Laoboshan Fort

Laoboshan Fort

Laoboshan Fort is a cultural heritage site protected by Shanghai Municipality.

Laoboshan Fort (also known as Baoshan Fort, Baozhen Fort, or Baoshan Garrison Fort) is located approximately 2 kilometers northeast of Gaoqiao Town in Pudong New Area. In 1397 (the 30th year of the Hongwu reign during the Ming Dynasty), the Qingpu Dry Fort was constructed east of what is now Gaoqiao Town. In 1412 (the 10th year of the Yongle reign), “Baoshan” was built more than ten li to the northeast of the Qingpu Dry Fort. In 1436 (the first year of the Zhengtong reign), the dry fort was reconstructed, and in 1557 (the 36th year of the Jiajing reign), the Wusong Central Thousand-Household Garrison under the Cooperative Defense Command was stationed here. The fort later collapsed. In 1577 (the fifth year of the Wanli reign), a new fort was built at the foot of “Baoshan,” and renamed Baoshan Thousand-Household Garrison. In 1577 (the 10th year of the Wanli reign), tides breached and destroyed the fort, which was eventually entirely submerged by the sea. In 1694 (the 33rd year of the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty), a new fort was rebuilt about three li north of the old one, covering an area of 64 mu, with five city gates. In 1732 (the 10th year of the Yongzheng reign), seawater flooded the area, causing the collapse of the garrison headquarters inside the fort. Today, remnants include the City God Temple and the south gate on the eastern side. After Baoshan County was established in 1694 (the second year of the Yongzheng reign) by separating from Jiading County—with its county seat set at the former Wusong River Thousand-Household Fort west of Wusongkou—what used to be called Baoshan Fort came to be known as “Laoboshan Fort” or alternatively, Jiangdong Baoshan.

According to the inscription on the back of the imperial stele: The Baoshan Beacon Tower Stele (commonly referred to as the Yongle Stele) was erected in 1412 (the 10th year of the Yongle reign during the Ming Dynasty) by Emperor Chengzu of the Ming, Zhu Di. (That makes it 593 years old to date.) Originally, this stele stood four li away from Baoshan (an artificial earthen mound that was later washed away by the river). In 1576, it was moved to “Baoshan Fort” (which was also later washed away by the river), then in 1694, it was relocated to a corner southwest of today’s “Laoboshan Fort.” In 1928, it was moved to Gaoqiao Park (now Gaoqiao Middle School), and in 1984, it was moved to this “Ming Imperial Stele Pavilion.” Located 7.5 kilometers northeast of today’s Gaoqiao Town, in 1412 (the 10th year of the Yongle reign), Chen Biao, Marquis of Pingjiang, built an earthen mound on the southern bank of the Yangtze River estuary. To serve as a “landmark for anchorage,” Emperor Yongle personally composed the text, which was later engraved onto a stone stele. This stele is now housed in the newly built Imperial Stele Pavilion at Gaoqiao Middle School in Chuansha County. The Baoshan Stele, also known as the Ming Yongle “Imperial Stele,” was written in May 1417 (the 15th year of the Yongle reign). In 1605 (the 33rd year of the Wanli reign), the Jiading County Annals • Mountains and Hills recorded: “Four li northwest of Baoshan stands an imperial stele.” This likely refers to the location of the old Baoshan Fort. The Jiangdong Annals noted: “At the left side of the northern end of the East Stone Bridge in Qingpu, south of the mountain.” It also mentioned that “a stele pavilion was built to shelter it.” The Guangxu-era Baoshan County Annals also stated: “The Imperial Stele Pavilion is located north of the East Bridge Street in Qingpu Town.” The East Stone Bridge or East Bridge Street is now the East Bridgehead south of the Baoshan ruins in present-day Gaoqiao Township. After the pavilion was destroyed, the stele was moved again to the campus of Gaoqiao Middle School. On December 23, 1983, with approval from the former Chuansha County Government, this stele was designated as a county-level cultural heritage protection unit.

Despite having been destroyed several times by river floods, the survival of this imperial stele to this day is nothing short of a miracle.

Gaoqiao Town: A town under the jurisdiction of Pudong New Area, Shanghai. During the Song Dynasty, it belonged to Linjiang Township of Kunshan County; during the Yuan and Ming Dynasties, it was part of Yiren Township of Jiading County; in the Qing Dynasty and during the Republican era, it was governed by Baoshan County. Before 1949, it was part of Gaoqiao District in Shanghai. In 1956, it was placed under Dongjiao District; in 1958, under Pudong County; in 1961, it was incorporated into Chuansha County; and in 1993, it became part of Pudong New Area. Gaoqiao Ancient Town got its name in the late Ming and early Qing Dynasties from a bridge within its territory called “Gaoqiao” (High Bridge). It is situated in the northern part of the district, shaped like a “convex lens,” nestled between Waigaoqiao and Donggou Town, with seven detached land parcels. It connects eastward to Yanggao North Road, borders Gaoqiao Port to the south, and lies west of the Huangpu River. The town covers an area of 0.6 square kilometers... More details about Gaoqiao Town ++