Puzhuang Garrison Town

Puzhuang Garrison Town

Puzhuang Garrison Town is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Introduction:

Situated at the border of Zhejiang and Fujian in Pucheng Township, Cangnan County, it is a famous ancient coastal defense fortress in China. Since the Tang and Song dynasties, it has been an important military stronghold. In the 17th year of the Hongwu reign of the Ming Dynasty (1384), it was built to defend against Japanese pirates. Originally known as Puzhou Garrison Town, later Zhanshi Garrison (due to its isolated and difficult-to-defend position) was merged into Puzhou Garrison, which was then renamed Puzhuang Garrison, now called Pucheng. In 1996, it was announced by the State Council as a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit, after which a Cultural Relics Protection Management Office was established.

The town is built against the mountain and faces the sea, with a square shape in the south and a rounded arc in the north, forming a layout that symbolizes "the round sky and square earth." The city wall is 2,400 meters in circumference, 3–7 meters high, 6–8 meters wide at the base, and 4–7 meters wide at the top. It is constructed with strip stones and block stones in three layers on both the inner and outer sides, with rammed earth filling the middle. The eastern, southern, and western barbicans are all square-shaped. Except for the destroyed western gate tower, the other two still remain. Outside the city, remnants such as enemy towers, moats, fortresses, and smoke signal mounds can be found. Inside, the streets and alleys remain largely unchanged, featuring over 30 temples including the Temple of the City God and the Mazu Temple, as well as many typical southern Zhejiang courtyard residences and the city’s founding foundation stone. It not only provides tangible historical evidence of the Ming Dynasty's resistance against Japanese pirates but also serves as an important site for patriotic education.

Wenzhou City, Zhejiang Province

Pucheng Township: “Puzhuang Garrison Town” is a well-preserved Ming Dynasty anti-pirate defense system, designated as a National Cultural Relics Protection Unit in 1996. Pucheng was originally a corner of Yanpu Bay, where silt accumulated due to tidal changes, gradually forming a beach overgrown with calamus and reeds. Over 1,500 years ago, early settlers who came to build huts and reclaim land named it “Pumen” (Gate of Calamus) because they wove calamus leaves into doors. To resist pirate invasions, in the 17th year of the Hongwu reign of the Ming Dynasty (1384), Xia Ji, the first garrison commander, oversaw the construction of Pucheng’s city walls at the foot of Longshan Mountain. The project was completed three years later, and the area was then renamed “Pucheng.” In the 8th year of the Zhengtong reign (1443)... More details about Pucheng Township ++

Further Reading:

· Fourth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units