Niubiyan Iron Smelting Site

Niubiyan Iron Smelting Site

The Niubiyan Iron Smelting Site is a cultural tourism attraction.

The Niubiyan Iron Smelting Site is located in Niubiyan Village, Taiping Town, Yangshan County. It was discovered in 1984 and covers an area of 1,500 square meters. Two sections of water channel remnants and seven pestle and mortar workshops were found in Mufanchong; eighteen slag accumulations were discovered near the mountain stream in front of the village. A large amount of iron ore can also be seen around the site. Additionally, there is a watchtower renovated in the 33rd year of the Qianlong reign (1768) and a stone tablet recording its renovation. The Yangshan County Annals from the Daoguang era recorded: “In the fifth year of the Kaibao era of the Song Dynasty, the Tongguan silver mine was opened and the ironworks at Niubiyan was established.” The Ming Dynasty’s Veritable Records of Emperor Taizu Hongwu stated: “In the seventh year of the Hongwu era, there were thirteen iron production sites nationwide, and Guangdong had only one — in Yangshan. The Yangshan ironworks under the Guangzhou Prefecture produced 700,000 jin annually.” This indicates that the iron smelting industry at Niubiyan began in the Song Dynasty and flourished in the Ming Dynasty, but gradually declined after the Qing Dynasty.

Taiping Town: A town under the jurisdiction of Yangshan County. During the Republican era, it was called Taiping Township and belonged to the Third District. In the early years of the People’s Republic of China, it still belonged to the Third District. In 1952, it was placed under the Eighth District, and in 1955 it was renamed Taiping District. In 1956, it was incorporated into Qigong District. In 1958, it became part of Qigong Commune. In 1959, Taiping Commune was established separately, and in 1983 it was reorganized as a district. In 1987, it was upgraded to a town. Located in the southern part of the county, it is 36 kilometers from the county seat. The town covers an area of 165 square kilometers and has a population of 29,000. Provincial Highway 1956 passes through the area. It administers Taiping, Sanhe, Sanyuan, Maojiang, Hongyang, Liantang, Dacheng, Xingtang, Qingshui, Weilong, Shabei, Tianzhuang, Niubiyan… More information about Taiping Town++