Ruins of the Military Watchtower on Niutou Mountain in the Tianmu Mountain Range

Ruins of the Military Watchtower on Niutou Mountain in the Tianmu Mountain Range

The ruins of the military watchtower on Niutou Mountain in the Tianmu Mountain Range is a Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Heritage Protection Unit.

The ruins of the military watchtower on Niutou Mountain in the Tianmu Mountain Range are located on Niutou Mountain in Changlong Village, Tianzihu Town, Anji County, Huzhou City, Zhejiang Province, dating back to the Song Dynasty, and are categorized as an ancient site.

The provincial-level cultural heritage site, the Niutou Mountain Military Ruins in Changlong Village, Anji County, consists of ancient plank roads, stone building foundations, stone watchtower foundations, stone stoves, stone carvings, and other remains. Archaeological investigations suggest that these are remnants of military defense facilities constructed during the Southern Song Dynasty, which played a significant role in the Song Dynasty’s resistance against the invading Jin forces from the north, making it one of the more well-preserved ancient military sites in northern Zhejiang.

Historical records indicate that in the early years of the Southern Song Dynasty, the third southern invasion route of the Jin forces passed through Jiankang — Lishui — Guangde — Anji — Lin’an, making Anji a strategic necessity. As a result, the Song Dynasty established numerous military defense facilities within the Tianmu Mountain Range—both its eastern and western branches—situated at the northwestern gateway of Lin’an (present-day Hangzhou), the Song capital. These included passes, beacon towers, watchtowers, and military camps, and the heroic General Yue Fei was dispatched with his Yue Army to defend this region.

The discovery of surrounding mountain peaks, shelters, and platforms near Niutou Mountain has enriched the cultural significance of the Niutou Mountain Military Ruins, providing valuable reference material for the study of Anji’s history of resisting the Jin invasion during the Southern Song Dynasty.

In January 2011, the ruins of the military watchtower on Niutou Mountain in the Tianmu Mountain Range were designated as a Provincial Cultural Heritage Protection Unit.

Changlong Village: Located in the western part of Tianzihu Town, Changlong Village borders Hengshan Village to the south, Longshan Village of Zhangwu Town to the west, and Yushi Village to the north, enjoying a prime geographical location and convenient transportation. The village covers a total area of 4.96 square kilometers and is a typical plain farmland area, with 2,200 mu of arable land, 1,200 mu of dry land, and 200 mu of fish ponds. Changlong Village administers 11 villager groups, with 550 households and a total population of 1,785 people. It currently has 61 Party members, 5 members of the village’s two committees, and 1 reserve cadre. The village has always adhered to the principle of developing the economy while protecting the environment, having invested over a million yuan in “… Changlong Village detailed information++

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Heritage Protection Units