Zangdok

Zangdok is a fictional city-state situated on the eastern highlands of the continent of Asteria. It serves as a regional center for administration, trade, and scholarship. The name is rooted in the local tongue and is often linked to the imagery of a stone river.

The city sits on a broad plateau around 1,400 meters above sea level, with a valley carved by the Zang River. Old Town lies within defensive walls, while the New Quarter houses government offices and markets. The climate is temperate with dry winters.

Zangdok was founded in the late medieval period by mountain clans seeking centralized governance. It developed as a caravan resting point and market town, later becoming autonomous within a regional confederation. Its libraries and academies expanded through the 18th and 19th centuries.

The polity is governed by a Council of Six, with a Principal Magistrate elected for five years. The economy combines traditional crafts—woodwork, metalwork, and textiles—with river trade, agriculture, and growing cultural tourism.

Key landmarks include the Zangdok Library, noted for its manuscript collections, the Gate of Dawn, and the Temple of Echoes. The annual Scholars’ Festival highlights research, poetry, and musical performances.

Zangdok is served by the East Line railway and a river port. Within the city, transit relies on ferries, pedestrian routes, and a light tram network. The population is described in regional censuses as tens of thousands.