Xiadu

Xiadu, also known as the Lower Capital of Yan, was a prominent city during the Warring States period in ancient China. Located in Yi County, Baoding, Hebei Province, it covered a sprawling 30 square kilometers, making it the largest excavated city from that era. The city's strategic position in the Taihang Mountains, flanked by the Beiyi and Zhongyi rivers, provided natural defenses. Its robust fortifications included a rammed earth wall, parts of which still stand up to 6.8 meters high. Notably, Xiadu housed extensive workshops for iron and bronze casting, coin minting, and pottery production. The eastern part of the city contained the royal palace and cemeteries with tombs topped by pyramidal tumuli. Xiadu's significance lies in its size, industrial capabilities, and role as a major urban center during the Warring States period.