Suoyang City, Archaeological site in Guazhou County, Gansu, China.

Suoyang City is an archaeological site in Guazhou County with remains of rammed earth walls, residential buildings, and outer fortifications. The site is crossed by traces of an ancient canal system that transported water across considerable distances.

Founded as Ming'an County in 111 BC under Emperor Wu of the Han, the city was moved to its present site in 295 AD by Emperor Hui of the Western Jin. As capital of Jinchang Commandery, later Guazhou Prefecture, it prospered through the Tang and Western Xia with a peak population of about 50,000. It was destroyed and abandoned in the 16th century after attacks by Mansur Khan of Moghulistan.

The place served as a major trading hub along the Silk Road where merchants, pilgrims, and travelers from different regions met and exchanged goods and ideas. People from east and west encountered each other here, making it a crossroads of cultures.

The site is open daily and requires approximately two hours for a thorough visit of all main areas. Visitors should wear comfortable shoes since walking across the terrain is necessary and sun exposure can be intense.

A large Tang tomb excavated in 1992 after robbers disturbed it held sancai figurines, tomb guardians, silk, porcelain and coins; it probably belonged to a governor of Guazhou Prefecture or a wealthy merchant. The Ta'er Temple, 1 km east, is said to be where Xuanzang preached for a month before leaving for India.