Ming Great Wall in Xinrong District

Ming Great Wall in Xinrong District

The Ming Great Wall in Xinrong District is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Ming Great Wall in Xinrong District

The Ming Great Wall is the remnant of the ancient Great Wall in the Datong section. During the Ming Dynasty, Datong was one of the Nine Strategic Garrisons and held significant military importance.

The Datong-section of the Ming Great Wall was mainly built during the Jiajing era, initiated by the Xuan-Da Regional Commander Weng Wanda. The Datong-section of the Great Wall stretches from Zhenkoutai in the northeast of Tianzhen County to Yajiao Mountain (now Dongshan Village, Qingshuihezi, Inner Mongolia), spanning a total length of 335 kilometers. According to statistics from *San Yun Chou Zu Kao · Datong Zong Zhen Tu Shuo*, the Datong garrison successively constructed the Outer and Inner Walls totaling 516.3 li; 72 major fortresses including the Inner Five Forts, Outer Five Forts, Frontier Five Forts, and the Six Forts of Yungang (20 cities and 52 forts); 776 border watchtowers; and 833 beacon towers.

West of the Juyong Pass, the Ming Great Wall splits into northern and southern lines that converge at Pianguan in Shanxi, known as the Inner and Outer Great Walls. The Outer Great Wall runs northwest from the Juyong Pass through Chicheng, Chongli, Zhangjiakou, Wanquan, and Huai’an before entering Datong City’s Tianzhen, Yanggao, Datong, and Zuoyun districts along the border of Inner Mongolia and Shanxi, extending to Pianguan and Hequ. The Inner Great Wall runs southwest from the Juyong Pass through Hebei’s Yixian, Laiyuan, and Fuping before entering Datong City’s Lingqiu and Hunyuan districts, then passing through Yingxian, Fanshi, and Shenchi to reach Laoying. Based on current measurements, the Outer Great Wall enters Tianzhen County from Taogou Village in Huai’an County and Mashikou in Xiyanghe Township via two routes, north and south, intersecting with the western route of the Great Wall at Xinpingyue Village. The Great Wall within Tianzhen spans approximately 105 li, with 61 surviving earthen watchtowers. From Shuimokou in Tianzhen, traveling west for 3 li enters the boundary of Jiushidun Village in Yanggao County, exiting Yanggao at Zhenbian Fort and entering the urban area of Datong. The Great Wall within Yanggao spans over 100 li, with 119 surviving earthen watchtowers. About 8 li west of Zhenbian Fort in Yanggao enters the boundary of Yuandun Village in Datong, passing through Zhenchuan Pass, Hongci Fort, Zhenqiang Fort, then through Juqiangkou, Juqiankou, and Zhuma Pass to Shisanbian, turning south to Zuanlougou and entering the boundary of Zuoyun County. Another route goes west from Hongci Fort through Xinrong and Polu to Wushi’ao, entering the Zuoyun boundary. This section is locally referred to as the “Second Wall.” The northern and southern walls together span 210 li. The Great Wall proceeds south from Zuanlougou in Datong to the territory of Bao’an Fort in Zuoyun County, reaching Ershibian before heading northwest out of Zuoyun into Youyu County. The Great Wall within Zuoyun spans approximately 86 li.

The total length of this section of the Great Wall within Datong City is about 501 li. The Ming Great Wall within Datong City, as well as in Hunyuan and Lingqiu counties, belongs to the Inner Great Wall. In Hunyuan, it spans 160 li, and in Lingqiu, about 190 li. The total length of the Ming Inner and Outer Great Walls within Datong is over 800 li. It is a key cultural relic protection unit of Shanxi Province. The Five Frontier Forts refer to the fortresses built along the Ming Great Wall in Datong. The Five Frontier Forts of the Datong garrison are divided into the Inner Five Forts, Outer Five Forts, and Frontier Five Forts. The commonly referred “Five Frontier Forts” denote the “Inner Five Forts,” namely Zhenbian, Zhenchuan, Hongci, Zhenlu, and Zhenhe Forts, all located north of Datong City. The section of the Inner Five Forts from Zhenbian Fort westward through Sandun and Zhenchuan Pass, crossing Xisiliang Mountain to Hongci Fort, is built from rammed earth, with very solid walls that are relatively well-preserved. The walls stand over 5 meters high and represent a prominent section of the Ming Great Wall within Datong. This area is also close to Yonggu Tomb and Wanniantang, making it an ideal spot for frontier-themed tourism. Ascending Fangshan Mountain, crossing the Great Wall, and climbing fortress towers, one can see a giant dragon soaring through the towering mountains of this ancient frontier city, with inner and outer fortresses and beacon towers in sight — a spectacular display of frontier scenery.

There are two sections of the Great Wall within Xinrong, both serving as vital defensive lines in the northern part of Datong during the Ming Dynasty, with a combined length of 219 li.

The Outer Great Wall spans 153 li, while the Inner Great Wall is 66 li long. Along the wall, there are over 350 beacon towers, 10 frontier defense fortresses, one horse trading fortress (Sicheng Fort), and five passes: Zhenchuan Pass, Desheng Pass, Juqiang Pass, Juqian Pass, and Zhuma Pass.

Along the Inner Great Wall are the famous “Five Frontier Forts”: Zhenbian Fort, Zhenchuan Fort, Hongci Fort, Zhenlu Fort, and Zhenhe Fort. The most distinctive section of the Xinrong Great Wall is the stretch between Desheng Fort and Hongci Fort, renowned as the “Purple Frontier Great Wall.”

Address: Within Xinrong District, Datong City, Shanxi Province