Hua'ao Barrack Site, Archaeological military site in Xiangshan County, China.
The Hua'ao Barrack Site is an archaeological military location in Xiangshan County with structural remains of buildings spread across multiple excavation areas. The exposed foundations and wall sections reveal the layout and construction of a former military installation.
Zhang Mingzhen and Zhang Huangyan built the barracks from 1646; after Zhang Mingzhen's death, Zhang Huangyan maintained them alone until 1662. He was captured on Hua'ao Island in 1664 and executed that October, after which the barracks were abandoned. The site became a Zhejiang provincial protected unit in 2005 and a national key cultural relic in 2013.
The name Hua'ao comes from the island itself, and Zhang Huangyan left a poem describing the barracks' construction: "Gathering workers with strict discipline, building houses is like commanding troops." Near the northeast and northwest gates of the Zhijishan barracks stand structures said to be an altar and a temple to Lord Pingshui.
The two main barracks lie on Hu'ao Island in Gaotang Township, south of Xiangshan County; Gaotuao Barracks sits on a gravel slope 500 m from the Zhijishan summit, with a road running below its northwest side. Zhijishan Barracks stands 400 m southwest of the main peak, above today's Hua'ao village, and a path from its northwest leads to Gaotuao. The site is a protected area, so check access with the heritage authorities before setting out.
The small Xuan'ao No. 1 barrack, at the head of Xuan'ao bay, is traditionally identified as the spot where Zhang Huangyan was captured in 1664. Facing north and looking out over Xuan'ao and Nantian Bay, it is larger than the other minor barracks and its rooms seem to have had separate functions, possibly the commander's residence.
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