Kuanshi Fort

　　Seven kilometers south of Yudu County lies an extraordinary, perilously beautiful and picturesque place — this is Kuanshi Fort, located at the junction of Gongjiang Town and Lichun Township. Kuanshi Fort includes nearby interconnected forts such as Xianniu Fort, Fengfan Fort, Pingfeng Fort, Sisters Fort, and Xiangxing Fort. Adjacent to Kuanshi Fort are other forts like Liyu Fort, Shixing Fort, Zouma Fort, Fenghuang Fort, Yangzi Fort, Longwei Fort, Kao’yi Fort, and Daomian Fort — altogether constituting Eighteen Forts. Between them lie nine cliff caves: Xianniu Cave, Crescent Cave, Gaoyan Cave, Pingyan Cave, Chuixin Cave, and Maoyan Cave, locally referred to as the “Nine Caves and Eighteen Forts.” The main structure of Kuanshi Fort consists of solid, hard red conglomerate rock, characterized by its “flat tops, steep sides, and gentle bases,” making it a prime example of well-developed Danxia landform.

　　Kuanshi Fort is famed for its precipitous terrain, with “sheer cliffs” being its most defining scenic feature. The six forts interconnected with Kuanshi Fort all feature towering cliffs, striking postures, and exceptional ruggedness. Climbing these cliffs and ascending the forts is a thrilling, heart-pounding experience that offers an unmatched adrenaline rush. To reach the top, one must not only have a strong physique but also excellent mental fortitude and mastery of climbing techniques — lacking any one of these makes reaching the summit nearly impossible. Once you overcome the challenges and stand atop the fort, breathtaking views of both distant mountains and nearby landscapes unfold before your eyes, with the beautiful city of Yudu lying right ahead, filling you with awe and wonder. Precisely because of its ruggedness, Kuanshi Fort has been a strategic military stronghold throughout history. For millennia, during times of conflict in class-based societies, local gentry and residents would take refuge in the forts. Ruins such as fort gates, houses, wells, and ponds can still be found on Kuanshi Fort, Xianniu Fort, and Xiangxing Fort. The main fort, Kuanshi, spans approximately 12,000 square meters at its summit, with over 80 house foundations capable of sheltering more than 1,000 people. Historical records indicate that during the revolutionary war era, when the revolutionary movement was at a low ebb, the Central Red Army and the County Red Guards frequently retreated to Kuanshi Fort to hold their ground, persisting in struggle and preserving revolutionary forces.