Diji Ancient City

Diji Ancient City

Diji Ancient City is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Highlights: On the base of the Wenchang Pavilion, a Ming Dynasty structure still preserved in the city, lies an inscribed stone tablet known as “A Panoramic View of the Mountain City.” This tablet is a plan of the architectural layout of Diji Ancient City and was documented in the 11th year of the Chongzhen reign during the Ming Dynasty (1638) by Yang Zaijian. The tablet is 54 cm high and 86 cm long. It provides detailed markings of the city’s geographical orientation, the distribution of major buildings, the area occupied by each residence, as well as the lanes and facilities. This type of urban planning map from a small town in the Ming Dynasty is a rare and precious piece of material in the history of ancient Chinese architecture. Diji Ancient City is a well-preserved representative of Ming Dynasty civilian residences in North China and a rare physical example in the history of architecture. Introduction: Located at the northwest corner of Runcheng Town, about 13 kilometers east of Yangcheng County, it is commonly referred to by locals as “Zhaisang.” It is a provincial-level key cultural relics protection unit. Built on a small hill, Diji Ancient City connects to surrounding villages to the south and borders the Qin River to the north, surrounded by water on three sides, resembling a peninsula. Viewed from afar, the solid citadel stands firmly in the middle of the river, hence the name Diji, meaning “Pillar in the River.” The city is oval-shaped, built of bricks, and covers an area of approximately 60,000 square meters. To the south is the main gate, where walls rise about ten meters above the ground. The section of wall along the river is built from the water’s edge and rises over 20 meters, equipped with battlements and gun platforms used to defend against enemies, though these have now been destroyed. The main gate bears the inscription “Diji City” and serves as the passage for residents entering and exiting the city; stone steps along the northern wall lead down to a water gate for boat access. The streets inside the city are well-planned, with a ring road encircling the perimeter, while the rest consist of residential lanes with all necessary amenities. In ancient times, once the gates were closed during turmoil, the city became an impregnable fortress unto itself.

Jincheng City, Shanxi Province

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units