Yancheng Ruins

　　The Yancheng Ruins cover a total area of about 67 hectares of land and water, with cultivated land accounting for roughly 47 hectares. The site consists of three layers of walls — the outer city, the inner city, and the central fortress — each surrounded by a moat. The outer city has an irregular circular shape, with a perimeter of 2,580 meters, an east-west diameter of over 800 meters, and a north-south diameter of about 750 meters. The remaining wall height is around 10 meters, with a width varying from 25 to 50 meters. The surrounding moat is generally 40–50 meters wide and more than 3 meters deep. The inner city is square-shaped, situated in the northeastern part of the outer city, with a perimeter half that of the outer city — 1,252 meters. Its walls are 10.5 meters high and about 20 meters wide, higher and thicker than those of the outer city. The central fortress, also known as the royal city or “Purple Silk City,” is located in the north-central part of the inner city. It is also square-shaped, with a perimeter of 457 meters, walls approximately 11 meters high and 7–10 meters wide. Each of the three cities has its own gate: the outer city’s main entrance is on the northwest side, commonly called the “City Gate”; the inner city entrance is on the southwest side, locally known as the “Ringing Bell City”; and the central fortress gate is on the southern side. Each of the three cities is encircled by its own moat. Between the inner and outer cities on the western side, there are three earthen mounds aligned from south to north, each about 10 meters high, possibly serving as watchtowers or observation platforms.

　　According to historical records and artifacts unearthed since 1957 — including three dugout canoes, bronze plates, primitive celadon ware, and geometric-patterned pottery — these items have been identified as dating back to the Western Zhou and Warring States periods. Therefore, the Yancheng Ruins are believed to originate from either the Western Zhou or Warring States era.

　　Given the scale and facilities of the city, it does not resemble the capital of an ancient king but rather appears to be a military fortress used for stationing troops. Yancheng is situated in the central region of the Wu Plains, nestled between mountains and lakes near the sea. Thus, it held significant strategic importance when the local ruler used it to resist the Zhou dynasty. Today, the site is well-preserved and serves as a rare historical resource for studying urban development from the Western Zhou through the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods. (National Cultural Heritage Administration)

　　Address: South of Changhong West Road, Wujin District, Changzhou City

　　Type: Urban Park & Historical Site

　　Recommended Visit Duration: 1–2 hours

　　Phone: 4001880005

　　Opening Hours:

　　9:00–17:00

　　Ticket Information:

　　Door Price: 20.0 RMB