Carriage Ancient City Site

Carriage Ancient City Site

The Carriage Ancient City Site is a cultural heritage site protected at the provincial level in Shanxi Province.

Carriage Ancient City Site (Fifth Batch of Provincial-Level Protected Sites)

Era: Spring and Autumn Period

Location: Nancheng Village, Guguang Town, Jiang County, Yuncheng City

The Carriage City is located 5 kilometers south of Jiang County. It earned the name “Carriage City” due to its carriage-like shape. The existing ancient city walls stand about 15 meters high and stretch 150 meters long, all constructed from rammed earth layers. The Carriage City lies on the northern side of the eastern section of the Zhongtiao Mountain Range, flanked by two gullies approximately 30 meters deep. The city stretches about 400 meters from north to south and 50 meters from east to west, covering an area of around 200,000 square meters. Within the protected area of the Carriage Ancient City Site, remains such as city walls and beacon towers have been preserved, all built from rammed earth. The surface is scattered with numerous pottery shards, and a large number of ash pits have been discovered within the site. Three stone plaques inscribed with “Carriage Ancient Relics,” “Hometown of Jin Official Shi ?,” and “Former Capital of Jin,” along with a stone statue of “Jiang County Division,” are housed separately in Nancheng Village and the Jiang County Museum.

Historical records indicate that the Carriage City was the site where Duke Xian of Jin executed all the noble princes. The Zuo Zhuan (Commentary of Zuo) states: “In the winter of the 25th year of Duke Zhuang of Jin, ‘the duke besieged Ju and executed all the noble princes.’” The following year, “Shi ? fortified Jiang and expanded his palace.” The Pingyang Prefecture Annals record: “From Duke Xian onward, through Dukes Hui, Huai, Wen, Xiang, Ling, and Cheng, the capital remained until the 15th year of Duke Jing when it was moved to Xintian,” spanning 84 years. It served as the political, military, economic, and cultural center of the State of Jin at the time. “Ju” refers to the present-day Carriage City, where remnants such as ancient city walls, beacon towers, and old prisons still exist.

Source: Shanxi Provincial Cultural Relics Bureau

Nancheng Village: Nancheng Village is located 4 kilometers south of the county seat, at the foot of the Zhongtiao Mountain Range and by the Sushui River. It is one of the revolutionary base areas in our county and also the site of the former capital of Jin. The village consists of four natural villages: East and Southwest Nancheng, Peijia Fort, and Shenjia Mountain, divided into six residential groups. It has a total of 364 households, with a population of 1,377, including 910 laborers—509 male and 401 female. There are 28 Party members, including 2 female and 26 male. The village covers a total land area of 6,088 mu, including 3,199 mu of arable land, 773 mu of land returned to forest, with an average annual income per capita of 3,000 yuan... More detailed information about Nancheng Village++

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of Shanxi Provincial Cultural Heritage Protection Units