Shoukoubao Great Wall

Shoukoubao Great Wall

The Shoukoubao Great Wall is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Shoukoubao Great Wall

Shoukoubao was a fort of the Datong Garrison along the Ming Dynasty Great Wall. It is located in Yanggao County, Shanxi Province. Historical records indicate that it was established in the 25th year of the Jiajing reign (1546) and bricked over in the 6th year of the Longqing reign (1572). The city wall measured “one li and two hundred twenty steps in circumference, and thirty-five chi in height.” There was only one gate on the east side.

During the Ming Dynasty, a defender was stationed here to guard “thirteen li of the wall, twenty-three border beacon towers, and four fire beacon towers.” During the Longqing reign of the Ming, the forces of Altan Khan invaded through this area, once putting all of Datong on high alert. Today, the fortress has been destroyed. The stretch of the Great Wall from Shoukoubao to Zhenhongbao has suffered relatively little human damage, and the terrain has slight undulations.

The Shoukoubao Great Wall was rebuilt during the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty (1522–1566). It is located within Yanggao County and stretches approximately 46 kilometers in total. There are four passes along this section, from east to west: Zhengmenbao, Shoukoubao, Zhenghongbao, and Zhengbianbao. There are a total of 138 watchtowers between the forts, which are cube-shaped. The more intact ones have a base width of 15 meters, a top width of 7 meters, a height of 15 meters, and rammed layers 13–20 centimeters thick.

The most majestic and spectacular stretch lies within Shoukoubao Village. With high mountains and steep slopes, hiking this section of the Great Wall offers a highly challenging experience. The Great Wall here is a provincial-level cultural heritage protection site.

Address: Shoukoubao Village, Yanggao County, Datong City, Shanxi Province