Ruins of Youxian Fort in Chikan

Ruins of Youxian Fort in Chikan

The ruins of Youxian Fort in Chikan are a cultural relic protection unit of Zhejiang Province.

The ruins of Youxian Fort in Chikan are located in the eastern part of Chikan Village, Dandong Subdistrict, Xiangshan County. Established during the Yongle era of the Ming Dynasty, it housed 250 stationed troops and was under the jurisdiction of Jiaoxi. According to the Republican-era *Xiangshan County Annals*, Youxian Fort “had walls 1.8 zhang high, one gate with a tower, and watchtowers at the four corners. In the eighth year of the Zhengtong era, Japanese pirates landed here, prompting the construction of the fort. In the 31st year of the Jiajing era, pirates attacked the fort and took it. Hundred-household Commander Qin Biao and his brother Qi led reinforcements but were both killed. After the pirates retreated, troop commander Liu Enyu reinforced the fortifications.” By the Daoguang era of the Qing Dynasty, the fort gradually fell into disuse. The fortress was built against the mountain and facing the sea, with its northeastern side abutting Dapanshan Mountain and its northwestern side about one kilometer from the sea. The southeastern and northwestern walls of the fortress are each approximately 121 meters long, while the southwestern and northeastern walls are each about 156 meters long. The middle of the southwestern wall has a gate and a barbican, with remnants still visible. The enclosed area inside the fortress covers over 18,000 square meters (about 27 mu), with pathways running horizontally and vertically, paved with cobblestones. Remnants of the barracks walls remain, aligned neatly and still recognizable. To the north lies a well with a diameter of 0.78 meters, currently filled with rubble, 3.1 meters deep, and dry. It is the only relatively intact Ming Dynasty anti-pirate fortress site remaining in the county.

It was designated as a third batch provincial-level cultural relic protection unit in December 1989.

Source: Xiangshan County Cultural Relics Management Office

Dandong Subdistrict: Dandong Subdistrict, full name: Dandong Subdistrict, Xiangshan County, Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province. Located in the central part of Xiangshan County’s urban center, it has historically been the seat of the county committee and government, serving as the county’s hub for economy, culture, education, sports, healthcare, and finance. The subdistrict covers a land area of 38 square kilometers, with 8,397 mu of arable land, 38,400 mu of forested land, and over 3,000 mu of tidal flats. It governs seven communities—Park, Dongjie, Jinqiu, Danfeng, Xinhua, Wenfeng, and Tashan—and 27 villages, with a total of 24,003 households, including 16,348 residential households and 7,655 agricultural households; … More details about Dandong Subdistrict ++