Jincheng Fortress

　　The Jincheng Fortress Scenic Area is situated within the Shuanggui Tourist Zone, about 2 kilometers from Shuanggui Temple — the ancestral site of Southeastern Buddhist Zen Buddhism. Spanning around 360 acres in total, the area includes an orchard covering 160 acres with a wide variety of fruit trees, including over 9,000 pomelo, navel orange, and citrus trees. The fortress consists of three parts: Jincheng Fortress itself, an ecological forest farm, and the valley to the southeast of the fortress. It was once the central command post of the Ming Dynasty general Yao Yulin. During the transition between the Ming and Qing Dynasties, it served as the political and military center of Liangshan County and was also the site where the eminent monk Poshan preached before the construction of Shuanggui Temple. The fortress features uniquely shaped mountains, dense vegetation, and a flat summit with expansive views. From a distance, a towering peak resembling a stone drum rises majestically from the earth, standing proudly among the surrounding mountains. Surrounded by steep cliffs, it cradles nearly 20 acres of fertile land. There is only one path leading to the top of the fortress, with no alternative routes, and it is fortified with defensive structures such as gates and walls — truly a golden fortress and a hidden paradise. Today, Jincheng Fortress is a flourishing mountain covered with dozens of fruit tree varieties, ablaze with blossoms and rich in fruit scents. Ascending to the top offers a breathtaking panoramic view that evokes the feeling of “being on the highest peak, with all other mountains appearing small,” allowing visitors to take in the full expanse of the surrounding landscapes.

　　The Jincheng Fortress Scenic Area is one of the four major featured areas within the Shuanggui Tourist Zone. A 1:500 topographic map of Jincheng Fortress has been surveyed and compiled by the Urban Planning and Design Office of Liangping County. The detailed construction plan and feasibility study report for the Shuanggui Tourist Zone are being prepared respectively by the Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research under the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chongqing Juzheng Social Affairs Consulting Co., Ltd., with completion expected by the end of July this year. The planning of the Shuanggui Tourist Zone takes into account the historical background and resource advantages of Jincheng Fortress, dividing the scenic area into three main functional zones: the Reception and Service Zone, the Historical Commemoration and Educational Tourism Zone, and the Ecological Sightseeing Tourism Zone. The plan proposes to restore and reconstruct the main gate of Jincheng Fortress, the fortress walls, the Yao Ancestral Hall, the Tomb of Yao Yulin, and the General’s Platform to showcase the relics of ancient battlefields and provide patriotic education. New facilities such as a scenic area entrance and a plaza will be built, along with supporting infrastructure to enhance visitor reception. Leveraging the existing orchards and incorporating terraced landscape design, an ecologically engaging sightseeing area will be developed. The goal is to establish the scenic area as a thematic park brand that showcases the local characteristics of Liangping, the heritage of Shuanggui Temple, and the historical remnants of the resistance against the Qing Dynasty.