Who knows the legend of Xingtai?

Xingtai City is located in the south of Hebei Province, bordering Shijiazhuang, Hengshui, Handan, Shandong and Shanxi provinces, 396 kilometers away from Beijing and 0/20 kilometers away from Shijiazhuang/KLOC. It governs 3 districts 15 counties and 2 cities, with a total area of12,500 square kilometers and a population of 6.7 million.

Xingtai has a history of more than 3500 years. In history, the capital was built four times and twice. It is the oldest city in northern China. In Shang Dynasty (about 17- 1 1 century), Zu Ti moved its capital here, and in Zhou Dynasty (about 1 1 century -256 years ago), it was made the Principality of Xing, and in the Eastern Jin Dynasty (317-). Sui and Tang Dynasties were called Xingzhou, and from Yuan Dynasty to Qing Dynasty it was changed to Shunde Prefecture. After the Revolution of 1911, it was changed to Xingtai County, and the city was established 1953.

Xingzhou Town was once called Xingyi-New City-Cheng Xiangguo (Jianping Dacheng)-Xingzhou Town-Shunde Fucheng in history, also known as "Woniu Town". Woniu Town is the earliest named Woniu Town in the historical records of China. Although it is not as good as Beijing ancient city and Xi 'an ancient city, it is better than Zhengding ancient city, Shanhaiguan city and now in terms of scale construction history. Taking the period from the late Qing Dynasty to the Republic of China as an example, Xingtai

The urban pattern is: the inner city 13 is 20 feet, the height is 3 feet 6 feet and the thickness is 6 feet. The east, west, north and south gates are all three bullfighting gates. There are two clay pots at each gate. The city walls and gates are intact, and the watchtower, watchtower, city hall and crock are intact. The government offices, county offices, Qingfeng Building, Shunde Office, Xingtai County Office and Xing are all intact. The three archways of Wangben Ancient Square, Mengguozuo Square and Yangzhen Square are well preserved, and there are two moats outside the city wall, which are more than ten meters wide.

Until the eve of liberation, the city remained intact. The liberation of Xingtai was the only battle to attack the city by using the ancient ladder in the War of Liberation. At that time, the northern valve of Taiping Army would rather go a long way than bypass Shunde House, which shows that its urban defense function is solid. After the Eighth Route Army liberated Xingtai, there were civil air defense projects dug in the wall of Xingtai (the Seven Immortals Cave in the Temple of Fire is one of them). The firmness and width of Xingtai city wall can be seen.

1945, Xingtai city was liberated first, and Xingtai began to support the liberation of all parts of the country. The leather boots of the PLA troops entering Tibet and the leather jackets of the Volunteer Air Force are all fur industries in Xingtai. Xingtai City was quickly demolished for war preparedness after liberation, but Zhengding and other ancient cities resisted the pressure and resolutely refused to demolish it. It was not until 1963 that Chairman Mao realized the demolition. A thousand-year-old city was destroyed.

From the spatial form, the ancient Xingtai is like a huge lying cow, with its head south and its feet north. It is 4.5km long and1.5km wide, and the whole body consists of protective walls and moats.

The part of this "lying cow" is irregularly distributed inside and outside the ancient city of Xingtai. After liberation, due to the transformation and changes of the city, some relics have disappeared, and some still remain today. The specific name and location are:

Left horn: It is said to be the East horn. Located in Dongniujiao Community, Qiaodong District. There used to be a temple near Dongniujiao Gas Station on Xingzhou South Road, called Dongniujiao Temple, and the nearby village was called Dongniujiao Village. After liberation, the temple was demolished, and the word "temple" was removed from the village and has been preserved to this day.

Right corner: It is said to be the west corner. Located in the rhinoceros foot community in Qiaodong District. There used to be a temple in the south of Daoqiao, Nanyang City, called Rhinoceros Foot Temple, and the nearby village was called Rhinoceros Foot Temple Village. After liberation, the temple was demolished, and the word "temple" was removed from the village, which has been preserved to this day.

Niutou Bridge: Located near Xingtai Cinema. After liberation, the city was rebuilt and demolished.

Shuanniu Temple: Located near Xingtai Cinema. According to the records of Shunde Prefecture in the fifteenth year of Qianlong, the stone was thrown three feet off the ground, and the former county magistrate sent people to dig the roots. Because of urban transformation, it no longer exists.

Yinniujing: Located in the southeast corner of Xingtai Cinema. It no longer exists.

Niuershi: Located on the east side of No.15 Middle School, behind the former Dongjian Temple.

Cow's left front hoof: located between Niushi Street and Dongjie Street. Old name bull market puddle. Now known as the bull market platform, it has been reduced and still exists.

Cattle's right front hoof: Located in the north of Dongtou Road, Shi Yang Street. Formerly known as Shi Yang Shuikeng. Now it's called Shi Yang Water Platform. This pit has become a residential area.

Cattle left hind hoof: located between Dongjie Street and Indishi Street. Formerly known as Indigo Shuikeng, now known as Indigo Shuitai, although it has been reduced, it still exists.

Cattle's right hind hoof: Huojia Waterhole. Due to the urban transformation, it has long been lost.

Tripe: Located in the southwest of the intersection of Shunde Road and Hongxing West Street. The middle is wide and the two ends are narrow and irregular, so it is called belly lane.

Niuchangzi: It is now Nanchang Street and Beichang Street. The Red Star East Street, which was built in recent years, cut the calf intestines in half.

Yinmendong: This is the only gender feature of Niuzi Niucheng. Located in the lower part of the city wall on the east side of the original north gate, east of Beikou Road, Beichang Street.

Niuwei River: located on the east side of the downstream of Shunde Road in Xiaohe. There used to be a tributary in the southeast of Beiguan and a tributary in the north.

For thousands of years, urban construction has been expanded on the basis of the framework of lying cattle. The road frame of the ancient city is its skeleton, and the ancient city wall, Zhaiwei River and Niuwei River are the elements that constitute the "bull-shaped" outline. The streets, roads and villages in Xingtai are also named after cows, such as Dongniujiao Village and Xiniujiao Village.

On the map, these place names are connected together in a certain order, showing a picture of a cow with a length of 4.5 kilometers and a width of 1.5 kilometers, with a head south and a tail north. Niutou is Nantou Village, Niujiao is Dongniujiao Village and Xiniujiao Village, and Niuwei is Niuwei River. The cow body consists of a protective wall and a moat. Interestingly, there are four primitive puddles in this city, which are called Niushi puddle, Shi Yang puddle, Mashi puddle and Indich puddle. Legend has it that a lying cow has four hoof prints. In the belly of the cow are two Shui Bo (Hanjiakeng and Wang Mao Pit), one large and one small. Intestinal vein is Intestinal Street (now Nanchang Street and Beichang Street).

Viewed vertically from the surface, the whole city looks like the back of a huge cow. Fu Qian South Street, Beichang Street, Nanchang Street and Shunde Road are all cattle ridges. Qingfeng Tower is called the overlooking of the county building (one of the eight scenic spots in Xingtai), just like the ridge peak of Niucheng, and it is the commanding height of the ancient city. The urban ground is 2-8 meters higher than the surrounding area. Even in the once-in-a-century flood of 1963, the ancient city is still safe and sound, which clearly reflects the landscape features and architectural characteristics of the ancient buildings in the ancient city.

1983, Xingtai Municipal People's Government erected a monument to the statue of the cow god, with the intention of calling on the people of the whole city to inspire themselves with perseverance and self-improvement and work hard to revitalize Xingtai.

1997 65438+1On October 5th, Xingtai Stamp Company issued the second round of Zodiac cattle stamps, with this statue as the main picture and engraved with a commemorative postmark.

In recent years, several statues of cows have been added, but they are far from the legendary "lying cow" and too modern. Cows in front of the information building