Shangjing Longquanfu


Shangjing Longquanfu or Sanggyeong Yongcheonbu, also known as Shangjing/Sanggyeong, Huhan/Holhan Fortress, is an archaeological site in Ning'an, Heilongjiang, China. It was the capital of the Balhae Kingdom in 756–785 and 793–926.
The site is located in about from the modern town of Dongjingcheng, and the ruined city is also colloquially called "Dongjingcheng". The site has been protected since the 1960s. The Chinese government has established the Bohai Shangjing National Archaeological Park and an archaeological museum at the site.

Dimension

Shangjing was modelled after Chang'an, capital of the Chinese Tang dynasty. It was about one fifth of the size of Chang'an, measuring from east to west, and from north to south. It was composed of the outer city, the inner city, and the palace city which enclosed five palaces. It is one of the best preserved medieval capital cities in the world.

History

Balhae was founded at the Dongmo Mountain by Dae Jo-yeong. However, Balhae set up five capitals to rule its territories, and also transferred the main seat of the government several times because stabilizing and strengthening central rule over various ethnic tribes in its realm, which was expanded temporarily. In 756, during the reign of King Mun, Shangjing Longquanfu was established as the permanent capital near Lake Jingpo, south of today's Ning'an, Heilongjiang, China.