The Giant Iron Oxen of the Yellow River (Pujindu Site Museum)

The Giant Iron Oxen of the Yellow River (Pujindu Site Museum)

The Giant Iron Oxen of the Yellow River (Pujindu Site Museum) is a national AA-level tourist attraction and a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level.

Pujindu Site and the Ancient City of Puzhou Site (Fifth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units)

Era: Tang to Ming Dynasties

Address: About 13 kilometers west of Yongji City, outside the west gate of the ancient city of Puzhou

Pujindu was a crossing on the Yellow River. The river bridge was first built in the first year of Duke Zhao of Lu during the Spring and Autumn Period (541 BC). In the 12th year of the Kaiyuan era of the Tang Dynasty (724 AD), it was reconstructed as an iron-chain-linked fixed pontoon bridge. Due to the shift of the Yellow River’s course, the crossing was abandoned and buried under silt.

In 1988, through exploration, the site's location was confirmed. In 1989, the iron oxen used for mooring the bridge in the Tang Dynasty were unearthed. In March 1991, a full-scale excavation of the site was carried out. Unearthed relics include four iron figures, two iron mountains; four iron piers, a set of seven-star iron pillars (seven in total), about 50 meters of protective stone embankment from the Ming Dynasty, and a commemorative stele from the 16th year of the Zhengde era of the Ming Dynasty (1521).

The ancient city of Puzhou is said to have been the former territory of Emperors Yao and Shun, and is a historic city of political, economic, cultural, and military significance. The existing Puzhou city is the inner city ruins built on the foundation of the Tang-era ancient city after the earthquake in the 34th year of the Jiajing era of the Ming Dynasty (1555), which has been repeatedly repaired. The inner city has a perimeter of 5,400 meters. The outer city consists of rammed-earth walls from the Tang Dynasty, with a circumference of about 5,700 meters. The inner city’s Ming Dynasty brick walls are well-preserved, and the drum tower base in the city center still remains. It is square-shaped and built of brick, with arched gateways on all four sides, each bearing a plaque. Remnants of the ancient city walls and the barbicans of the four main gates still exist. The outer city’s rammed-earth walls rise about 5 meters above the ground.

Suggested Duration

Half an hour

Admission Fee

60 RMB per person, free entry for seniors over 60 with ID

Opening Hours

All day

Location

Pujindu, Xixiang Village, County Road 852, Yongji City, Yuncheng, Shanxi Province