Shuiguan Ruins

Shuiguan Ruins

The Shuiguan Ruins are a cultural tourism attraction.

The Shuiguan Ruins are located within the Yulin Residential Area on Yu’erwai Street, You’anmen Outer Street, Fengtai District (50 meters north of Liangshui River, No. 41 Yulin Li). In 1995, the State Council designated them as a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level.

In 1990, the ruins of the water gate in the southern city wall of the Jin Zhongdu were discovered during the construction of residential buildings, and it was ranked among the top ten archaeological discoveries of that year. In 1991, the Municipal Institute of Cultural Relics conducted excavations, and subsequently, the “Liao-Jin City Wall Ruins Museum” was built on the site to protect the Shuiguan Ruins in situ. It opened to the public on April 23, 1995.

A shuiguan is an ancient water channel structure built beneath city walls to allow river water to flow through. The surviving foundation of the Jin Zhongdu Shuiguan Ruins is “][”-shaped in plan, running north-south with a total length of 43.4 meters. The overall structure is made of wood and stone. The lowest layer consists of densely packed wooden piles, with crushed stones, broken bricks, tiles, and sandy soil rammed between them. Above the wooden piles lies a lining of stone beams, on which floor stones are laid. The wooden piles, stone beams, and stone slabs are closely connected, forming a sturdy and rational whole. The discovery of the Shuiguan Ruins not only confirmed the location of the southern city wall of Jin Zhongdu but also, through archaeological exploration tracing the direction of the ancient river channel to the north, clarified the path of one branch of the city’s water system flowing eastward past Longjin Bridge and then turning south toward the precise point where it entered the moat through the southern city wall.

The Shuiguan Ruins are the largest and best-preserved ancient water gate ruins known in China. They mark the location of the Jin Zhongdu city, represent the urban architecture and craftsmanship of the time, and enrich the study of ancient Chinese architecture. The ruins also confirm the direction of the city’s water system, providing important physical evidence for research on the waterways of Jin Zhongdu.

[Location] No. 41 Yulin Li, Yulin Residential Area, Yu’erwai Street, You’anmen Outer Street, Fengtai District

[Transportation] Take bus 59, 19, or 351, get off at Daguan Yuan, and walk south

[Phone] 010－63054991

[Ticket] 10 RMB

[Opening Hours] 09:00–16:00