| Taizicheng | |
| Pushpin Map: | Hebei |
| Pushpin Label: | Taizicheng |
| Pushpin Label Position: | right |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Hebei |
| Settlement Type: | Village |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | People's Republic of China |
| Subdivision Type1: | Province |
| Subdivision Name1: | Hebei |
| Subdivision Type2: | Prefecture-level city |
| Subdivision Name2: | Zhangjiakou |
| Subdivision Type3: | District |
| Subdivision Name3: | Chongli |
| Subdivision Type4: | Township |
| Subdivision Name4: | Sitaizui Township |
| Area Total Km2: | 6.4 |
| Coordinates: | 40.9224°N 115.4471°W |
| Timezone: | China Standard |
| Utc Offset: | +8 |
| Postal Code Type: | Postal code |
Taizicheng is a village in Sitaizui (Chinese: {{linktext|四台嘴|乡), Chongli District of Zhangjiakou in the northwest of Hebei Province, China.[1] [2] Its name means "City of the Crown Prince", and archaeological excavations carried out between May and November 2017 uncovered the remains of an imperial palace of the Jin dynasty (1115–1234). It is thought that this was the summer palace for Emperor Zhangzong of Jin (r. 1189–1208), which is named Tai He Palace in the History of Jin.[3] [4]
In preparation for developing the Taizicheng area as a skiing venue for the 2022 Winter Olympic Games, an archaeological survey of the entire village (covering 6,400 square meters), and excavations of sites of interest, were carried out from May to November 2017. The main discovery was a rectangular walled settlement, about 400 metres in length (from north to south) and about 350 metres in width (from east to west), covering 140,000 square metres.[3] The settlement included a network of roads centred on a T-shaped main thoroughfare. 28 buildings were identified within the settlement, the largest of which was located 75 m north of the south gate, and comprised fifteen rooms.[3]
Building materials unearthed included bricks, glazed and unglazed roof tiles, ridge tiles, and dragon, phoenix and Kalaviṅka roof ornaments. Other artifacts excavated included a black glazed chicken-leg shaped vase, 15 white glazed porcelain bowls with impressed dragon and fish patterns, and two fragments of a gilt bronze dragon head ornament. The porcelain bowls were marked with the characters Chinese: {{linktext|尚|食|局 meaning "Bureau of Imperial Cuisine", which are elsewhere associated with Ding ware.[3] Some of the bricks were marked as Chinese: {{linktext|内, Chinese: {{linktext|宫, and Chinese: {{linktext|官, which are similar to marks on bricks found at the Liao dynasty Upper Palace at Bairin Left Banner.[3]
Based on the size of the site and an analysis of the various artifacts found there, the archaeologists determined that this must be the remains of an imperial palace of the Jin dynasty, and probably dated to the late middle period of the dynasty, during the reigns of Emperor Shizong (r. 1161–1189) and Emperor Zhangzong (r. 1189–1208). It is probable that this site is the Tai He Palace recorded in the History of Jin as being the summer palace where Emperor Zhangzong stayed in 1202 and 1205.[4] [5]
Taizicheng was a venue for the 2022 Winter Olympic Games. All skiing events other than alpine skiing were held in the Taizicheng area.