Ruins of the Ancient Fortress of Yaksa

Ruins of the Ancient Fortress of Yaksa

The Ruins of the Ancient Fortress of Yaksa is a cultural tourism attraction.

Gucheng Island is located in the Heilongjiang River, 4 kilometers north of Xing’an Town, Mohe County. It is the second largest island in the Heilongjiang River, situated just 50 meters from the Chinese shore and 350 meters from the Russian shore. Across the river lies the city of Yaksa, which today is known as Albazino in Russia. During the Yaksa Battle, Qing troops built an earthen fort, set up military camps, and established a command post on the island, making it a bridgehead for the Qing campaign to recapture Yaksa. The site gets its current name from the earthen fort that was constructed there.

In September 1650, when the Qing troops entered the Central Plains, Tsarist Russia took the opportunity to invade China’s Heilongjiang region, forcibly occupying Nerchinsk and Yaksa. The Daur people living in the Yaksa settlement chose death over submission, resisting the enemy with spears and javelins. The Russian forces massacred the settlement—661 Daur were killed, 360 were taken captive, and only 15 survived. The Russians entrenched themselves in Yaksa, building a fortress and engaging in widespread burning, killing, and looting. The Chinese people in the Heilongjiang region referred to the Russian invaders as “Luocha,” meaning “demons.”

The Qing government repeatedly demanded that the Russian invaders withdraw from China, but the Russian government ignored these demands and continued to reinforce Yaksa with more troops, intensifying its military expansion. To defend the sacred territory of the nation, Emperor Kangxi, after suppressing the “Rebellion of the Three Feudatories,” inspected the northeastern defenses in the spring of 1682. He ordered Ming’ai, an official from the Lifan Yuan (Court of Colonial Affairs), to establish postal relay stations between Mergen (Nenjiang) and Yaksa, with 25 stations reaching what is now Xing’an Town. In February 1685, Emperor Kangxi commanded General Peng Chun and Vice General Lang Tan to lead a force equipped with red-barreled cannons and hundreds of shield-bearing soldiers to rush to Aihui and join forces with the Heilongjiang General, Sabsu. Then, 3,000 Qing troops advanced by both land and water, directly reaching Yaksa City, setting up their command post on Gucheng Island. On June 23, Peng Chun delivered a surrender letter written in Manchu, Russian, and Polish to prisoners of war, who were sent into Yaksa City. The Russian invaders, confident in their strong fortifications, ignored Peng Chun’s warning. On June 25, Peng Chun ordered an artillery attack on Yaksa. With deafening cannon fire and blazing flames, the Russian forces, under immense pressure, retreated into the city and were pinned down in a defensive struggle. At the same time, shield-bearing troops on warships densely patrolled the river, bravely fighting against both the upstream reinforcements and fleeing Russian invaders, turning the river red with blood. After intense battle, the Russian invaders suffered heavy casualties and had no choice but to send envoys to the Qing camp to beg for surrender. Tolbuzin led over 600 men back to Nerchinsk. The Qing army reclaimed Yaksa, burned down the fortress, and then withdrew to Aihui and other areas.

In August 1685, upon learning that the Qing troops had withdrawn, Tolbuzin returned with a relief force and reoccupied Yaksa. He rebuilt artillery emplacements, armories, and defensive structures, aiming to maintain a long-term hold on Yaksa City. In February 1686, Sabsu prepared to drive out the invaders once again. On Gucheng Island, he “dug long trenches and erected earthen ramparts” to besiege the enemy. In July, Sabsu led a large army to Yaksa City and began bombarding the enemy camps inside the city with heavy artillery, initiating the assault on the city. Tolbuzin was killed by a cannon shot. The Qing troops then dug trenches around the city to besiege it further, cutting off its water supply. The Russian forces, trapped in the isolated city, were exhausted and lost their combat capability. Out of an 800-strong garrison, only 66 remained, and they had no choice but to surrender. China achieved a complete victory in the Yaksa self-defense counterattack.

When news of the defeat in the Yaksa Battle reached Moscow, the Russian regent Princess Sophia was forced to send envoys to Beijing to deliver a diplomatic letter to the Qing government, requesting a ceasefire and expressing willingness to resolve the border issues through negotiation and peace talks. In September 1689, representatives from China and Russia negotiated in Nerchinsk and signed the Treaty of Nerchinsk.

On May 28, 1858, Heilongjiang General Yishan and Russian official Muravyov signed the Treaty of Aihui, ceding a vast area of Chinese territory north of the Heilongjiang River and south of the Outer Xing’an Mountains to Russia. From then on, Yaksa was renamed Albazino, setting a criminal precedent for Russia’s further seizure of Chinese territory.

Today, Gucheng Island covers an area of 15 square kilometers. Traces of the ancient fortress and artillery emplacements can still be found on the island. Before 1964, the Emuer Commune was stationed on the island, which later became Gucheng Village. Most of the land has been cultivated for farming. In the spring flood of 1985, an ice jam disaster occurred, prompting villagers to relocate inland. Only a two-story building remains standing in the center of the island, overlooking the lush green fields. The shoreline of the island is lined with trees and shrubs, with ancient trees standing tall and interconnected, resembling vigilant guards. The shimmering river water gently embraces the island as it flows slowly into the distant valley, its roaring sounds echoing like the distant thunder of ancient battlefields.