中(zhong)(zhong)山(shan)古城(cheng)是戰國(guo)(guo)(guo)時(shi)重要都城(cheng)之一，自(zi)公元(yuan)前(qian)414年中(zhong)(zhong)山(shan)武公初立(li)到(dao)公元(yuan)前(qian)296年趙(zhao)滅(mie)中(zhong)(zhong)山(shan)，先后五(wu)位國(guo)(guo)(guo)君定都于中(zhong)(zhong)山(shan)古城(cheng)，見(jian)(jian)證(zheng)了中(zhong)(zhong)山(shan)國(guo)(guo)(guo)從復(fu)興到(dao)鼎盛(sheng)再至(zhi)滅(mie)亡的全部歷史，也是少數民(min)族和中(zhong)(zhong)原漢(han)族文化融合的重要見(jian)(jian)證(zheng)。
古城遺(yi)址于1973年發(fa)現，考古隊(dui)在(zai)此發(fa)掘出土了(le)(le)19000多件珍貴(gui)文物(wu)。其(qi)中，中山王(wang)厝墓的發(fa)掘令世人震驚(jing)，出土了(le)(le)萬余件精美青銅(tong)器、玉(yu)器和其(qi)他(ta)珍貴(gui)文物(wu)，獲得了(le)(le)極其(qi)珍貴(gui)的長(chang)篇(pian)青銅(tong)銘文和全國一件兆域圖銅(tong)版。
城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)址平面(mian)呈不規則(ze)的長方凸角形，東(dong)西(xi)寬約4公(gong)里，西(xi)北長處達4.5公(gong)里。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)垣依(yi)河溝地形修(xiu)筑，利用河溝作城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)壕。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)內(nei)中部筑一(yi)道南北向夯土隔墻(qiang)(qiang)，將城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)邑分為東(dong)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)和西(xi)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)垣現(xian)已大部無(wu)存。地下城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)(qiang)基部尚能連貫,寬25～35米(mi)。北墻(qiang)(qiang)、西(xi)墻(qiang)(qiang)和南墻(qiang)(qiang)上(shang)有4處突出城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)垣的建筑基址，其位置均與(yu)護城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)有關，可能是防御設施。北墻(qiang)(qiang)中部和西(xi)墻(qiang)(qiang)中部各發(fa)現(xian)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)闕 1處。西(xi)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)內(nei)發(fa)現(xian)一(yi)條貫穿東(dong)西(xi)的干道,寬11米(mi)，東(dong)接建筑遺跡區,西(xi)經西(xi)門至城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)外，殘長1500米(mi)。
東(dong)城(cheng)的(de)(de)東(dong)部(bu)發(fa)現大(da)型(xing)建筑(zhu)群(qun)2處，與3號大(da)型(xing)建筑(zhu)群(qun)相距約1500米(mi)(mi)(mi)，南(nan)北遙遙相對，大(da)致在一條(tiao)中軸(zhou)線(xian)上。遺(yi)址(zhi)以夯(hang)筑(zhu)高(gao)臺為中心，兩(liang)側有大(da)面(mian)積的(de)(de)夯(hang)土基(ji)(ji)址(zhi)，基(ji)(ji)址(zhi)上面(mian)有圓形柱(zhu)基(ji)(ji)，外(wai)有夯(hang)土墻基(ji)(ji)。東(dong)城(cheng)西(xi)部(bu)中區發(fa)現大(da)面(mian)積的(de)(de)手工業作坊(fang)遺(yi)址(zhi)，經局部(bu)發(fa)掘(jue)，基(ji)(ji)本(ben)上可分為 3片手工作坊(fang)區。北部(bu)為燒制(zhi)(zhi)陶器(qi)的(de)(de)作坊(fang)區,現存面(mian)積為東(dong)西(xi)約200米(mi)(mi)(mi),南(nan)北約250米(mi)(mi)(mi)；其南(nan)為鑄銅、鐵器(qi)作坊(fang)遺(yi)址(zhi)，其面(mian)積南(nan)北長 960米(mi)(mi)(mi)，東(dong)西(xi)寬580米(mi)(mi)(mi);東(dong)南(nan)部(bu)為制(zhi)(zhi)骨器(qi)、玉器(qi)、石器(qi)的(de)(de)作坊(fang)遺(yi)址(zhi)，殘(can)存面(mian)積為東(dong)西(xi)300米(mi)(mi)(mi)，南(nan)北180米(mi)(mi)(mi)。
燒制陶(tao)器(qi)的作坊區(qu)內(nei)，東(dong)(dong)部(bu)(bu)以制陶(tao)為(wei)(wei)中(zhong)心，西(xi)部(bu)(bu)為(wei)(wei)密(mi)集(ji)的燒陶(tao)窯區(qu)。鑄(zhu)銅、鐵器(qi)作坊遺址內(nei)，北部(bu)(bu)為(wei)(wei)鑄(zhu)銅器(qi)區(qu)。西(xi)城的北部(bu)(bu)為(wei)(wei)王陵區(qu)，南部(bu)(bu)為(wei)(wei)大面(mian)積(ji)的居住區(qu)，遺址內(nei)灰(hui)坑(keng)密(mi)集(ji)；東(dong)(dong)部(bu)(bu)為(wei)(wei)密(mi)集(ji)的建(jian)筑遺跡區(qu)，東(dong)(dong)西(xi)均650米(mi),南北約(yue)350～800米(mi)。
中山古城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)主城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)分為(wei)東城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)和(he)西(xi)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)。東城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)和(he)西(xi)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)之(zhi)間，有隔墻(qiang)(qiang)一道。都城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)區的(de)的(de)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)(qiang)部(bu)分經考古發掘后(hou)多已回填，城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)(qiang)僅(jin)南城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)(qiang)西(xi)段、西(xi)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)(qiang)和(he)北城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)(qiang)部(bu)分地(di)段尚(shang)存夯土(tu)遺跡。
在城(cheng)墻垣基(ji)的勘察(cha)中，發現有4處與城(cheng)墻垣基(ji)相連而外凸或內(nei)凸的大型夯筑(zhu)附(fu)屬建筑(zhu)。
中(zhong)山古(gu)城(cheng)遺址東(dong)城(cheng)西(xi)城(cheng)墻(qiang)北(bei)段(duan)、北(bei)城(cheng)墻(qiang)以及東(dong)城(cheng)墻(qiang)南段(duan)保(bao)存相對(dui)完好(hao)，并(bing)可(ke)見到一定長度的城(cheng)垣斷面。
城內(nei)和(he)城外(wai)王陵(ling)區內(nei)仍存三處墓葬封(feng)土。
城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)內(nei)東南部圓(yuan)形土(tu)臺保存(cun)狀況一(yi)般，取(qu)(qu)石、取(qu)(qu)土(tu)現(xian)象嚴重，其上(shang)建有現(xian)代建筑(zhu)。靈壽(shou)境內(nei)東城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)內(nei)“召王臺”保存(cun)基本完好,現(xian)存(cun)夯土(tu)高(gao)8.2米(mi)、長(chang)(chang)寬61米(mi)。臺下西側有南北長(chang)(chang)110米(mi)、寬70米(mi)的夯土(tu)建筑(zhu)遺跡，地面上(shang)暴(bao)露有板瓦(wa)、筒瓦(wa)和銅鏃等(deng)。此城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)為(wei)中(zhong)山古城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)的外圍城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)堡，可(ke)能(neng)當時主要用于(yu)軍事防(fang)御。
城西北部的北七汲水庫(ku)（七三水庫(ku)）原為自然(ran)湖(hu)泊，根據(ju)“守丘刻石(shi)”的譯文推測該(gai)處為中山王族的苑囿(you)，現范(fan)圍清晰，位置明確。
中山(shan)古城，是我國(guo)(guo)北方游牧民族(zu)白狄鮮虞族(zu)中山(shan)國(guo)(guo)的都城。自公元(yuan)前414年中山(shan)武公初立到公元(yuan)前296年趙(zhao)滅(mie)中山(shan)，先后五位國(guo)(guo)君定都于此統治中山(shan)，見證了(le)中山(shan)國(guo)(guo)從復興到鼎盛再至滅(mie)亡的全部歷史。為研(yan)究戰國(guo)(guo)時期中山(shan)國(guo)(guo)的政治、經(jing)濟、社會及其文(wen)化的發展(zhan)狀(zhuang)況，提供了(le)重要而豐(feng)富(fu)的實物史料。
其中(zhong)(zhong)，古(gu)城(cheng)(cheng)遺(yi)址(zhi)(zhi)基(ji)本保存了城(cheng)(cheng)防體系和(he)建筑、手(shou)工業遺(yi)址(zhi)(zhi)、王陵等重(zhong)要建置，古(gu)城(cheng)(cheng)的(de)(de)(de)選(xuan)址(zhi)(zhi)和(he)建設(she)都(dou)與當地(di)自然環境相融(rong)合，反映了戰國(guo)時(shi)期(qi)的(de)(de)(de)城(cheng)(cheng)市(shi)營建理念。古(gu)城(cheng)(cheng)遺(yi)址(zhi)(zhi)成為(wei)研究戰國(guo)時(shi)期(qi)諸侯國(guo)都(dou)城(cheng)(cheng)制(zhi)度的(de)(de)(de)重(zhong)要實例(li)。中(zhong)(zhong)山(shan)古(gu)城(cheng)(cheng)遺(yi)址(zhi)(zhi)內(nei)出(chu)土(tu)的(de)(de)(de)大(da)量精美文物，特別是中(zhong)(zhong)山(shan)國(guo)國(guo)王厝墓(mu)中(zhong)(zhong)出(chu)土(tu)的(de)(de)(de)青銅案、兆(zhao)域(yu)圖等，引起了學術界震(zhen)動和(he)海內(nei)外的(de)(de)(de)廣泛關(guan)注(zhu)，具(ju)有重(zhong)歷史意義。
中山古城遺址在城市(shi)遺存、墓葬和(he)出土文(wen)物上，表現(xian)出極高的歷(li)史文(wen)化、科學(xue)、藝術和(he)研究(jiu)價值。
1992年7月中山(shan)國遺(yi)址管理所根據(ju)實際(ji)情況劃定了(le)中山(shan)國古城遺(yi)址的保護范圍(wei)及建設(she)控制地帶。
2013年旨在促進中(zhong)(zhong)山古(gu)(gu)城(cheng)遺(yi)(yi)址(zhi)保護(hu)(hu)的《中(zhong)(zhong)山古(gu)(gu)城(cheng)遺(yi)(yi)址(zhi)保護(hu)(hu)規劃》已獲國(guo)家文(wen)物局(ju)批(pi)(pi)復同意，并經河北省政府批(pi)(pi)準公(gong)布。以(yi)《規劃》為指導，開(kai)展中(zhong)(zhong)山古(gu)(gu)城(cheng)遺(yi)(yi)址(zhi)文(wen)物考(kao)(kao)古(gu)(gu)研究(jiu)、展示(shi)利用(yong)和(he)建設國(guo)家考(kao)(kao)古(gu)(gu)遺(yi)(yi)址(zhi)公(gong)園。1988年中(zhong)(zhong)山古(gu)(gu)城(cheng)遺(yi)(yi)址(zhi)被中(zhong)(zhong)華人民共和(he)國(guo)國(guo)務院公(gong)布為全(quan)國(guo)重(zhong)點文(wen)物保護(hu)(hu)單位。
巧笑倩兮 
