Reporter Liu Xuwei Source: Qinhuangdao Evening News
“Qinhuangdao is the only city in our country which is named after an emperor.” When we introduce our hometown, we always tell others that way proudly. So, what exactly is Qinhuangdao's name based on? What on earth has been the grand event of Emperor Qin Shihuang’s East Tour that year like? Perhaps we could pursue the answer from the ruins of Qin Palace in Beidaihe. The reporter learned recently that the main construction of the Beidaihe Qin Palace Ruins Protection and Exhibition Facilities Project has been completed and is expected to be open to tourists early next year.
On the afternoon of June 7th, stood on the wooden plank road of the Beidaihe Qin Palace Ruins Protection and Exhibition Facilities Project, the reporter experienced the grand and vast of the Qin Dynasty palace: extensive rammed earth walls, stout pillars, and huge halls! “This place might serve as the kitchen of the palace and there is a stove,” said Song Boyu, a staff member of the preparation office of Qinhuangdao’s Press & Publication Bureau of Culture, Radio & Television.
According to the historical records, ancient ruins has been found in the mouth of Jinshanzui, Beidaihe as early as 1924. In 1984, the staff of the city’s local history discovered ruins and relics such as rammed earth walls, pillars, water wells, and eaves tiles. In 1986, Hebei Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics conducted drilling and excavation of the Hengshan ruins and discovered the base sites of two houses of Qin Dynasty. Afterwards, the archaeological team consisted of provinces, municipalities, and districts, discovered the base sites of 14 buildings belonging to 4 groups, and unearthed a large number of building components and numerous cultural relics.
Combining the records of documents and excavations, experts pointed out that this was exactly where the palace of the Qin Shi Huang East Tour was located. Beidaihe Qin Palace ruins was named “National Top Ten Archaeological Discoveries during the Seventh Five-Year Plan Period” and was announced by the State Council in 1996 as one of the fourth batch of national key cultural relics protection units.
It’s learned that the Beidaihe Qin Palace Ruins Protection and Display Facilities Project is divided into two parts: the ruins protection display area, museums and supporting service areas. The ruins protection and exhibition area covers an area of 15,600 square meters. The ruins model will mainly be built on the site of the building that has been backfilled and protected. The visitors are introduced into the ruins area through the wooden plank road, making the ruins area an urban green park integrating science, education and recreation, which will provide citizens and tourists a recreational place good for their physical and psychological health.