Scene of Zhengzhou (Photo source: CRIENGLISH.com)

    ZHENGZHOU, Nov. 9 (Xinhuanet) -- Zhengzhou, the capital of central China's Henan Province, has been officially named "the eighth ancient capital city of China" following the discovery of the foundations of an ancient city built 3,600 years ago in the area.

    The announcement by the China Ancient Capital Society was made at a five-day symposium marking the 3,600th anniversary of Zhengzhou as the earliest capital of the Shang Dynasty (1600 BC-1100 BC). The symposium concluded Friday.

    More than 100 noted archaeologists and experts from China's archaeological circles agreed that as a political, economic, military and cultural center of the early Shang Dynasty, ancient Zhengzhou was a milestone in the development of China's ancient capitals and played an important role in linking the development of the Xia Dynasty (2100 BC-1600 BC), Shang Dynasty and Western Zhou Dynasty (1100 BC-771 BC).

    The foundations of ancient Zhengzhou were first discovered in the early 1950s, and excavations at the site have lasted through the ensuing 50 years.

    Archaeologists have discovered the ruins of the ancient city wall, seven kilometers long, 20 meters wide at the base and five meters wide at the top. The foundations of several dozen palaces were discovered in the northern and northeastern parts of the city.One of these palaces has an attached cloister with a complete set of plumbing.

    Other discoveries include ruins of pottery kilns and workshops where bronzeware was made for the imperial family and a large amount of bronzeware stored in three large pits, which are believed to have been used by the royal family in sacrificial services.

    Archaeologists have recently discovered the larger outer city around the imperial inner city. Who built ancient Zhengzhou remains a mystery.

    Archaeologists have also discovered the ruins of a group of other ancient cities at Xishan, Guchengzhai and Dashigu -- all near Zhengzhou -- which served as capitals of some kingdoms, including the Han and Zheng kingdoms, of the Spring and Autumn Period (770 BC-476 BC) and the Warring States Period (475 BC-221 BC).

    The city government of Zhengzhou has drafted a plan to protect the site of ancient Zhengzhou and the nearby ancient city ruins.

    Attendees to the forum agreed that listing Zhengzhou among the eight ancient Chinese capital cities is conducive to the protection of the ancient city, to the study of ancient Chinese capitals and to the economic and cultural development of Zhengzhou.     

    The other ancient capitals of China are Beijing, the national capital; Nanjing, the capital of east China's Jiangsu Province, Xi'an, the capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province; and Anyang,Luoyang and Kaifeng in Henan Province. Each of these cities was either a dynasty capital at some time in China's history or is thesite of major archaeological discoveries that constitute an important part of the development of Chinese civilization. Enditem