Shouning Fort

Shouning Fort

Shouning Fort is a cultural heritage site protected by Yueqing City.

Shouning Fort is located in Yao’ao Village, Hongqiao Town, Yueqing City, and served as an important anti-pirate defense facility for the people of Yueqing during the Ming Dynasty. The Wanli-era "Wenzhou Prefecture Records" state: “Shouning Fort, situated in Yao’ao, was advocated for construction by the local resident Zhu Shouxuan during the Jiajing era to defend against pirates. It spans five hundred zhang in circumference and has five gates.” The five gates were named Yingxi (Welcoming the Dawn), Linqing (Facing the Clear), Zhuijing (Pausing the Scenery), Laizhong (Welcoming the Heavy), and Denglong (Ascending the Dragon). The two surviving gates are Yingxi (East) and Denglong (North): The East Gate is 3 meters wide, 5.5 meters deep, and 2.8 meters high. The stone lintel above the gate prominently features the three characters “Shouning Fort,” while the central stone beam is inscribed with the five regular-script characters “Wen-Tai First Pass” and bears the carving “Built in the 41st Year of the Jiajing Era (1562).” The North Gate is 1.75 meters wide, 5.6 meters deep, and 2.2 meters high. The central stone beam is engraved with “Constructed in the Autumn of the 41st Year of the Great Ming’s Jiajing Era,” while the stone lintel above the gate is inscribed with the four characters “Dragon Mountain Nurtures Excellence.”

Source: Wenzhou Museum

Yao’ao Village: Yao’ao Village was formed by the merger of four former villages — Yao’nan, Yao’bei, Jieyu, and Dongguan. … Yao’ao Village detailed information ++