Zhongli (state)

State of Zhongli 童麗
8th century BC–6th century BC
Map of China during the Spring and Autumn period; Zhongli is located in the southeast
Status	Vassal state of Chu and Wu (possibly in the 6th century BC)
Capital	Zhongli
Common languages	Old Chinese (lingua franca),[1] local languages[2]
Religion	Chinese folk religion
Government	Monarchy
Duke
• fl. 650–600 BC	Bai
• fl. 600 BC	Kang
• 6th century BC	Yu
Historical era	Spring and Autumn period
• Established	8th century BC
• Conquered by Chu	6th century BC
Preceded by Succeeded by Xu (state) Chu (state) Wu (state)
Today part of	China

Zhongli (Chinese: 鍾離, originally written as 童麗) was an ancient Chinese state in the Huai River valley during the Spring and Autumn period. Its core area was located in the modern-day Fengyang County. At its peak, Zhongli was powerful enough to fight off various other states, and served as an important cultural, political, and economic centre. The state was conquered by its expansionist neighbor Chu during the 6th century BC, but its former capital city remained regionally important for several subsequent centuries.