Site of Zhenbian Fort in Dashi Town

Site of Zhenbian Fort in Dashi Town

The site of Zhenbian Fort in Dashi Town is a cultural relic protection unit of Liaoning Province.

The site of Zhenbian Fort in Dashi Town is located in Dayicun Village, Dashixiang, Dashi Town, Beizhen City, at the junction of Fuxin, Yixian, and Beizhen. It lies 25 kilometers south of Guangning City and is surrounded by mountains on all sides, making it a strategic military location. The fort faces south and features rectangular stone walls, measuring 312 meters from north to south, 215 meters from east to west, with a perimeter of 1,054 meters and an area of 67,000 square meters. The remaining wall height is 3.8 meters, with a base width of 3.3 meters and a top width of 2.7 meters. The wall foundation is clad with a layer of stone on both the inner and outer sides, with rammed earth in between. Each of the four corners of the wall has a square corner tower, and there is a gate in the middle of the southern wall, 5 meters wide. The gate lintel bears the inscription “Zhenbian Fort,” although the gate itself has been destroyed. During the Ming Dynasty, the Guangning Guard was established in the Beizhen region, making Guangning the administrative and military center of western Liaoning and even northeastern China. In the seventh year of the Zhengtong era (1442), Zhenbian Fort was constructed under the direction of the Liaodong regional commander Bi Gong. The fort is situated along the Liaoxi section of the Great Wall, between Zhanyi Fort and Zhenjing Fort. To its northwest lies the Weijialing Pass, and to the west are the remains of the Liaoxi section of the Great Wall in Beizhen. There are also nearby beacon towers. It was built by the Ming court to defend against invasions by ethnic minorities such as the Jurchens and Mongols, and is part of the Liaodong section of the Ming Great Wall. The site provides valuable historical evidence for the study of the route of the Ming-era border walls and military defenses, as well as offering insights into the layout of nearby military facilities and the political and cultural context of the time, making it highly significant for preservation.

At the site of Zhenbian Fort, artifacts such as bronze ritual vessels (zhong), knife coins from the Yan State, and other bronze utensils have been unearthed. The site stands as a testament to the wisdom of ancient laborers and a historical witness to the complex interactions and conflicts between agrarian and nomadic peoples.

Protected area: within the fort, and extending 20 meters east, 15 meters south, 60 meters west, and 20 meters north beyond the outer base of the city walls.

Construction control zone: a secondary control zone extending 50 meters east, 100 meters south, 60 meters west, and 80 meters north beyond the protected area.

Source: Beizhen City Tourism Development Committee

Further reading:

· Sixth Batch of Cultural Relic Protection Units of Liaoning Province