The Taikou Ancient Fort

　　Situated about 3 kilometers from the Xianzi Pool in Shajian Town, Hua’an County—known as the “Mystery of the Ages” and a “Unique Wonder of the South”—the Taikou Ancient Fort is located on a small hill on the lower reaches of the Taixi Stream, a branch of the northern Jiulong River. Nestled among towering ancient trees, this old military fortress has withstood over six to seven hundred years of wind and rain while retaining its original architectural style, showing no traces of modern construction. This forms a striking contrast with the modern residences that have sprung up at the foot of the mountain in recent years. Not only does it boast beautiful natural scenery, but it also has a long history of establishment and rich cultural heritage. This is the ancient and mystical Taikou Fort.

　　The Taikou Fort was historically known as the “Taoyuan Mouth Ancient Fort,” also called the “Quanbao Tower.” Strolling through the ancient fort, you’ll see many large trees with lush foliage, which envelop the old and mysterious stronghold, adding an air of mystery. At this moment, you might be reminded of the idyllic scenes described in the poetry of Tao Yuanming, as it has witnessed the historical upheavals of six or seven centuries.

　　The magical charm of the ancient fort lies first in its unique geographical location and military architectural style. It is situated on a turtle-shaped hill, surrounded by mountains on three sides and facing a stream on one side. The fort is approximately 84 meters long, 46 meters wide, with a built-up area of over 3,800 square meters. Above the main gate of the fortress is prominently inscribed the words “Quanbao Tower,” while the back gate has no inscription, and the side gate is marked with the four characters “Bai Gu Chao Zong” (meaning “All Grains Pay Tribute to the Ancestor”). Entering through the main gate, you’ll find a cobblestone-paved corridor-style courtyard, commonly known as the “Sky Street,” flanked by two rows of houses on each side. The inner side consists of 20 symmetrical single-story rooms, while the outer side features two-story buildings with 22 rooms on each of the upper and lower levels, creating a well-arranged architectural layout. The perimeter consists of symmetrical two-story buildings, also with 22 rooms on each upper and lower level, encircling the ancient fort. Inside the entire structure, there are “three lanes and four rows of houses,” referred to as the “Earth Lanes.”

　　This architectural structure served as a reference “model” for the later construction of the Er Yi Building in Dadi Village, Xiandu Town. It is said that when the builder of Er Yi Tower, Jiang Shirong, was constructing it, he visited the Qiyun Tower in Daishan Village, Shajian Town, and the Taikou Fort. The entire building resembles a large “seal” placed on a giant turtle, forming a unique “Golden Turtle Back Seal,” symbolizing good fortune, longevity, and peace. This type of military fortress allowed villagers to move freely and respond agilely to enemy attacks, playing a crucial role in security—it was truly a case of “one man guarding the fort, ten thousand unable to breach.”

　　Inside the tower, there are ancient stone windows carved with mythical creatures, old stone mortars, and smoking farmhouse stoves, all exuding a sense of antiquity and vicissitude. The entire structure is surrounded by nearly a thousand towering ancient trees, including camphor, crape myrtle, pine, and banyan, forming a unique windbreak forest. For over a decade, thousands of egrets have made their home here, which has helped the ancient fort stand firm through the passage of time, withstanding various natural disasters over the years. According to local elder Zhuang Ruizhen, during the 1960s, an 8-magnitude typhoon struck, but the ancient fort only lost some roof tiles, with the rest of the structure remaining intact.

　　The unique and beautiful natural environment and architectural style have attracted visitors from Xiamen, Zhangzhou, Quanzhou, and other areas, as well as “Zhuang” clan members from other regions who come here to seek their roots. “Junhe’s ancestor purchased several hundred taels of land at Dongkou Taoyuan in the third year of the Hongwu reign to establish our roots—this is the founding ancestor strictly followed.” “Shouqi, also known as Dejin, moved to Longxi Taikou, becoming our ancestral founder.” According to the genealogy of the Zhuang family from Qingyang, Zhuangmao, second house, fourth generation, Junhe lineage, the ancient fort has a history of over 600 years. It was established by descendants of Zhuang Gongwang, the 13th-generation ancestor and Commander-in-Chief of Huaiyin, Jiangsu, from the late Southern Song Dynasty. After Zhuang Gongwang passed away, nine of his subordinates traveled up the northern Jiulong River and settled here upon being captivated by the geographical environment. They purchased the land for the Taikou Fort with silver.

　　Today, the ancient fort has a total of 216 rooms, inhabited by about 80 households and over 300 people, most of whom are descendants of the Zhuang family. Most of them are engaged in agriculture, some work outside, and others run businesses. Despite dozens of generations having passed, the style of the ancient fort remains unchanged. The surrounding area, especially the hills behind the fort, is lush with vegetation and alive with birdsong. The well-preserved architecture and beautiful environment are thanks to the emphasis and protection by both ancestors and later generations. Two ancient stone windows carved with mythical beasts were once targeted by criminals who attempted to smuggle them out of the fort. The villagers mobilized en masse, searching everywhere, and ultimately recovered them.

　　Since ancient times, the people of the fort have placed great importance on talent. Two flagpoles still stand in the fort. Zhuang Yougong, a descendant of the Taikou lineage who moved to Huizhou, became the top imperial scholar (in the Jiwu Examination) in the fourth year of Emperor Qianlong’s reign during the Qing Dynasty (his brother Zhuang Youxin achieved the Jinshi degree in the seventh year), bringing honor to their clan branch. These details are recorded in the Zhuang family genealogy of the ancient fort. The Zhuang family’s knowledge of and connection to history is attributed to the later generations’ reverence for the family genealogy.

　　“The family genealogy is a record of history, a foundation and historical evidence.”

　　said 82-year-old Zhuang Shuimiao emotionally. In the past, the genealogy was kept by his father, who, being uneducated, didn’t understand its significance and casually placed it on a broken water vat. His more educated son, however, deeply understood its importance. When Zhuang Shuimiao saw it, he was heartbroken and immediately took steps to preserve it properly. During the “Smash the Four Olds, Establish the Four News” campaign, he risked imprisonment by hiding it at his sister-in-law’s house to prevent it from being destroyed. After the Cultural Revolution, he continued to safeguard it diligently. In recent years, because it has been so well preserved, Zhuang descendants from Quanzhou, Xiamen, and other areas have visited specifically to connect with relatives and verify the genealogy.

　　The ancestors of the ancient fort also valued the environment, erecting steles to protect trees. Inside the fort, there is a “Tree Felling Prohibition Stele,” established in the 40th year of the Qianlong reign (October) by four brothers—Zhuang Wu, Zhuang Cai, Zhuang Zhang, and Zhuang Yin. It explicitly required future generations to protect the woods and prohibited tree felling. Later generations adhered to the wishes of their forebears, thus preserving this grove from destruction. Folklore also says that if the trees were all cut down, children would be born “bald,” which further encouraged the villagers to protect them. On one occasion, outsiders came to illegally log trees in this grove, but the villagers discovered them and quickly organized people of all ages to stop the thieves, scaring them away. Since then, few have dared to target this forest, allowing it to grow naturally and continuously, forming a contiguous woodland that became the villagers’ “Longevity Forest.”