The Site of Guoyang Ancient City

The Site of Guoyang Ancient City

The Site of Guoyang Ancient City is a cultural relic protection unit of Xinzhou City.

The ancient city of Guoyang, located 20 kilometers from Yuanping District, has a long history as a county seat. It was established as Guocheng in the fourth year of Yongjia during the reign of Emperor Huai of the Western Jin Dynasty (310) and continued until 1958, spanning a total of 1,648 years. Its historical trajectory includes the abolition of the county at the end of Yongjia (313), when it became territory of the Xianbei people. In the second year of Yuanxing of the Eastern Jin Dynasty (410), the county was re-established under the name Shicheng County, under the jurisdiction of Xiurong Commandery. In the fourth year of Wuding (457), Guozhou was established in Shicheng, overseeing three commanderies: Guang'an, Yongding, and Jian'an. The Northern Zhou Dynasty reinstated Shicheng County. In the tenth year of the Kaihuang era of the Sui Dynasty (591), it was renamed Pingkou County and placed under Yanmen Commandery. In the early years of the Zhenguan era of the Tang Dynasty, Guoxian was governed by Daizhou under the Hedong Circuit. In the early Yuan Dynasty, Guoshan Military Prefecture was established. In the fourteenth year of Taizu (1220), it was elevated to Guozhou, under the Jining Road. In the third year of Zhiyuan (1266), it came under the jurisdiction of Taiyuan Prefecture. In the eighth year of Hongwu of the Ming Dynasty (1375), it was governed by Daizhou under Taiyuan Prefecture. In the second year of Yongzheng of the Qing Dynasty (1724), it was directly administered by Daizhou and continued to be called Guoxian. During the Republican era, it was part of the Yanmen Circuit and also referred to as Guoxian. During the War of Resistance, Guoxian was divided into Eastern and Western Guoxian along the Tai-Tong (Taiyuan–Datong) Highway. After the liberation, up until 1958, the People's Government continued to maintain a county government here, also known as Guoxian.