Desheng Fort

Desheng Fort

Desheng Fort

Desheng Fort is an important pass of the Datong Town on the Ming Dynasty’s Great Wall. It is located about 45 kilometers north of Datong City, Shanxi Province. Since ancient times, it has been a major route connecting northern Shanxi with Inner Mongolia, holding significant geographical importance. Today, the national trunk highway that connects Datong in Shanxi to Hohhot in Inner Mongolia passes through this pass. The Desheng Pass was initially built in the early Ming Dynasty, and simultaneously, Desheng Fort was constructed south of the pass. It is located within the territory of Datong City, Shanxi Province. The fort was initially built from earth, but in the second year of the Wanli era (1574), it was reinforced with bricks. The walls surrounded an area of “three li and four fen, three zhang and eight chi high.”

In the 28th year of the Jiajing era (1549), the garrison commander from Hongci Fort was relocated here. Today, most of the brick reinforcements of the fort have been dismantled, but the brick-arched south gate remains preserved. Above the gate tunnel is an exquisitely crafted brick carving pattern. Due to years of neglect, the carved bricks are now shaky. This year, the local government has re-bricked the gate. Outside the gate is embedded a plaque inscribed in intaglio regular script with the two large characters “Baozhang” (Protection), and it is marked with “Established in the Autumn of the Year Bingwu of the Wanli Era.”

Inside the gate, there is also a plaque inscribed in intaglio regular script with the two large characters “Desheng” (Victory). On the east and west walls inside the gate tunnel, there is one stone stele embedded on each side. The stele on the west wall is heavily weathered, and the inscriptions are illegible. The stele on the east wall has clear and intact inscriptions—it is a record stele from August of the 35th year of the Wanli era (1607), documenting the expansion of Desheng Fort.

The massive outer walls of the fortress, the ruined barbican, and the exquisite brick-carved gate evoke a sense of glory and vicissitude. The plaque with the characters “Shuo Zhen” (Shuofang Town) on the central tower is clearly visible, echoing the beacon towers on the distant mountains. It is said that before the Chinese national football team departed for Seoul, lively events were held here, but no news of “victory” came back—seems that “victory” was just the good wish of the common people.

Built in the early Ming Dynasty, Desheng Fort is an important pass of the Outer Great Wall. Here, the Beijing-Baotou Railway intersects with the Great Wall, and it marks the boundary between Shanxi and Inner Mongolia provinces. One kilometer north of Desheng Fort lies the Desheng Pass, an important gateway connecting the areas inside and outside the pass. Together, Desheng Fort, Zhenqiang Fort, Sicheng Fort, and Desheng Moon City form a chain of forts consisting of border wall passes, garrison forts, troop-stationed towns, and frontier horse markets. The four forts are closely spaced and all are rammed-earth structures. Most remaining relics of Desheng Fort are made of rammed earth, giving off a simple and solid feel. Climbing up to the gate tower and looking around, the outlines of the surrounding fort walls are intact, and the walls are well-aligned. Beyond the walls lie vast fields, while inside are clusters of houses. A main street extends northward from the south gate, passing through a square brick-encased platform. Below the platform is a gate tunnel, and above it once stood the Jade Emperor Pavilion. Desheng Fort originally had four pavilions: the South City Pavilion, the Sun Bodhisattva Pavilion, the Jade Emperor Pavilion, and the Shenwu Pavilion. Today, these four pavilions, as well as the barbican and moon city, no longer exist. The Ming Dynasty and the Mongolian Huoba tribe established a trade alliance, developing commercial exchanges and opening a new chapter in ethnic unity. At that time, Desheng Fort was a major trading market. Through this market, goods such as silk, tea, beans, rice, and grain from the Central Plains could be transported to minority regions in Mongolia and the northwest. Meanwhile, livestock such as cattle, sheep, horses, and animal hides from minority regions could be brought into the Central Plains.

Address: Desheng Fort Village, Xinrong District, about 45 kilometers north of Datong City, Shanxi Province

Type: Historical Site / Historic Architecture

Recommended Visiting Time: 2–3 hours

Opening Hours:

Open all day

Ticket Information:

No entrance fee.

Transportation

At the intersection of Xinhua Street and Weidu Avenue, take the (Datong–Desheng Fort) bus, which runs every hour and a half. The fare is 12 yuan, and the ride takes about one hour.