Zhenchuan Fort

Zhenchuan Fort

Zhenchuan Fort was an important fortress along the Datong section of the Ming Dynasty’s Great Wall. It is located within the territory of Datong City, Shanxi Province, about 2.5 kilometers south of the Zhenchuan Pass section of the Great Wall. According to *San Yun Chou Zu Kao*, it was first built in the 18th year of the Jiajing reign (1539) and later bricked over in the 10th year of the Wanli reign (1582). The fort had a perimeter of “two li and five fen” (approximately 1.25 kilometers) and walls four zhang and one chi (approximately 13.7 meters) high. During the Ming Dynasty, a garrison commander was stationed here to defend a stretch of “twenty li” (approximately 10 kilometers) of the Wall, including twenty-eight border beacon towers and three signal fire towers. At that time, because the terrain along this section of the Wall under the fort’s jurisdiction was flat and lacked natural barriers such as mountains or rivers, it was vulnerable to attacks. During the Jiajing and Longqing reigns, Mongol troops launched two large-scale invasions through this area, breaching the Wall and advancing deep into Ming territory. The Great Wall continues westward from Zhenchuan Pass, crossing the Xisierliang Mountain and reaching Hongci Fort. This section of the Wall was built with rammed earth and is relatively solid. Due to the undulating terrain and well-preserved structure, many parts of the wall still stand over five meters high. It is one of the more prominent sections of the Great Wall under Datong City’s administration.

Location

Xinrong District, Datong City, Shanxi Province