Fāngchéng

Fangcheng lies on the northeastern approach to the Nanyang basin, where routes pass between the mountains and the central plain. The ancient state of Chu built defences across this region; an earthen beacon tower at Mijiazhuang belonged to that network and may have remained in use into Han times. Southwest of the town lay Bowang, the fief granted to the Han envoy Zhang Qian after his journeys to the western regions. Under the Qing, the district formed part of Yuzhou.