The Lost Capital of the Grassland Kingdom: Fusi Ancient City Ruins and the Echoes of the Tuyuhun

The King's City on the Plateau

1.Located in Shinaihai Township of Gonghe: County, Hainan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province, the Fusi Ancient City Ruins (Fusi Cheng) stand as a silent testament to a forgotten empire. Situated on the Tielongtan Grassland, just 7 kilometers west of the majestic Qinghai Lake, this site was once the flourishing capital of the Tuyuhun Kingdom (284-663 AD). The name "Fusi" in the ancient Xianbei language translates to "The City of the King" or "The City of the Monarch," signifying its supreme status. As a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit, it is not merely a collection of earth mounds, but a "Pompeii of the Grassland" that preserves the glory and sorrow of a nomadic superpower that dominated the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau for centuries.

A Hub on the Silk Road

Historically, Fusi City was a pivotal node on the Silk Road's Qinghai Route (also known as the Tuyuhun Road). Established during the 6th century AD, it served as the political, economic, and cultural center of the Tuyuhun Kingdom. This kingdom played a crucial role as an intermediary between the Central Plains dynasties, the Western Regions, and the Tubo Kingdom (Tibet). The city witnessed the bustling trade of silk and tea, the exchange of diverse cultures, and the strategic maneuvering of ancient geopolitics. Standing amidst the ruins today, one can almost hear the camel bells and the hustle of merchants who traveled this "Bridge of Friendship" connecting east and west,.

The City Within a City

2.The architectural layout of Fusi: City is a unique blend of nomadic and Central Plains styles. The ruins reveal a "City within a City" structure. The Outer City is an irregular square, while the Inner City (or Palace City), located slightly to the west of the center, is a square measuring 200 meters on each side. Although the original structures are gone, the rammed earth walls still stand, outlining the grandeur of the past. In the center of the Inner City lies a large earthen platform, believed to be the foundation of the royal palace or a "General's Platform" (Dianjiangtai). From this vantage point, visitors can overlook the entire city layout and gaze out towards the distant Riyue Mountain, following the city's central axis,.

A Landscape of Solitude and Beauty

3.The Fusi Ancient City: Ruins offer a profound sense of historical solitude, set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Highland Aesthetics. To the north lies the vast, blue expanse of Qinghai Lake; to the south, the rolling peaks of the Qinghai Nanshan mountains. The ruins themselves are surrounded by the Tielongtan Grassland, which turns into a lush green carpet dotted with cattle and sheep in summer, and a golden sea in autumn. The contrast between the weathered, yellow-brown earth walls and the vibrant natural landscape creates a stunning visual narrative, making it a paradise for photographers seeking to capture the interplay of history and nature.

Cultural Resonance

4.While the Tuyuhun: Kingdom eventually fell to the rising Tubo Empire in 663 AD, the cultural legacy of Fusi City remains. Local Tibetan legends sometimes associate the ruins with the heroic King Gesar, adding a layer of mythological mystique to the site. The nearby "White City" (Bai Cheng), a subsidiary fortification, further expands the scale of this archaeological wonder. Unlike crowded tourist spots, Fusi Ancient City remains relatively wild and open, allowing travelers to walk freely among the history, touching the ancient tiles and pottery shards that occasionally surface from the soil, connecting directly with the pulse of a lost civilization,.