Cangzhou Iron Lion

The Cangzhou Iron Lion stands in Jiuzhou Town, Cang County, Cangzhou, Hebei Province, China, and is regarded as the oldest and largest surviving cast-iron sculpture in the country. It was cast in 953 AD during the Later Zhou dynasty, and is traditionally known as Zhen Hai Hou, the Roaring Sea Calmer, because it was set up to ward off flooding and sea-borne threats on the then-coastal plain. The lion stands nearly 6 metres tall and about 5 metres long, with a weight estimated at more than 40 tonnes.

The figure is cast in sections using a method of stacked moulds, and the seams of the casting are visible on the body. The lion is posed with its head raised and mouth open, in a roaring stance, and sits on a platform of lotus-shaped base, with the flank carrying inscriptions recording the phrase Shi Zi Wang, King of Lions. The surface has been weathered by more than a thousand years, and the cast iron shows rust-coloured patina and damage from the elements and past conflict, such as the loss of some parts of the body during a period of flooding.

The site is small and a visit usually takes thirty to forty-five minutes, making it a short stop that fits naturally with other Cangzhou sights such as the Grand Canal or Wuqiao. Visitors walk around the lion, read the information panels and photograph the figure from the front, where the head and open mouth are most dramatic. Crowds are light on most days, with occasional tour groups at midday, and the site is quietest in the morning. There are no major facilities beyond the entrance, so a visit is typically paired with other stops, and a taxi from Cangzhou city centre takes around thirty to forty minutes.