Bajiao City

　　According to relevant records, it was the former site of Baishi County established during the Han Dynasty, as well as a strategic pass along the important route from Hezhou to the southwestern frontier. It served as a key border stronghold during the Han, Qiang, Tang, and Tibetan periods, and was a critical military junction between the Han and various powers such as Tuyuhun, Tubo, Western Xia, and Jushi...

　　Bajiao City is actually a hollow cross-shaped fortress. Because at each corner of the hollow cross there is a bastion, forming eight protruding angles, hence the name "Bajiao" (Eight Angles).

　　The city wall is 2,193 meters long and 11 meters high, covering an inner area of approximately 200,000 square meters. Breaking away from the conventional square or four- and twelve-sided designs, this city has thirty-six wall faces, plus eight bastions, totaling sixty faces that form the city’s perimeter. Outside the walls are auxiliary structures such as moats. There are barbicans to the east and northwest. The northern side of the city has no gate due to the mountainous terrain, while the east and west barbicans contain “S”-shaped passages. An outer rampart was built from the west gate through the south gate to the east gate, and there is also an outer city beyond the south gate.

　　The city wall was constructed by layering earth and sand, reinforced with sticks, willow branches, and Suluguluo, making it extremely sturdy and remarkably well-preserved to this day.

　　The walls are arranged in curves with numerous faces and closely spaced angles, all within the range of bow and arrow fire. There are no dead zones beneath the walls, and the gate passages are extremely narrow, leaving no exploitable weaknesses—making it a fortress that is easy to defend but hard to attack. Its unique architectural style makes it a one-of-a-kind among ancient cities in China.

　　In recent years, a large number of artifacts unearthed here, including Neolithic pottery shards, as well as strip bricks, roof tiles, tubular tiles, and iron coins from the Han, Jin, Tang, Song, and Ming dynasties, fully demonstrate the long and rich history of the site.

　　With its profound history, strategically vital location, and uniquely designed fortifications, Bajiao City has drawn significant attention from historians and archaeologists, and is in urgent need of further exploration and research.