Huangjin Army Stronghold

Huangjin Army Stronghold

The Huangjin Army Stronghold is located in the middle section of Lingxiao Mountain at an altitude of 1,062 meters, 35 kilometers from downtown Xingtai, with a total visitable area of 24 square kilometers. The natural scenery here is spectacular—especially in October during golden autumn when eagles soar above the cliffs, wild chrysanthemums bloom in vibrant colors, and lush pines and cypresses set off the fiery red leaves that dye the forests, even surpassing the renowned red leaves of Fragrant Hills.

During the late Eastern Han Dynasty, Zhang Jiao, the leader of the Huangjin Army, established this mountain stronghold here to gather heroes from all directions. Today, the mountain still retains many relics from the Han Dynasty, such as the ancient military command platform and water prison. The rolling dragon jade pillars in the Lingxiao Hall are inscribed with the words “The Seat of the Great Sage and Virtuous Teacher in the Midst of the Cliff,” where “Great Sage and Virtuous Teacher” refers to Zhang Jiao’s Taoist title. It is now a key cultural relic protection unit of Hebei Province.

The Huangjin Army Stronghold is the birthplace of the Taiping Dao (Way of Great Peace) and the headquarters of the Huangjin Army Uprising. In the late Eastern Han Dynasty, Zhang Jiao, a native of Julu in Xingtai, founded the “Taiping Dao” on Lingxiao Mountain. He gathered heroes from all over, recruited common people, and punished corrupt officials, dealing a heavy blow to the decaying ruling class of the Eastern Han Dynasty. The mountain still preserves historical remnants from the Huangjin Army, including the military command platform, training grounds, stone steps, fortress gates, fortress walls, water prison, camp sites, tunnels, civilian shelters, and the Octagonal Pavilion. The “water prison,” in particular, remains well-preserved and was the place where Zhang Jiao punished corrupt officials and oppressive local elites.

Transportation Guide

Scenic Area Address: Middle Section of Lingxiao Mountain, North of Sigou Village, Xingtai County, Hebei Province

By Bus: Take a bus from Xingxi Bus Station bound for Beixiaozhuang, then transfer to a minibus to Sigou to reach the scenic area.

By Car: Take the Jing-Shen Expressway and exit at the Xingtai North Toll Gate. Head west along Yingbin Avenue to Xingxi Highway, then drive to Tianzhuang and exit the highway. Continue straight to Sigou Village.