The Ming Great Wall in Qianxi

The Ming Great Wall in Qianxi

The Ming Great Wall in Qianxi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Ming Great Wall is the most spectacular and grandiose ancient military defense project in the region. As you step into Qianxi and approach the majestic and primitive passes of the Wall, you will increasingly sense its vastness and profundity; every brick and stone records the battles of yesterday and the changes of today, showcasing the history and future of our nation.

The Great Wall in Qianxi stretches from Longjing Pass in the west to Caiyazi Pass in the east, spanning over cliffs and deep mountain forests across 87 kilometers, forming a natural barrier amid the vast mountains. This section includes 203 watchtowers and 23 beacon towers. From west to east, there are more than 20 passes such as Longjing Pass, Zuozi’an Pass, Panjiakou, Xifengkou, Tiemen Pass, Youxiangkou, Dongjia Pass, Qingshan Pass, Yumuling Pass, Dalinzhai Pass, Chengziling Pass, and Caiyazi Pass. It has been a strategic military site since ancient times.

The Great Wall in Qianxi was initially built during the Warring States period and repaired by successive dynasties. Most of the well-preserved sections today date back to the Ming Dynasty. Historical records indicate that in the 14th year of the Hongwu reign (1381), Emperor Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang sent General Xu Da to mobilize troops stationed at Yan Mountain Guard to build 32 fortified cities and passes within Yongping Prefecture. Later, between the Zhengtong and Jiajing eras, repairs were made to the collapsed and damaged passes and walls from the Northern Qi Dynasty onward that had lost their defensive functions. By the 30th year of the Jiajing reign (1551), all the passes, fortresses, and border walls in the area had been integrated into a continuous defensive line.

In the second year of the Longqing reign (1568), the famous anti-Japanese general Qi Jiguang, serving as the imperial inspector-general in charge of military training and concurrently as the regional commander of Jizhou, Yongping, and Shanhai, was stationed at Santunying. Upon taking office, he ordered large-scale repairs to the border walls and introduced the design of hollow watchtowers. Previous watchtowers on the Great Wall were solid, making communication between them difficult and preventing the storage of weapons and equipment. Soldiers standing atop them were exposed to enemy arrows with no cover, leading to easy collapse under attack. The redesigned watchtowers, personally planned by Qi Jiguang, ranged in height from 10 to 16 meters and spanned 40 to 60 meters in diameter. Each tower had three levels: the middle level was hollow with arrow slits on all sides; the upper level featured battlements and observation platforms for spotting enemies; the lower level housed cannons for firing at attackers. Depending on the terrain, towers were erected every few dozen to several hundred paces, allowing mutual support. During his 16 years in Jizhou, Qi Jiguang oversaw the construction of 1,017 hollow watchtowers. These structures significantly enhanced defensive capabilities and are considered a great innovation in the architectural history of the Great Wall. Most of the surviving watchtowers in Qianxi were built under Qi Jiguang’s direction.

“The road winds through myriad mountains, opening a path for birds; the city hangs above thousand-fold cliffs, pressing down upon the dragon sands. Cloud shadows drift among the towers in the sky, and midnight winds carry the sounds of drums and horns.” This is the admiration expressed by the Ming Dynasty poet Tao Yunyi for the passes of the Qianxi Great Wall. The rolling mountains, towering peaks, and rugged cliffs in Qianxi have created a Great Wall landscape that embodies both grandeur and peril. Stretching nearly 100 kilometers, the Wall twists and turns, soaring atop peaks, climbing up mountain slopes, or leaping across deep valleys—like a bold and untamed dragon—fully displaying the ingenuity, uniqueness, and brilliance of ancient Chinese architecture.

“The glint of blades and clatter of arms have faded; the sounds of war drums and horns have long drifted away.” Strategic passes such as Dongjia Pass, Tiemen Pass, Youxiangkou, and Longjing Pass… though gradually fading into the mists of history, still retain their majestic presence. Visiting these border fortresses, touching the ancient bricks, one can almost hear the cries of those defending their homeland, and feel the heartbeat of the mighty dragon itself…