Youxian Fort

Youxian Fort

Youxian Fort is a cultural relic protection unit of Zhejiang Province.

The fort was established during the Yongle era of the Ming Dynasty and garrisoned 250 soldiers under the jurisdiction of Jiaoxi. According to the Republican-era Xiangshan County Annals, “The fort walls stood 1.8 zhang (approximately 6 meters) high, with one gate and a watchtower, and watch booths at each corner. In the eighth year of the Zhengtong era, pirates landed here, prompting the construction of the fort. In the 31st year of the Jiajing era, pirates attacked the fort, which fell. Hundred-household Commander Qin Biao and his brother Qi led a relief force but were both killed in battle. After the pirates withdrew, Commander Liu Enyu reinforced the fortifications.” By the post-Daoguang period of the Qing Dynasty, the fort had gradually fallen into disuse. The fortress is built against a mountain and faces the sea, with its northeast side abutting Dapan Mountain and its northwest side about one kilometer from the shore. The southeastern and northwestern walls of the fortress are each approximately 121 meters long, while the southwestern and northeastern walls are each around 156 meters long. The central section of the southwestern wall features a gate and the remains of a barbican. The inner area of the fortress spans over 18,000 square meters (equivalent to 27 mu), with crisscrossing paths paved in cobblestones. The foundations of barracks walls remain visible in neat rows. To the north lies a well with a diameter of 0.78 meters, currently filled with rubble and reaching a depth of 3.1 meters, though it is now dry. It is the only relatively intact Ming Dynasty anti-pirate fortress site remaining in the county.

Further reading:

· Third Batch of Cultural Relic Protection Units of Zhejiang Province