China Chunqiu Yancheng Tourist Area

　　Yancheng is situated south of Changzhou City, about seven kilometers from the urban area. It is currently the oldest and most intact ancient ground fortress preserved from China’s Western Zhou to Spring and Autumn periods. It is said to be one of only three ancient cities in the world built in a "triple-city, triple-moat" formation. Covering an area of about 0.6 square kilometers, it has a history of nearly 3,000 years.

　　Legend has it that in the late Shang Dynasty, the ruler of the Dongyi people (Yan) fled southward to avoid attacks by the King of Zhou. He led his tribe to build walls and dig moats to defend themselves for several years. As the settlement was entirely surrounded by moats, appearing as if submerged in water, it came to be known as Yancheng (Submerged City).

　　Yancheng is a magnificent historical site, featuring three earthen walls divided into the outer city, inner city, and central city. Each section is surrounded by its own moat, with only one exit passage to the west. The outer city is elliptical, with a circumference of about 2.5 kilometers, while the inner and central cities are square-shaped. Inside the city, there are historic sites such as the Yanjun Hall, Horse Racing Hill, Sweet Dew City, First Mound, Belly Mound, Foot Mound, Jade Well, Ringing Bell Sound, and Dragon Spring. Among the over a hundred earthen mounds scattered inside and outside the city, the First Mound, Belly Mound, and Foot Mound are the largest. In recent years, Yancheng has yielded a large number of precious cultural relics, including geometric-patterned pottery jars, vats, urns, and bowls. Among them, a dugout canoe hailed as the “Number One Boat Under Heaven,” exquisitely shaped bronze ware, primitive celadon, and pottery have been discovered. Some of these unearthed artifacts have been exhibited abroad to great acclaim. After 3,000 years of wind and rain, what remains are masterpieces of nature. Stepping into this area is like entering a paradise on earth — the clear, pristine waters of the Jiangnan water town and the splendid culture of the Chinese nation hidden within evoke feelings of antiquity, tranquility, and profundity. It is an excellent destination for archaeology, leisure, and vacation. No wonder there is a saying: “For the Ming and Qing dynasties, visit Beijing; for the Sui and Tang dynasties, visit Xi’an; for the Spring and Autumn period, visit Yancheng.”

　　There are various theories among historians and archaeologists about the origins of Yancheng and who its original inhabitants were, but no definitive conclusion has been reached to date. One theory suggests that Yancheng was once the capital of the State of Yan during the late Shang and early Zhou periods, with the Yan ruler being the monarch of the State of Yan located east of Qufu in present-day Shandong. Legend says that the Yan ruler conspired with Wu Geng, a descendant of the Shang Dynasty, to rebel against the Zhou King Cheng. After being defeated by King Cheng, he fled southward from Shandong with his remaining followers. Here, he dug moats and piled up earth to form a city, still calling it “Yan.” Because the ancient Chinese character for “submerged” (淹) was interchangeable with the character for “Yan” (without the water radical), the name “Yancheng” (Submerged City) has been passed down to this day. Another theory claims that Ji Zha, a prince of the State of Wu in the late Spring and Autumn period, was dissatisfied with Helü’s usurpation of the throne through the assassination of King Liao. Determined to break away from Helü’s political regime and vowing “never to set foot in the State of Wu again,” Ji Zha built a city and dug moats in his fiefdom of Yanling as a symbol of his resolve to remain in exile — hence the name “Yancheng.” Naturally, Ji Zha is considered the lord of Yancheng. This ancient city of Yancheng still holds many unresolved mysteries waiting for archaeologists and historians to uncover. According to historical records, the ancient walls of Yancheng reached a maximum height of 20 meters, with base widths of 25–30 meters, all built from rammed earth.

　　After 3,000 years of trials and tribulations, what remains are wonders crafted by nature. Here, you’ll find the crystal-clear waters characteristic of the Jiangnan water town, millennia-old geometric landmarks spread across fertile fields, and a wealth of splendid Chinese culture buried underground. Exploring this area feels like stepping into a paradise, offering a sense of antiquity, serenity, and depth. There is a local saying: “For the Ming and Qing dynasties, go to Beijing; for the Sui and Tang dynasties, go to Xi’an; for the Spring and Autumn period, go to Yancheng.” This reflects the extraordinary allure Yancheng holds in people’s minds. Central and local government authorities have decided to accelerate the development of Yancheng, making it one of the premier tourist destinations in the Taihu Lake scenic area.

　　Since 1958, Yancheng has yielded a large number of geometric-patterned pottery jars, vats, urns, bowls, and bronze artifacts (such as bronze chime bells and tripods). The excavation of a dugout boat in the inner city caused a sensation in the field of Chinese archaeology. The largest of these boats, carved from a single piece of nanmu wood using fire and axes, measures 11 meters in length, 0.9 meters in width, and 0.45 meters in depth. It has been hailed as the “Number One Boat Under Heaven” and is now preserved in the Palace Museum in Beijing.

　　Address: Wujin District Central Urban Area, Changzhou City, Jiangsu Province