城川城址位于(yu)(yu)內蒙古自治(zhi)區鄂托克前旗(qi)城川蘇(su)木東北。故城始建于(yu)(yu)唐開(kai)元十(shi)一(yi)年(nian)(723年(nian)),為唐代宥(you)州(zhou)城,主要安置附(fu)唐的突厥人(ren)。814年(nian)西夏復置宥(you)州(zhou),領長澤、延恩二縣。在(zai)1227年(nian)被毀。
城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)川城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)址地(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)處(chu)陜北(bei)(bei)黃土(tu)高原和內蒙(meng)古(gu)(gu)東南(nan)部(bu)毛烏素沙地(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)的(de)交(jiao)接地(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)帶,地(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)貌(mao)類型由黃土(tu)丘陵向沙地(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)轉變,屬(shu)于(yu)中國北(bei)(bei)方生態過渡帶的(de)中段。古(gu)(gu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)地(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)處(chu)東西(xi)狹長(chang)(chang)(chang)的(de)草(cao)(cao)灘(tan)(tan)地(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)的(de)中心,草(cao)(cao)灘(tan)(tan)地(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)四(si)周均為由新(xin)月(yue)形沙丘鏈構(gou)成的(de)一(yi)望無際的(de)沙漠,草(cao)(cao)灘(tan)(tan)地(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)地(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)勢平坦,地(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)下水(shui)位很高。古(gu)(gu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)平面(mian)形制呈(cheng)長(chang)(chang)(chang)方形,東西(xi)長(chang)(chang)(chang)、南(nan)北(bei)(bei)窄(zhai),坐北(bei)(bei)朝南(nan)。北(bei)(bei)墻(qiang)(qiang)長(chang)(chang)(chang)724米(mi)(mi),南(nan)墻(qiang)(qiang)長(chang)(chang)(chang)760米(mi)(mi),東墻(qiang)(qiang)長(chang)(chang)(chang)600米(mi)(mi),西(xi)墻(qiang)(qiang)長(chang)(chang)(chang)602米(mi)(mi),面(mian)積440000平方米(mi)(mi)。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)(qiang)由灰白色沙土(tu)夯(hang)筑而成,結構(gou)堅實緊密。東、南(nan)、西(xi)三面(mian)各開(kai)一(yi)門,三門均設(she)甕(weng)(weng)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)護衛(wei)。墻(qiang)(qiang)體保(bao)存較好,墻(qiang)(qiang)上角樓(lou)(lou)、甕(weng)(weng)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)、馬面(mian)歷歷可(ke)見(jian),城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)垣(yuan)現存平均高度約(yue)8米(mi)(mi)。北(bei)(bei)面(mian)不設(she)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)門,建有(you)高大的(de)夯(hang)土(tu)臺基,為敵樓(lou)(lou)遺(yi)跡。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)外四(si)周修有(you)護城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)河,痕跡明顯,部(bu)分地(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)帶至今仍可(ke)見(jian)積水(shui)。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)內曾經一(yi)度被辟為耕地(di)(di)(di)(di)(di),現已退耕還草(cao)(cao)。早年遍(bian)布陶、瓦殘片遺(yi)物。出土(tu)的(de)古(gu)(gu)代(dai)銅錢(qian)從(cong)西(xi)漢到西(xi)夏、金代(dai)均可(ke)見(jian)到,唯以唐(tang)、宋的(de)錢(qian)幣數(shu)量多(duo)。
城川古城所(suo)在的位置正是漢(han)代古奢(she)延澤所(suo)在,鉆探結果表明城址曾遭到(dao)焚毀(hui)。
2006年5月,被國務(wu)院分布為(wei)第六批(pi)全國文物保護單位。