Xiyandun

Xiyandun

Xiyandun is located on Longjing Mountain in Guicheng on the western peninsula. About 200 meters from Guicheng, its main body has a diameter of 7.5 meters and a height of approximately 1 meter, taking the shape of a "U." Together with the auxiliary military facilities at Xugongcheng (situated at the foot of Liyu Mountain in the eastern part of Long’ao), as well as Dongyandun (located on the southeastern foothills of Shanzhuang Village at Houzhai), Shuishangguan (located within the Keng area of Houzhai), and Xiashuiguan (located in the eastern section of Dongkengzi at Houzhai), it was built in the 38th year of the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty (1559) by Xu Chaoyuan, the leader of a maritime armed group who occupied Nan’ao. It served as a coastal observation and alert system. Its function was to detect and promptly report military intelligence, working in coordination with defensive structures such as fortresses and blockhouses to form an integrated defense network. The location of Xiyandun not only controlled the Lai-Chang Strait, the essential maritime passage to the mainland, but also provided a view of Xugongcheng. When the guards spotted enemy activity at sea, they would light the firewood inside the turret, using the thick smoke to send an alarm signal to Xugongcheng. It stands as both a testament to the activities of maritime armed groups during the Ming Dynasty in Nan’ao and as an important military observation and alert facility prior to the establishment of Nan’ao as a town and military post. From Xiyandun, visitors can overlook the outlets of Shantou, Laiwu, and Huanggang, as well as enjoy a panoramic view of the Nan’ao county seat. According to the Qing-era "Nan’ao Zhi" and the 34th-year Republican-era "Nan’ao County Annals."