Gonghuacheng, Ancient castle in Shahe, China

Gonghuacheng is an ancient fortification in Shahe that functioned as a checkpoint along a major travel route. The site features walls, gates, and watchtowers arranged in the typical layout of a Chinese border stronghold.

The fortification was built to monitor travelers and protect areas along an ancient trade route. Over centuries, it maintained its role as a crucial passage point.

The name refers to the imperial inspection route that once passed through here. Visitors can still see the old gate structure that controlled how travelers moved through the area.

The site is reachable on foot and the remains are spread across a relatively compact area. It is worth checking access conditions before visiting, as parts of the fortification may have restricted entry.

The south gate, Fujing Men, was the one aligned with the imperial palace inside the walls, not Zhansi Men in the north. Each of the four gates had three arched openings modelled on the Meridian Gate of Beijing, and the two southern and northern gates were fitted with three thousand-catty sluice gates.