Water Conservancy System and Urban Layout of Yinxu, the Capital City of Shang: A GIS Approach

A quantitative analysis of Yinxu, the late Shang Dynasty capital, reveals that its water conservancy system—built during the Second Phase to adapt to climate change and urban expansion—profoundly shaped the city's layout. Using GIS hydrology and density analysis, researchers found that artificial channels altered surface runoff, harnessed scarce local water resources, and clustered dwellings and workshops around abundant water sources. Unlike other Bronze Age capitals, Yinxu's system also functioned as a wall-less defense mechanism, partitioning the 'central zone' with large-scale facilities alongside the Huan River.

Wang, Y., Qin, Z., Hou, W., & Storozum, M. (2022). Water Conservancy System and Urban Layout of Yinxu, the Capital City of Shang: A GIS Approach. Land, 11(7), 986. https://doi.org/10.3390/land11070986