Last updated 2026-10-14 — Era: Western Han Dynasty Located in Changyiji, Daxiejizhen, 27 kilometers south of Juye County in Shandong Province, it was the capital of the Shanyang Kingdom and the Changyi Kingdom during the Western Han Dynasty. In 1992, it was designated as a Provincial-Level Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit of Shandong Province. During the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, Changyi was a town; in the Qin Dynasty, it became a county; in the Western Han Dynasty, it served as the seat of a commandery. In the sixth year of Emperor Jing’s Zhongyuan reign (144 AD), the Liang territory was divided, and the Shanyang Kingdom was established, with Liu Ding, son of Prince Xiao of Liang, enfeoffed as its king. From then on, the city of Changyi became the capital of the kingdom. In the fifth year of Emperor Wu’s Jianyuan reign (136 BC), the Shanyang Kingdom was changed to the Shanyang Commandery. In the fourth year of Emperor Wu’s Tianhan reign (97 BC), the Shanyang Commandery was promoted to the Changyi Kingdom, with Liu Xu, son of the reigning king, enfeoffed as the King of Changyi. Liu Xu ruled for eleven years; after his death, his son Liu He succeeded him. In 74 BC, Emperor Zhao of Han passed away without an heir, and Liu He was summoned to ascend the throne. His reign lasted only 27 days before he was deposed by Grand General Huo Guang due to incompetence and demoted to the title of Marquis of Haihun. In the first year of Emperor Xuan’s Benshi reign (73 BC), the Changyi Kingdom was reverted to the Shanyang Commandery. By the Eastern Han Dynasty, it was incorporated into the Yanzhou Inspectorate. In 1980 and 1982, the Heze Regional Cultural Relics Team conducted two surveys and investigations at the site. They determined that the ancient city had a roughly square layout, with the east wall measuring 1,215 meters, the west wall 1,377 meters, the north wall 1,585 meters, and the south wall 1,720 meters long. The walls were built in sections using rammed earth, with a sticky black soil mixed with lime, and the layers of rammed earth ranged from 9 to 11 centimeters in thickness. On the site today are four villages: Qianchangyi, Houchangyi, Hougarden, and Chengjiaoliu. A large number of Han Dynasty relics, along with a small number from the Warring States period, have been discovered within the area, including tiles, small-necked jars, shallow-dish cups with slender handles, pots, bronze arrowheads, iron pillars, crossbow mechanisms, and pottery well rings. Stone mills, stone troughs, house foundations, and brewing kiln sites have also been found. Additionally, there are relics from the Tang, Song, Jin, and Yuan dynasties, such as iron cauldrons and basins. The wealth of cultural remains provides reliable physical evidence for studying the history and rise and fall of ancient Changyi. In May 2013, it was approved and announced by the State Council as part of the seventh group of Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level.