops, most of which are two-story brick-and-wood structures built in a distinctly traditional Jiangnan architectural style. In recent years, as part of the town’s small-city development initiatives, the old street has undergone quality upgrades. Infrastructure has been further improved, and historic buildings have received better protection and restoration. Once the renovation is complete, it will become a great historical and cultural tourism destination in Fenshi Town.

In 2019, the Dutou Ancient City Ruins were included in the eighth batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Dutou Village: Dutou Village…… More details about Dutou Village++

Further Reading:

· Ninth Batch of Hunan Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units

· Eighth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units