Stone City, Ancient fortified site in Nanjing, China

Stone City is the site of an ancient fortified city on Qingliangshan hill in Nanjing, of which only portions of the massive wall remain. The surviving stretch runs from Caochang Gate to Qingliang Gate, built of rough grey and reddish-brown blocks with trees along its top edge. A stone-paved area with light poles and shrubs lies at its base, beside a low retaining wall and a reflecting pool.

The site was founded during the Warring States period by the Chu kingdom and significantly expanded during the Han Dynasty. It later served as a training base for military forces and underwent modifications during subsequent periods of change.

The name Shitou Cheng, "Stone City", comes from the fortress Sun Quan built on Shitou Hill in 211, and it became a byname for Nanjing itself. Zhuge Liang reportedly described the hill as "Zhongshan curling like a dragon and the Stone City crouching like a tiger". The wall from Caochang Gate to Qingliang Gate is known as the "Ghost-Faced Wall".

The site can be reached by public transport with multiple entry points leading to different wall sections. Comfortable footwear is recommended since exploration involves walking along hillside terrain and through uneven preservation areas.

The name comes from the hill: Sun Quan built a fortress on Shitou Shan in 211, and the city took the hill's name. The wall visible today near Qingliang Gate, called the Ghost-Faced Wall, was confirmed as part of the Ming city wall, not the Six Dynasties fort.