The Great Wall —— Remains of the Yan Great Wall

The Great Wall —— Remains of the Yan Great Wall

The Great Wall —— Remains of the Yan Great Wall are a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Great Wall —— Remains of the Yan Great Wall are located in Shaoguoyingzi Township, Jianping County, Liaoning Province. They are the best-preserved and oldest section of the Great Wall within Liaoning. The wall consists of three types: earthen construction, stone construction, and “natural barriers.” Along the wall, facilities such as watchtowers, barrier sites, and fortress ruins have been preserved. Artifacts unearthed along the site include gray pottery dishes, basins, jars, urns, as well as various types of mat (rope)-patterned roof tiles, animal-patterned eaves tiles, red pottery cauldrons, and Yan knife coins.

The Yan Great Wall was built during the Warring States period by the State of Yan. The wall runs east to west, crossing the Laoha River from Beiliang in Chifeng City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, entering the territory of Jianping County, Liaoning Province. It passes through towns such as Reshui Township, Shaoguoyingzi Township, and Ershijiazi Township before entering the territory of Aohan Banner, Inner Mongolia, and then extends northeastward.

Within Shaoguoyingzi Township, the Yan Great Wall stretches over 10 kilometers. The wall was constructed atop steep and rugged mountain ridges, with its surface built using large stones fitted tightly together. The wall is about 2.5 meters wide on average. This stony rampart winds through undulating ridges and deep valleys, resembling a giant dragon coiled among the towering mountains, forming a natural defensive barrier against invaders. Due to the erosion of time, the remaining sections of the wall now vary in height from 0.3 to 1.4 meters. However, the ruins of the walls, fortresses, and beacon towers can still be clearly identified. The remains of the Warring States Yan Great Wall in Shaoguoyingzi, Jianping County, represent the best-preserved segment of the Yan Great Wall. Built along high ridges and low valleys, the wall was constructed with stone and rammed earth, using locally sourced materials, and winds along the terrain. Historical records indicate that the construction of the Yan Great Wall occurred in the later period of King Zhao of Yan, dating back over 2,300 years.

In June 2001, this section of the Yan Great Wall was designated as part of the fifth group of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units by the State Council.