Huanbei

Huanbei, also known as Huayuanzhuang, is an archaeological site located on the northern outskirts of Anyang in Henan province, China. It is a Bronze Age city, discovered in 1999, featuring pounded earth walls that form an approximate square and enclose a vast area of 470 hectares. Within this area lies a significant palace-temple complex spanning 41 hectares. The city's architectural layout is oriented 13 degrees east of north. Huanbei represents a critical phase in the Middle Shang period, with its occupation dating back to around 1300 BCE, lasting approximately 50 years. The city was eventually destroyed by fire around 1250 BCE, closely preceding the construction of Yinxu, the site of the earliest Chinese written records. Despite its partial location under Anyang's airport, limiting excavation efforts, Huanbei provides valuable insights into the urban planning, defensive strategies, and religious practices of the Shang dynasty.