The Qumu Hakka Earthen Fortress

The Qumu Hakka Earthen Fortress

The Qumu Hakka Earthen Fortress is a national AAA-level tourist attraction and a cultural relic protection unit of Hepu County.

In Qumu Village, Quzhang Township, Hepu County, Guangxi, there stands an earthen fortress originally built in 1883. Due to its relatively well-preserved condition, it has become a "living fossil" of Hakka culture and architecture, serving as a tourist attraction rich in the cultural heritage of Hakka walled settlements.

Built during the Guangxu era of the Qing Dynasty, the Qumu Hakka Earthen Fortress in Quzhang is the second-largest and most intact preserved earthen fortress in Guangxi. It is a cultural relic protection unit of Hepu County, rich in Hakka cultural elements, and holds significant value for both tourism and development.

The Qumu Hakka Earthen Fortress is located in Qumu Village, the seat of the Quzhang Township government in Hepu County. Nestled against a mountain and facing water, it lies about 500 meters from Liuhu Reservoir. Covering an area of approximately 6,050 square meters, the fortress consists of two parts: the "Old City" and the "New City." All residents within the fortress are surnamed Chen. Currently, the overall structure of the fortress remains largely intact, with most houses still inhabited by villagers.

The earthen fortress is an independent yet open Hakka cultural garden. It houses a life-sustaining old well, the sound of children reciting texts, and the natural sounds of birds chirping, insects buzzing, dogs barking, and cattle lowing — a symphony of rural melodies. Walking through the fortress, one encounters Hakka implements such as winnowing fans, stone rollers (ludong), water pipes, stone mortars, as well as oxcarts, plows, harrows, bamboo baskets hanging from eaves, and wisps of smoke curling from gray-tiled roofs — all evoking a deep sense of nostalgia. Outside the fortress, in the gentle breeze, Hakka men and women toil diligently in the fields, while cowherds riding on oxen sing Hakka nursery rhymes like "Yan ai ai, dan tang ni..." — transporting visitors back to a golden childhood.

Since May 2017, the Hepu County Tourism Bureau and Quzhang Township Government have been working together to develop the Quzhang Hakka Earthen Fortress scenic area. Currently, the Qumu Hakka Earthen Fortress in Hepu County has been officially approved as a national AAA-level tourist attraction. With a growing number of visitors drawn by its reputation, the unique ethnic cultural charm of the Hakka people is now being showcased to the world.

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