壽春（今壽縣）的歷史既長又豐富。從春秋時期起壽春位於肥水入淮河之口，戰國末是楚國最後的國都。西漢時代它是淮南國首都，其四位國王之內有三位反叛皇帝，包括最後之王劉安。漢朝時期經濟逐漸發展，淮南成為產糧重地，而壽春成為南北間的貿易樞紐。在東漢落入軍閥爭權形成三國鼎立，壽春戰略地位益增。三國、六朝時代壽春是多次重要戰爭的戰場，包括383 年最有名的肥水之戰。肥水之戰被視為中華文化能免於北方戎狄蹂躪的關鍵。儘管經歷多次戰爭，壽春仍然是南北間活躍的商業和宗教交換中心。隨著唐朝統一中國，壽春的重要性雖降低了，但到南宋又恢復以前的關鍵性地位。南宋官員常以壽春在六朝時期的重要戰略地位為例，堅持以淮河為抵抗金族的戰線。抗戰時期愛國的歷史家也常援引六朝壽春的歷史，尤其是肥水之戰為例。

The history of Shouchun 壽春(modern Shouxian 壽縣, Anhui 安徽; akaShouyang 壽陽) is long and rich. Located at the confluence of the Fei 肥水and Huai 淮河 rivers and dating from the Spring and Autumn period, it was thelast capital of the state of Chu 楚. During the Western Han, it was the seat ofthe kingdom of Huainan 淮南, three of whose four kings rebelled against theEmperor. The last of these was Liu An 劉安, who oversaw the compilation of theHuainanzi 淮南子. Throughout the Han, economic activity grew, and Shouchunbecame an important trading center between north and south as the areadeveloped into an important grain producing region. As the Eastern Han declinedinto warlord satrapies and then divided into the Three States, Shouchun becamestrategically important. During the Three States and the Six Dynasties, it was thesite of a number of important battles, the most famous of which was the Battleof the Fei River in 383. This battle was viewed as pivotal in saving Han Chineseculture from being overrun by hordes of the Central Asian and steppe peopleswho had conquered the north. Despite the frequent battles, throughout the periodShouchun remained a vibrant center of commercial and religious exchangebetween north and south. Its role declined somewhat with unification under the Tang, but it resumed much of its earlier role during the Southern Song. Moreover,its importance in defending the south during the Six Dynasties was often referredto in policy debates by Southern Song officials, who pressed the emperor tohold the line against the Jin 金 at the Huai river. During the Anti-Japanese War,Shouchun’s history–particularly the Fei River Battle–was appealed to by patriots.