RUINS OF THE ANCIENT SHANG CITY

The Zhengzhou des Shang was an important political, military and cultural center covering an area of 25 km ² 3,500 years ago. The site was discovered in 1955 by a group of archeologists: seven kilometers of ramparts, a dam, the foundations of houses, wells, graves and many objects of art (porcelain, pottery, jade objects, bones, stone weapons). A true revelation to support specialists' theories about Chinese urban first forms. Until then, Anyang located in the north of the province had been the only reference site. Zhengzhou would have been the second capital of the Shang. The murked city consisted of official buildings (raised rectangular architecture) and served as administrative centers, while houses were located in the suburbs (semi-buried round buildings). In 1961, the site was classified by the Chinese Council of State.