Ancient Battlefield of the Song and Liao Dynasties

Ancient Battlefield of the Song and Liao Dynasties

The Yongqing Ancient Battlefield of the Song and Liao Dynasties Tourist Area is situated in Yongqing County. Historically, Yongqing County lay north of the Three Passes (Yukou Pass, Yijin Pass, and Waqiao Pass) during the Song Dynasty, placing it on the frontline of the Song-Liao conflicts and making it one of the ancient battlegrounds of the two dynasties. Based on this historical significance, the tourist area was developed. It includes a condensed scenic area of the ancient battlefield, a Song-style street themed after the “Along the River During the Qingming Festival” painting, a restored and protected section of underground ancient war tunnels, a summer retreat and vacation zone, as well as a health and fitness center.

Underground Tunnels at the Song-Liao Border in Yongqing County

— the “Underground Great Wall” ancient war tunnels, after multiple inspections by renowned Chinese cultural relics archaeologists and experts in Song history, Liao and Jin history, ethnic history, ancient warfare history, and tourism geology,

on December 22–23, 1989, the “Yongqing Underground Ancient War Tunnels Inspection and Academic Symposium” was held. The conference concluded that the Yongqing underground ancient war tunnels were constructed during the Song and Liao periods as defensive military structures, serving the same strategic function as the Great Wall. The discovery of these massive underground defensive war facilities filled a gap in historical records and represents a significant find in military history—hailed as the “Underground Great Wall, a national treasure.” In 1993, they were designated by the People’s Government of Hebei Province as a “Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit of Hebei Province” and officially named the Song-Liao Border Tunnels.

The underground ancient war tunnels in Yongqing County feature a complex structure, great length, and various types. The tunnel passages are built from blue bricks of uniform size and quality, indicating meticulous planning, unified design, and organized construction. The interior varies in height and width, twists and turns, includes right-angle turns, and has an irregular layout. It includes spacious troop hiding chambers, as well as narrow, disorienting trap tunnels, obstructive passageways, trap doors, and rotating panels—facilities specifically designed for military use. Additionally, the tunnels are equipped with living amenities such as air vents, lamp stands, water storage jars, and earthen kang beds, as well as functional features for troop movement, including “horse-guiding tunnels.” There are also “troop-hiding tunnels” intended for long-term concealment and “scouting tunnels” that extend close to enemy lines. The ancient tunnels in Yongqing County are spread across a wide area, involving six townships and 11 villages or streets, covering approximately 300 square kilometers. Over the years, five key sections have been excavated as trials, uncovering a total tunnel length of 173 meters.

Specific Location: The Yongqing Ancient Battlefield of the Song and Liao Dynasties Tourist Area is located in Yongqing County

Transportation: You can take a special tourist sightseeing bus within the county to reach the site