Yongping Prefecture City Wall

Yongping Prefecture City Wall

The Yongping Prefecture City Wall is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Yongping Prefecture, with its administrative center in present-day Lulong County, Hebei Province (now under the jurisdiction of Qinhuangdao City, Hebei), covered most of what is today Tangshan City, large parts of Qinhuangdao, and southwestern Liaoning. It has been known as Yongping Prefecture since the Ming Dynasty, and the ruins of the prefecture are located within Lulong County. During the Shang Dynasty, this area was part of the Guzhu State; in the Spring and Autumn Period, it belonged to the northern Yan; later it became the Feizi State. From the Qin and Han Dynasties to the Jin Dynasty, it was under the jurisdiction of Youzhou’s Liaoxi Commandery. In the 18th year of the Kaihuang era of the Sui Dynasty (598 AD), Lulong County was established and came under the Beiping Commandery. From the Tang Dynasty to the Liao and Jin Dynasties, it belonged to Pingzhou.

According to the Commentary on the Water Classic: “The ancient city of Lulong was first built in the 12th year of the Jian’an era of the Eastern Han Dynasty (207 AD), constructed by Cao Cao during his campaign against the Wuhuan.” — Cao Cao led his army north to attack the Wuhuan, engaging the Tadun tribe within Lulong territory, defeating the Wuhuan and killing Tadun before retreating south. In September of that year, Cao Cao stationed troops in Lulong and built the Pingzhou City, now known as Lulong. At that time, the city was made of earthen walls. In the first year of the Datong era of Emperor Taizong of Liao (947 AD), a new city was constructed south of the old one, and the two were connected, forming a crescent shape—hence the ancient city of Lulong earned the nickname “Crescent Moon City.” During the reign of Yuan Emperor Chengzong in the Dade era (1297–1307), a western river transport dock was built west of the city.

In the third year of the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty (1371 AD), Yongping Prefecture was established in Lulong, governing seven counties. In the fourth year, the city wall of the prefecture was renovated under the direction of Commander Fei Yu, who “expanded its eastern side and enlarged the structure.” The entire fortress was built with brick and stone, surrounded by city walls. The walls were nine li in circumference, three steps wide, thirty-six chi high, thirty chi wide at the base, and twenty chi wide at the top. The city had four gates and a water gate, each topped with a watchtower. In the 42nd year of the Jiajing era (1563 AD), the 8th year of the Wanli era (1580 AD), the 21st year of the Wanli era (1593 AD), the 27th year of the Wanli era (1599 AD), and the 31st year of the Qianlong era (1766 AD), the Yongping Prefecture city underwent multiple renovations. Each of the four gates had its own name. The east gates were named “Gaoming,” “Tongliao,” and “Yingxu”; the south gates were “Des heng,” “Wanghai,” and “Guanghai”; the west gates were “Zhenping,” “Huj,” and “Wangjing”; and the north gates included “Gongchen” and “Weihu,” among others. From the Jingtai era of the Ming Dynasty to the 19th year of the Republic of China, spanning five hundred years, the Lulong ancient city underwent continuous repairs while maintaining its integrity and solid fortifications, earning the reputation of being the “Foremost Prefecture East of the River.”

Lulong City, the site of Yongping Prefecture, was initially built in the 12th year of the Jian’an era of the Eastern Han Dynasty (207 AD) as an earthen city. Over dynastic changes, it was expanded and renovated continuously. Following the contour of the surrounding highlands, it was built upon a stone foundation with blue bricks above, and also used materials such as lime, yellow earth, and glutinous rice for structural stability. The city walls were robust, with grand gate towers rising impressively. The city has endured through many dynasties and undergone numerous repairs and expansions using bricks of varying sizes and thicknesses—the largest weighing twenty to thirty jin. The walls are highly durable, resisting wind, rain, earthquakes, and floods without easy deterioration. The gate towers stood tall as if reaching the clouds, adorned with grand plaques hanging prominently.

In May 2013, the Yongping Prefecture City Wall was designated as part of the seventh group of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of Hebei Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units