Huangmaoping Watchtower

Huangmaoping Watchtower

Huangmaoping Village is located on a small hill in Shanjian Town, Fenghuang County. The residence of Long Yunfei, the last Miao king in western Hunan, lies near the village. The grey-toned Miao King’s Mansion, built with blue bricks and stones, contrasts interestingly with the yellow earthen-walled residences that make up most of the village homes. As the site of the former Miao King’s Mansion, Huangmaoping Village also held significant military importance. Winding up the mountain slope, the courtyard walls of each household connect to one another, forming intricate, secluded alleys. At the entrance of the village, a fortress gate is strategically positioned along a perilous stretch of road. Both the gate and the defensive walls still retain many watch and shooting holes, reflecting strong defensive features. A watchtower was built at a higher elevation to guard the entire village.

The watchtower in Huangmaoping, also known as a fortress tower or watchtower, was once found in nearly every household. The largest surviving example stands atop a high point in the middle of the village. Built into the mountainside and rising from the corner of a residential building, the square-shaped structure has four levels. The first level is integrated with the house, while the walls of the first to third levels are made of stacked stones, with the fourth level constructed from earthen bricks. The roof features a four-cornered pyramidal design. Small windows are opened on all four sides of the tower for lookout and shooting purposes.

Today, Huangmaoping Village exudes a serene and peaceful atmosphere. The towering watchtower, as a representative of local architecture, has withstood the passage of time and still stands proudly, bearing witness to the dramatic events of the past.