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Excavating the ruins
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HANGZHOU archeologists began to excavate the ruins of the Deshou Palace where Emperor Gaozong of the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279) lived after his retirement in 1162.
Emperor Gaozong (1107-1187) founded the Southern Song Dynasty when he moved the capital to Lin’an, today’s Hangzhou, as the northern half of China fell to invading Jurchens who established the Jin Dynasty (AD 265-420) in the occupied territory.
Emperor Gaozong (personal name Zhao Gou) passed the throne to his son Zhao Shen and moved to the Deshou Palace in 1162 and lived there for 25 years. The palace is located north of Wangjiang Road and opposite to the residence of Hu Xueyan (1823-1885), a rich businessman.
The Deshou Palace covers an area of nearly 20,000 square meters. Excavation will take one year and a half, according to Wang Zhengyu, an archaeologist from the Hangzhou Administration of Cultural Heritage.
“We might be able to find the main building of the Deshou Palace and the famous garden known as ‘Little West Lake’,” Wang said.
Emperor Xiaozong (Zhao Shen) ordered the construction of “Little West Lake” after his father said he liked to tour the West Lake but local people were unhappy that they were forced to clear the area for his visit.
Seven years ago, archaeologists found a 35-meter-long ditch west of the palace wall, indicating water was channeled from Zhonghe River into the palace to create a cascading stream and “Little West Lake.”
They also found waterlocks, ponds and wells in the palace ground, 2-3 meters under the pavement of Wangjiang Road.
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