Shuimei Fortress

Shuimei Fortress

Shuimei Fortress

Shuimei (Shuimei) Fortress in Sha County is the largest existing earth fortress complex in the county. It is located in the “Lingmei Qian” basin of Shuimei Village, about 7.5 kilometers west of downtown Sha County.

There are three earth fortresses in Shuimei: Jingde Hall, Shenxiu Hall, and Zhimei Hall. Among them, the largest is Shenxiu Hall, covering an area of approximately 6,000 square meters. It was built during the Daoguang era of the Qing Dynasty and completed in the first year of the Tongzhi reign (1862), taking 13 years to construct. The floor plan of Shenxiu Hall is rectangular in the front and circular at the back. The outer walls consist of two levels: the lower part is built with granite stone foundations about 350 centimeters thick, while the upper part is earthen walls about 80 centimeters thick. Gun ports are installed all around, and corner towers are built at each of the four cardinal directions—east, south, west, and north. A large gate is situated on the southern side of the fortress, adorned with a stone plaque inscribed with the characters “奠厥攸居” (meaning “to establish one’s rightful dwelling,” from the Book of Documents, Pan Geng), symbolizing the establishment of a proper residence. There are also side gates on the east and west sides, each with inscribed stone plaques. Inside the fortress, there are three courtyards of wooden structure grand houses. The terraces are edged and stepped with granite stones, filled with rammed earth. The column bases and main beams are exquisitely carved, with a total of 99 halls and living rooms. There is one well inside the fortress, allowing occupants to stay inside for months when food supplies are sufficient. Notably, Shenxiu Hall was constructed by descendants of the Zhang family from Lingmei, Anxi County, who had migrated to Sha County, following architectural designs provided by the official design bureau in Fuzhou. It was designated as a fourth batch county-level cultural heritage protection unit of Sha County in 2005.

The Shuimei earth fortresses are surrounded by green mountains and open fields. Upon entering the village, the three fortresses come clearly into view.