The Chu Great Wall in Biyang

The Chu Great Wall in Biyang

The Chu Great Wall in Biyang is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Chu Great Wall in Biyang generally runs from north to south and is located in the eastern section of the entire Chu Great Wall. It is also the earliest-built segment of the wall. The route enters from Fangcheng County and extends through several towns including Huangshankou, Xianghe, Chunshui, Xiabeisi, Fuzhuang, Tongshan, Magutian, and Panggu. The main line stretches 67 kilometers in total, with two branch lines each extending over 30 kilometers. Most of it was built in mountainous areas, using stacked stones for fortification, with numerous fortified settlements (commonly known as strongholds or “zhai”). According to the “E’jun Qi Golden Cart Pass” records and relevant expert research, the Xianghe segment (historically called Xianghe) is believed to have been a passage for the Chu State’s northern advances and eastern exits, identified as the “Fangcheng Pass” among the Nine Strategic Passes of the ancient world. Its significance surpasses that of the Dushukou in Fangcheng, Nanyang, making it the main gateway of the Chu Great Wall.

The Chu Great Wall in Biyang, mostly situated in mountainous regions, has been relatively well-preserved, and its historical importance is also considered high. Historical records state that in 301 BCE, the states of Qin, Qi, Wei, and Han jointly attacked Chu. “Positioned with deceptive formations,” this battle is known as the Battle of Chuishā, during which the Fangcheng Pass (Xianghe Pass) was captured, marking the beginning of Chu’s irreversible decline.

The existing structures mainly include the wall, fortified settlements, beacon towers, and the ruins of Xianghe Pass.

The wall sections between the fortified settlements in the mountains are mostly connected along steep and rugged terrain, with only a few sections linked by faint stone ridges. Scattered strips of stone and rubble can be found along the way, and pottery fragments with rope patterns have been unearthed multiple times. There are numerous fortified settlements, many of which are well-preserved. Currently, there are dozens of such sites, most of which were built around mountaintops. Larger ones include Luohanshan, Lijiazhai, Laozhai, Guangshinao, Laojunmiao, and Yiheli. Along the Great Wall, there are multiple beacon towers—such as one at Fuzhuang and six at Xianghe Pass. Their remaining heights range from 1.5 to 9 meters, with intervals typically between 500 to 1,000 meters. At the Xianghe Pass ruins, a large number of Han Dynasty artifacts have been discovered, including pottery dou vessels from the Warring States period, rope-patterned pottery, cylindrical tiles, and flat tiles. A significant number of Warring States and Han Dynasty tombs and cultural relics have also been found nearby.

The Chu Great Wall Ruins in Biyang County (including Beacon Towers): Dating back to the Warring States period, these are located in Xianghe Township, Chunshui Town, Fuzhuang Township, Xiabeisi Township, Wangdian Township, Tongshan Township, Gaoyi Township, and Magutian Town in Biyang County.

In 2006, the Chu Great Wall in Biyang, as part of the Central Plains Chu Great Wall, was designated by the State Council as part of the sixth batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.