Diexi Earthquake Site

Diexi Earthquake Site

The Diexi Earthquake Site is a cultural tourism attraction.

The Diexi Earthquake Site is located 2.5 kilometers southeast of Jiaochang Township in Mao County, on the second-level terrace on the eastern bank of the Minjiang River. Backed by Qizhu Mountain and overlooking the Minjiang River, the site covers an area of 220,000 square meters. According to historical records, during the Han Dynasty, Diexi was known as Canling County; in the early Tang Dynasty, it was part of Jizhou; in the Ming Dynasty, it was the Diexi Thousand-Household Garrison; in the Qing Dynasty, it became a Wei; and during the Republican era, it was under the jurisdiction of Mao County. The Diexi ancient city was “built during the Zhenguan era, and in the 11th year of the Hongwu reign of the Ming Dynasty, imperial envoy Ding Yu reclaimed the lost territory and ordered Commander Tong Sheng to rebuild the city. It stood one zhang high, had a perimeter of several hundred zhang, and featured four gates. During the Chenghua period, it was renovated.” The city was strategically located on the important Songmao route and served both as a military stronghold and a commercial hub.

On August 25, 1937, a powerful magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck the area, causing landslides, ground fissures, and the subsidence of the terrace, which led to the submersion of the ancient city. Over 3,000 soldiers and civilians in the city perished in the disaster. After the earthquake, only a corner of the eastern gate barbican, a section of the southern wall, one stone lion, one stone roller, one stone stele, and one stone vat remained. The site remains well-preserved to this day and has become the world’s only intact ancient city ruins destroyed by an earthquake. It serves as an important field site for international seismological research. It is also a municipal-level cultural heritage protection unit.