Yanzhou Village, Ancient fortified settlement in Dengta, China
Yanzhou Village is an ancient fortified settlement positioned along a ridge near the Taizi River in Liaoning. Stone walls stretch about 1840 meters along this elevated ground and stand between 5 and 8 meters high, with a square tower marking the highest point of the ridge.
The settlement was founded in 403 AD by the Goguryeo people as a border outpost between their kingdom and what would become the Tang dynasty. This location marked a crucial boundary between two major powers of the region and served as a frontier defense for centuries.
The stone walls here show how the Goguryeo people built their defenses, stacking rough-cut blocks without mortar in patterns you can still see today. This construction style tells you something about what mattered to them: strength and durability in a border settlement.
The site sits 20 kilometers east of Liaoyang and 50 kilometers south of Shenyang, reachable by paved roads from neighboring towns. Visits are most rewarding when weather is clear, allowing you to see the stone walls in detail and walk the ridge terrain comfortably.
The western entrance positioned right next to the Taizi River reveals how the builders chose this spot for direct water access and river transport. This choice suggests the settlement relied on the river for supplies and communication as much as for defense.
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