Pinghai Ancient City, Ancient military fortress in Huidong County, China
Pinghai Ancient City is a fortified complex with four remaining gatehouses and defensive walls situated on the southern Renping Peninsula in Guangdong Province. The layout includes multiple strategically positioned forts that surrounded the settlement to protect its coastal location.
The fortress was founded in 1385 during the Ming Dynasty as a defensive complex protecting China's southern coastal region. Its strategic importance shaped the site's development over subsequent centuries.
Local merchants sell regional products and prepare dishes like Pinghai pancakes in the old streets, reflecting how people use these spaces today.
The site can be explored in roughly two hours, with local food establishments and souvenir shops situated near the historical structures. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended since the cobbled paths and climbs to the walls can be tiring.
The complex demonstrates traditional Chinese military architecture with multiple fortified positions arranged to create layered coastal defenses. This design reveals how Ming-era border settlements were built to maximize protection from multiple angles.
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