Wunvshan Mountain Fortress

Wunvshan Mountain Fortress

Wunvshan Mountain Fortress is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Wunvshan is located on the right bank of the Hun River, 8 kilometers northeast of Huanren County. The mountain is rectangular in shape, with its main peak rising 821 meters above sea level. It stretches 1,500 meters from north to south and 300 meters from east to west, with cliff faces over 200 meters high. This is the birthplace of the Goguryeo civilization. In 37 BC, the prince of Northern Buyeo — due to a court dispute — arrived here and established the first capital of Goguryeo on the mountain, historically known as Heshenggu City. (Goguryeo was an ethnic minority polity under the governance of northern regional authorities in Chinese history.) In the 22nd year of the Yongle reign during the Ming Dynasty (1424 AD), Li Manzhu, the third leader of the Jianzhou Jurchens, led his army into Liaoning and made this mountain his encampment. As such, Wunvshan is also considered the birthplace and cradle of Manchu civilization.

In recent years, archaeologists have discovered a wealth of ancient relics and artifacts on the mountain. The oldest items found are pottery pieces from the late Neolithic period, dating back more than 4,500 years. This indicates that humans were living on the mountain as early as 4,500 years ago. Other discoveries include stone swords, stone chisels, and pottery jars from the late Warring States period, as well as daily and production tools and weapons from the Liao and Jin dynasties.

Aside from historical ruins, the natural scenery of Wunvshan is also spectacular. From high vantage points, one can see the Yin-Yang Eight Trigrams city layout of Huanren County to the front and, to the rear, the vast Hunlong Lake resembling a giant dragon leaping downward. The mountain’s rugged terrain features many stunning and unique landscapes.

In 1996, Wunvshan Mountain Fortress was designated a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit and was listed as one of China’s Top Ten Archaeological Discoveries in 1999. In 2002, the Wunvshan Scenic Area was rated as a AAAA-level tourist attraction. In 2004, Wunvshan Mountain Fortress was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Further Reading:

· Fourth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units