Ancient Gaoyi Site

Ancient Gaoyi Site

The Ancient Gaoyi Site is a cultural tourism attraction.

Ancient Gaoyi Site

Amidst the dust of changing times and the vast sea, floating clouds still veil the cold sky. The moon over Wucheng Pass shines on King Xiao, while the remnants of the ducal fief retain the grace of a noble son. To save Zhao, the strategy of the jailer is commendable; to fell firewood, one envies alone the achievements of Earl Deng. The homeland lies close enough for mourning, and suddenly seeing the green mountains, thoughts are boundless. — Qing Dynasty, Wei Yijie. The ancient site of Gaoyi City is now Guchengdian Village, north of the county.

The name "Gaoyi" first appeared during the Spring and Autumn Period. The Zuo Zhuan records: "In the fourth year of Duke Ai of Lu (491 BC), Qi’s Xia attacked Jin, capturing Xing, Ren, Luan, and Gaoyi." But it had been a settlement even before that. During the Spring and Autumn Period, Gaoyi belonged to Jin, and in the Warring States Period, it was part of Zhao. Located on the border between Jin and Zhao, it was often a battleground for warring states. Qi’s campaign against Jin and the Invasion of Zhao by the Zhongshan Kingdom both involved battles here. Today, villagers in Guchengdian often dig up broken spears, shattered swords, and bronze arrowheads when plowing their fields. Gaoyi was an ancient city historically and once served as a ducal fief for Wei’s nobleman Xinyuanjun (Lord Xinling). Stepping into the Ancient Gaoyi Site and standing at the base of the wall, you truly realize how tall and solid this ancient rampart is. The remaining wall section is about 55 meters long and 3 meters high, built from rammed earth. Some fractured surfaces still clearly show the compact layers of rammed earth, indicating the great effort that must have gone into constructing the ancient city. As a military stronghold, the wall was not only a territorial boundary but also a defensive barrier against invaders. Climbing up the earthen slope atop the wall, we find ourselves at what is now the top of the ancient city. Though called the "top," it is only relative to today’s condition—the city was originally much taller. Erosion by wind and rain, along with later human activities such as soil removal for brick-making and land leveling, have reduced the once grand Gaoyi City—complete with inner and outer walls and covering over a thousand acres—to far from its former glory. Standing atop the more than one-meter-wide wall and looking into the distance, the smoke signals and clashing weapons of a thousand years ago are now buried beneath scenes of harvest. Only scattered pottery shards and fragments of rammed earth walls along the field ridges whisper tales of the ancient town's history. The tiles are from the Han Dynasty, and upon closer inspection, they bear witness to the lives of people during the time of Gaoyi City’s prosperity. This prosperity was thanks to the rise of Liu Xiu of the Eastern Han Dynasty. Studying the history of Guchengdian and even the entire Baixiang County, it seems inseparable from Emperor Guangwu Liu Xiu. The Book of the Later Han · Biography of Emperor Guangwu details this history: "Guangwu then ordered officials to set up an altar at Qiucheng Pavilion, Wanchun Terrace, five miles south of Gaoyi. On the sixth day of the sixth month, he ascended the throne. He offered sacrifices to heaven, honored the Six Spirits, and paid tribute to the multitude of deities..." Although the capital was moved to Luoyang four months later, the honor of his temporary residence was not something every place could claim, and the ensuing prosperity was only natural. Palaces where the emperor conducted state affairs were built—even though now only Han tiles remain scattered everywhere, locals still respectfully call the area "Golden Hall Ridge." The tall city walls were reinforced and restored, surrounded by a moat, with three gates built to the south, north, and east. Gaoyi City, which witnessed the glory of Emperor Guangwu, flourished like never before and quickly became a major political and military stronghold of the time. Tracing the history of Gaoyi City is to seek remnants of the ancient town’s legacy from its past splendor. In addition to the surviving wall ruins, there are also orally transmitted legends that serve as annotations. For example, Wang Lang (a powerful figure who proclaimed himself emperor in Handan and opposed Liu Xiu, later often mistakenly referred to as Wang Mang) chasing Liu Xiu, the peony bowing to the emperor, and beheading a stone man to ask Baixiang—all are quite legendary. Though such tales inevitably contain fictional elements, beneath the layers of imagination lie historical prototypes that stir the imagination. Mourning the past by the wall may feel desolate, but the ancient town’s past gradually emerges from these relics and legends. The ancient city wall has silently watched over the millennia, witnessing the changes of dynasties and the shifting of stars. For people today, many of those bygone events are forgotten.