Tangkou Ancient Fortress

　　During the Qing Dynasty, the mountainous region of Tangkou was plagued by bandits, making life miserable for the local people. To defend against thieves, the residents pooled funds to build five fortresses along both banks of the Tangkou River: Zhou’an, Yong’an, Tai’an, Ding’an, and Zhen’an. The five fortresses covered a total area of over 30,000 square meters. Today, only Tai’an Fortress remains relatively well-preserved.

　　Tai’an Fortress is located in Hengshan Village, 7.5 kilometers east of Tangkou Port. It is constructed from a composite of lime sand, red clay, and soil. The fortress wall is 4.5 meters high and 1.2 meters thick, with watchtowers built at each of the four corners. The walls are equipped with gun ports, and stone bridges were laid on the ramparts to serve as pedestrian passageways. The fortress has a main gate, above which there is a fire prevention water pool. Originally, the fortress housed facilities such as grain storage, a water well, kitchen, detention cell, and clinic. The main buildings inside the fortress are still relatively well-preserved.