The Ming Dynasty Ancient City Wall of Guangzhou

The Ming Dynasty Ancient City Wall of Guangzhou

The Ming Dynasty ancient city wall of Guangzhou is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The ancient city wall of Ming Dynasty Guangzhou is located on Yuexiu Mountain in Guangzhou. In the 13th year of the Hongwu reign (1380), Marquis Yongjia Zhu Liangzu unified the three walled cities of Song Dynasty Guangzhou into one and expanded them northward, crossing over to Yuexiu Mountain, historically known as the Old City. According to the Ming Dynasty’s Guangdong General Gazetteer by Huang Zuo, the city walls at that time had a “perimeter of 3,796 zhang and a height of two zhang.” The city included gates, gate towers, watchtowers, and guard posts. “In the 13th year of the Chongzhen reign (1640), the northern part of the city was further expanded, raising the wall height by seven chi, thickening the base, and installing steps every twenty zhang to facilitate access up and down the wall.” The remaining Ming Dynasty city wall on Yuexiu Mountain stretches a total of 1,137 meters. Except for the section near Zhenhai Tower, the rest is no higher than 10 meters, varying in height, and consists of fragmented ruins, with other related structures having completely disappeared. In 1987, a 180-meter section behind Zhenhai Tower, including the eastern and western sides, was restored. In 1989, an additional 20 meters to the east were repaired, bringing the total restored length to 200 meters, now featuring intact crenellations and restored to its former appearance.

Walking westward from behind the Zhongshan Memorial Monument, you can see an approximately 200-meter-long section of ancient city wall winding through and hidden deep within the woods. However, this ancient wall is far longer than just 200 meters—it stretches about 1,100 meters from Xiaobeimen (today’s Xiaobei Garden) in the east to Dabeimen (at the intersection of Jiefang North Road and Panfu Road) in the west, discontinuously crossing Yuexiu Mountain. It is the only remaining section of Ming Dynasty city wall in Guangzhou and also the oldest existing city wall in the city, dating back 600 years.

The history of Guangzhou’s city wall construction dates back very early. A relatively authentic and reliable account begins with the founding of Panyu City by Ren Xiao, the first Commandant of Nanhai after the Qin Dynasty unified the Lingnan region. Later, when Zhao Tuo established the Nanyue Kingdom and dominated the Lingnan area, he expanded Panyu City into a capital. Subsequent dynasties carried out renovations over the years.

The ancient city wall on Yuexiu Mountain was built during the Ming Dynasty. Together with Zhenhai Tower and the Lingnan First Tower in the Five Immortals Temple, it is hailed as one of the “Three Great Historical Sites of Early Ming Dynasty Guangzhou,” and it is also the only remaining section of the ancient city wall in Guangzhou. This ancient wall is divided into three parts: western, central, and eastern. The western section extends from Dabeimen to Zhenhai Tower; the central section encircles the Xiaopanlonggang hill where Zhenhai Tower is located; and the eastern section runs from the Guangzhou Art Museum to Xiaobeimen, totaling over 1,000 meters. The crenellations and watchtowers on the wall have long vanished, but the best-preserved section is near Zhenhai Tower, stretching 200 meters. Looking up from the mountainside, one can still faintly make out the towering battlements and the jagged crenels atop the ancient wall, along with the mottled surfaces inlaid with red sandstone blocks. The ancient wall is covered with lush grass, creating a desolate and solemn atmosphere that evokes a sense of historical reverence among visitors. The Yuexiu Mountain ancient wall stands as the commanding height of Guangzhou’s northern gate and has always been a strategic military location.

According to records, during the Second Opium War, British and French invading forces attacked Guangzhou. They bombarded the city walls with cannons and launched assaults on the northern part of the city under the cover of rifles. The Chinese defenders used the ancient city wall for cover and fought back fiercely with homemade guns, cannons, longbows, and arrows, forcing the invaders to flee in disarray, leaving behind a number of casualties at the foot of the wall. In 1923, Sun Yat-sen served as the Grand Marshal in Guangzhou. In April of the same year, rebel forces led by Gui Army general Shen Hongying staged an uprising in Huaxian (now Huadu), attacking Guangzhou, with their vanguard reaching the northern part of Yuexiu Mountain. Facing the crisis, Sun Yat-sen fearlessly took command from Wulou (Five-Story Tower), directing troops to set up defenses along the ancient city wall. Using a telescope, Sun spotted enemy forces advancing toward the wall and immediately ordered his adjutant Ma Xiang to lead guards in setting up three light machine guns and two heavy machine guns on the battlements to prepare for counterattacks. The soldiers defending Yuexiu Mountain, inspired by Grand Marshal Sun Yat-sen’s personal example and frontline leadership, fought with renewed vigor and bravery under his command, decisively defeating the rebel forces who were routed and forced into retreat. Sun then led his troops in a pursuit that reclaimed areas such as Xinshi and Shijing, dealing a heavy blow to the rebels’ morale. Thus, this section of the ancient city wall also stands as a historical testament to Guangzhou’s status as a heroic city.

Hongqiao Subdistrict: Hongqiao Subdistrict is located in the central-western part of Yuexiu District, with its eastern boundary along Donghaochong, southern edge at Dongfeng Road, western side bordering Xiaobei Road, and northern boundary against Huanshi Road, covering an area of 1.52 square kilometers. Major roads within the subdistrict include Dongfeng Road, Huanshi Road, Xiaobei Road, Yingyuan Road, Yuexiu North Road, and Fajiao Road. The subdistrict administers 11 neighborhood committees: Deyuanli, Dangui Li, Hongqingfang, Yingyuan, Doufuliao, Sanyanjing, Yuexiu Mountain, Tianxiu, Beiyuan, Mazhuang Lane, and Fajiao. It has 17,309 households and a population of 55,261. Institutions in the area include the People’s Government of Guangdong Province, the Guangzhou Municipal Committee of the CPC, the Logistics Department of the Guangzhou Military Region Air Force, the Guangdong Provincial Grain... More detailed information about Hongqiao Subdistrict ++

Further Reading:

· Third Batch of Guangdong Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units

Yuexiu Park

Zhenhai Tower (Guangzhou Museum)

Five Rams Sculpture

Zhongshan Memorial Monument in Guangzhou

Tomb of Wu Tingfang

Yuexiu Mountain Water Tower

Ruins of Sifang Battery

Mausoleum of the Shao Wu Emperor and His Ministers from the Ming Dynasty

Ancient Archway of Chuci Ting