The Jiangnan Guan Street Residential Site

The Jiangnan Guan Street Residential Site

The Jiangnan Guan Street Residential Site is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The Jiangnan Guan Street Residential Site was one of China’s top ten archaeological discoveries in 2008. The site is located on the north side of Jiangnan Guan Street in Chengdu, with the Daci Temple area to the east, Hongxing Road to the west, and Shudu Avenue to the north, covering an area of approximately 50,000 square meters. Excavation work began on October 26, 2007, and the surveyed area uncovered 1,300 square meters, with the richest accumulations from the Tang and Song dynasties. A total of 4,800 square meters were excavated. The excavation revealed 16 drainage channels of varying sizes, four paved roads, four earthen branch roads, and 22 building foundations from the Tang and Song periods, as well as one road, eight buildings, and three wells from the Ming and Qing periods. The main and secondary streets, building foundations, and their associated underground drainage systems from the Tang and Song periods were major discoveries of this excavation. Chengdu had a highly developed economy during the Tang Dynasty, renowned as “second only to Yangzhou,” and in the Song Dynasty, it saw the birth of the world’s earliest paper money—the Jiaozi. These facts all demonstrate Chengdu’s pivotal role in China’s economic and social landscape during the Tang and Song periods. The site serves as significant physical evidence of the prosperous and advanced city of Chengdu during those dynasties. The discovery of crisscrossing paved streets spanning dozens of meters is extremely rare in the history of urban archaeology in China, and uncovering such large-scale, well-preserved Tang and Song remains in the heart of a modern metropolis is truly unique.

The site’s stratigraphic deposits can be divided into seven layers from top to bottom, distributed relatively evenly. The first layer is the modern cultural layer. The second layer consists of Ming and Qing period accumulations. The third layer dates to the late Southern Song to Yuan Dynasty. The fourth layer is from the middle to late Southern Song period, with road remains such as L2, L3, and L5 lying beneath it. The fifth layer corresponds to the late Tang to early Northern Song period. The sixth layer is from the Eastern Han Dynasty. The seventh layer contains few cultural relics and is from the Western Han Dynasty. No cultural relics were found below the seventh layer. Due to the need for in-situ preservation, most of the currently exposed areas stop at the surface of the fifth layer, with a small portion in the eastern part of the excavation area reaching the natural soil.

Most of the remains are exposed beneath the fourth layer. Due to the need for in-situ preservation, only remains from the sixth layer’s surface in the eastern and western parts of the excavation area have been uncovered. Key remains include four building foundations, four earthen roads (located beneath L2, L3, L5, and L9, only partially excavated and analyzed), and three water channels. The fifth layer’s surface remains have been fully exposed, including four paved streets, four earthen branch roads, 21 buildings (or sets), and 16 drainage channels of varying sizes.

There are four paved streets (L2, L3, L5, L9). L2 and L9 run north–south, generally parallel to each other, about 50 meters apart. L3 and L5 run east–west, crossing perpendicularly with L2 to form a cross-shaped intersection. The four branch roads (L4, L6, L7, L8) include L4 and L6, which are located on either side of the main paved street L2, intersecting it at right angles, while L7 and L8 are two branch paths at the turn of L3.

L2 is the main paved street, oriented 31° northeast, 2.1–2.3 meters wide, with an exposed length of about 220 meters, though only the southern section, approximately 53 meters long, is well preserved. The road surface is made of specially crafted long, narrow bricks laid vertically, using both herringbone and checkerboard patterns. The center of the road is slightly higher than the sides, and there are clear signs of wheel ruts and repairs from wear and tear. Between the western side of F13 and F17 in the northern section of L2 lies the branch road L4, while between F11 and F18 in the southern section lies the branch road L6. Both east–west branch roads are about 14 meters away from the east–west main paved road L5.

There are 16 drainage channels of varying sizes that accompany the streets and building foundations, among which G2, G8, G9, and G11 are the main underground drainage channels. G2 originates where G11 connects to the east, G8 to the north, and G9 to the south. Except for G11, whose base is 0.5 meters higher than that of G2, the bases of G8 and G9 are level with G2, forming a cross-shaped underground drainage network. G11 drains from east to west, G8 from north to south, and G9 from south to north. These three channels converge at the square water pool at the eastern source of G2, which then drains water from east to west. The other channels are smaller ones around the building foundations or connected to small courtyards, or drainage ditches along the sides of the roads.

G2 is the main water channel, located in the western part of the excavation area. It is a brick-lined underground drainage channel with an arched roof, running east–west. G2 is perpendicular to L2, with its eastern origin about 13 meters from L2. It runs parallel to the western section of L3, located to the north of it, measuring about 45 meters in length, 0.5–1.02 meters in internal width, and 1.1–1.3 meters in internal height. It gradually widens and lowers from east to west. At its eastern origin is a square pool, 0.9 meters long (east–west) and 0.8 meters wide (north–south), 0.7 meters deep, connected to G8, G9, and G11 to the north, east, and south respectively.

A total of 21 buildings (or sets) from the Tang and Song periods were uncovered, mainly distributed along both sides of the roads. On the east side of L2, from south to north, are F20, F11, F18, F19, F12, and on the west side, from south to north, are F14, F10, F16, F2, F13, F17. On the south side of L3 is F24, and on the north and south sides of L5 are F21 and F31 respectively. F22, F23, and F26–F28 are located behind the street-facing buildings on the east side of L2. The sizes of these buildings vary, consisting of single rooms or suites, without courtyards. All face the streets, with varying widths of gaps between the buildings and the roads, all paved with bricks in different patterns. The construction method of the buildings is largely the same: pure light yellow soil is used to level the interior, with some featuring flat-laid brick floors. The walls are built with one or two layers of vertically laid bricks, likely supported by wood or bamboo, with red sandstone column bases under the uprights.

A large number of artifacts from the Tang and Song periods were unearthed, mainly ceramics, predominantly from local kilns such as Qingyanggong and Qionglai, as well as some from outside Sichuan like Longquan and Ding kilns. The quantity and quality of imported pieces are significantly higher than at other contemporary sites in Chengdu. The forms consist mostly of common daily utensils such as bowls, plates, and cups, but the presence of many valuable imported ceramics may also be related to the prosperity of the area. In addition, the site also yielded fragments of Buddhist statues from the late Tang Dynasty and some stone carvings of Buddhist scriptures. These Buddhist-related artifacts may be linked to changes in the boundaries of Daci Temple during the Tang and Song periods.

The currently uncovered Tang and Song remains can be divided into two phases.

The first phase includes remains on the sixth layer’s surface, mainly consisting of buildings F21, F25, F29, F30, and F15, drainage channels G2, G8, G6, and the associated earthen roads beneath L2, L3, and L5 (not assigned specific numbers as they were only partially excavated). This phase dates to the late Tang to early Northern Song period. The second phase mainly includes remains on the fifth layer’s surface, with buildings such as F2, F10–F14, F16–F24, F26–F28, and F31, along with eight associated roads and 16 drainage channels of varying sizes. The roads primarily consist of paved streets L2, L3, L5, and L9, while the drainage channels mainly include the continued use of G2, G8, G9, and G11. This phase dates to the early to mid-Southern Song period.

G2 begins at its eastern end and flows from east to west. Combined with an east–west ditch discovered during the 1995 construction of Ito Yokado, it is inferred that there was likely a large north–south drainage channel between the two, probably located beneath today’s Hongxing Road Pedestrian Street in Chengdu.

L2 runs roughly north–south (31° northeast). Based on excavation findings and multiple cross-sections, it underwent three major construction phases. The first phase was built with tightly compacted clay, possibly rammed, dating to the late Tang Dynasty based on the pottery shards found.

The second phase of the road was constructed with a mixture of broken tile fragments, pottery shards, and clay, with pottery shards dating to the Northern Song to early Southern Song period.

The third phase used small bricks for the road surface, possibly specially made for the road, differing in size from bricks found in other contemporary constructions or tombs. Based on the artifacts, this phase dates to the early to mid-Song Dynasty.

The road width of the second and third phases of L2 is slightly narrower than the first phase, reflecting the transition from broad streets to narrower lanes in the Song Dynasty and later. The dating of the third phase has also been corroborated by historical texts. From *The Complete Literary Records of Shu: Record of Paving Streets*: “Among all regions under heaven, only Jiangsu and Zhejiang pave their roads, even the Central Plains do not. … The two great cities, vast hubs of commerce, have streets lined up like combs and roads spread like a chessboard. But the land is damp, and in summer and autumn, when rains pour, pedestrians slog through mud like glue. When dry, hoof prints and cart tracks crisscross confusingly, posing great trouble for travelers. In the 13th year of Shaoxing [1143], Prefect Zhang from Poyang governed Shu and first ordered the paving, completing just over 2,000 zhang. Thirty-four years later, Prefect Fan from Wu commanded Sichuan, completed the project, mobilized workers, assigned roles … and erected two stones at the head and tail of each street to mark its width, for a total of fourteen streets.”

Based on the discovered roads, ditches, building foundations, and other structures, the site is believed to have been part of a neighborhood (li-fang) within Tang and Song Dynasty Chengdu. The 1889 Chengdu map from the Guangxu era of the Qing Dynasty retains names related to li-fang, such as “Da Shizi” (Big Cross) and “Xiao Shizi” (Small Cross). The *Tianqi Map of Chengdu Prefecture* (Ming Dynasty), the *Complete Map of Streets Inside and Outside Chengdu City* (Guangxu 28, Qing Dynasty), the *Newly Revised Twenty-Seven District Map of Chengdu Streets* (Xuantong 3, Qing Dynasty), and the *Chengdu Street Map* (1933, Republic of China) all clearly show remnants of the li-fang layout from the Tang and Song periods onward. To this day, the eastern and northern parts within Chengdu’s inner ring road still faintly display the grid-like pattern of ancient li-fang, resembling a chessboard. The late archaeologist Su Bai suggested Chengdu had sixteen li-fang during the Tang and Song periods, a view further developed by Sun Hua, who identified and mapped some of their names and boundaries—references of considerable value. By comparing ancient and modern maps (including changes in street names) and drawing on previous research, we support the view that Tang and Song Chengdu’s outer city (luo-cheng) contained sixteen li-fang. The Jiangnan Guan Street site is believed to be part of the Fuchun Li-fang (see below), though its exact boundaries differ slightly from Sun Hua’s estimates (mainly based on the location of “Da Shizi” and “Xiao Shizi”). (Song Dynasty) Zhou Hui’s *Qingbo Magazine*, Vol. 8: “In Chengdu’s Fuchun Li-fang, prostitutes gathered.” *The Calendar of Festive Splendor*: “During the Lantern Festival, it is recorded that Emperor Ming of Tang held grand lantern displays in the capital. The Taoist priest Ye Fashang remarked that Chengdu’s lanterns were equally magnificent, prompting the emperor to visit Chengdu and buy wine in Fuchun Li-fang.” Scholar Wang Wencai, noting Ye Fashang’s journey with Emperor Xuanzong to Sichuan and the portraits of both in Daci Temple—along with the prevalence of entertainers and courtesans nearby—speculated that Fuchun Li-fang was near Daci Temple, a theory we find plausible. In conclusion, we believe the location of Jiangnan Guan Street aligns with that of Fuchun Li-fang, with the site situated in the northeastern “Greater District” of Fuchun Li-fang.

Additionally, the unearthed Buddhist-related artifacts may be linked to changes in the boundaries of Daci Temple during the Tang and Song periods. The presence of many valuable imported ceramics may also reflect the area’s prosperity. The site is located in the eastern part of Tang and Song Chengdu, a district known for temple fairs and markets during that time. *Fangxing Shenglan* states: “Chengdu, the ancient land of silkworms, where people value sericulture. Thus, every year on the 15th of February, flowers, plants, and silkworm equipment are sold in what is called the Silkworm Market. In May, medicinal herbs are sold in the Medicine Market. In winter, tools and utensils are sold in the Treasure Market—all located in front of Daci Temple.”

The Jiangnan Guan Street residential site from the Tang and Song periods is a major archaeological discovery that fills a gap in Chengdu’s urban archaeology. The site features an abundance of remains, including main and secondary streets, houses, and drainage channels (urban sewers), all demonstrating scientific planning and rational layout. This reflects the high level of urban planning and construction management in Tang and Song Chengdu. Chengdu had a highly developed economy in the Tang Dynasty, known as “second only to Yangzhou,” and in the Song Dynasty, it gave birth to the world’s earliest paper money—the Jiaozi. These achievements underscore Chengdu’s crucial role in China’s economic and social development during the Tang and Song periods. The Jiangnan Guan Street site, with its rare crisscrossing paved streets spanning dozens of meters, is a significant find in the history of Chinese urban archaeology. Uncovering such a large-scale, well-preserved Tang and Song site in the heart of a modern city is truly one of a kind.

The core area of the site will be preserved in situ. This core area mainly includes two ancient streets from the Southern Song Dynasty, measuring 52 meters and 22 meters in length respectively, and a drainage channel from the late Tang to Southern Song period, about 10 meters long.

Protected Area: The current preserved site area.

Construction Control Zone: A 5-meter buffer zone extending beyond the protected area.

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units