Hailongtun Castle, Fortress complex in Bozhou District, China
Hailongtun Castle is a fortress complex situated on Longyan Mountain in Guizhou Province, with nearly 6 kilometers of stone walls spreading across the terrain. The site contained residential areas, defensive structures, and mountain passages that were built into the landscape.
The fortress was built in 1257 during the Southern Song dynasty as a stronghold for local rulers. It was destroyed in 1600 when the Ming government moved to consolidate regional control and ended the Tusi system.
The fortress demonstrates the Tusi system, where local indigenous leaders maintained self-governance while providing resources and allegiance to the central Chinese government. This arrangement shaped how people organized their settlements and defenses across the mountain.
The site is reached by taking a bus from Maocaopu station in Zunyi and then a cable car from the visitor center to the mountain base. From there, a steep climb on foot leads up to the ruins on the peak.
The fortress contained nine mountain passes with distinct names, with the eastern Feilong Pass and Feihu Pass marked by special copper and iron gates. These strategic entry points reveal how carefully the defenders planned their fortifications.
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