Diaoyu Fortress, Chongqing – Ticket Price, Opening Hours, Location, and Highlights

Diaoyu Platform, located within Diaoyu Fortress, derives its name from a legendary tale of celestial fishing and is situated on a spacious rocky outcrop. This platform retains numerous artificial marks and signs of long-term use, attesting to its historical significance.

According to local folklore, in ancient times when the rivers’ waters, including the Jialing River, Qu River, and Fu River, overflowed and caused widespread flooding, many refugees sought refuge on this mountain. With no food available on the mountain, the starving refugees were on the brink of death. It is said that during this dire situation, a giant descended from the heavens onto the mountain. The giant stood atop a massive rock with an elongated pole, skillfully catching numerous fresh fish from the turbulent river waters to provide sustenance to the famine-stricken people. This miraculous act allowed thousands of lives to be saved.

In gratitude for the giant’s life-saving benevolence, the people named the massive rock on the mountaintop “Diaoyu Platform,” and the mountain itself came to be known as Diaoyu Mountain.

The Navy Dock in Diaoyu Fortress, situated along the banks of the Jialing River at the foot of the front mountain, stands as one of China’s last remaining relics of a Song Dynasty military harbor and river defense fortress. This historical site is of immense significance and provides insight into the military strategies and defenses of that era.

The eastern section of the dock features a natural harbor, designed to accommodate the berthing of naval warships. In contrast, the western section extends towards the riverbank, forming a platform constructed using massive stones. During the 36-year-long defense of Diaoyu Fortress, the defending soldiers and civilians held this Navy Dock, engaging in bloody battles to maintain control over the river and to prevent the formidable Mongol-Yuan forces from advancing downstream along the river.

The Shiguan Gate relics in Diaoyu Fortress are situated on an area of approximately 20 square meters with an elevation of around 209 meters. This gate was strategically constructed at a precipitous and strategic location, with steep cliffs surrounding it, rendering it practically impregnable from the front. Access to this gate was primarily via a wooden walkway or gangway. Shiguan Gate served as the passage for entering and exiting on the western side of the outer south wall of the fortress. It held significant importance for both military defense and daily life within the fortress

Huguo Gate stands as an iconic structure within Diaoyu Fortress, positioned along the second line of defense in the south of the fortress. Among the eight gates of Diaoyu Fortress, Huguo Gate is the largest and most formidable. The gate’s opening measures 3.24 meters in height, 2.45 meters in width, and has a depth of 6.42 meters. During the fortress’s active defense periods, the garrison and civilians ingeniously created a passage leading to Huguo Gate by excavating stone caves into the steep cliffs in front of the gate, setting up beams and wooden planks, essentially creating a gangway. In times of emergency, the wooden planks on the beams could be rapidly removed, effectively sealing off the passageway, similar to the drawbridges found in ancient gates of northern Chinese cities.

Huguo Temple, situated within Diaoyu Fortress, is a notable religious and historical site nestled on the southern slope of the main peak of Diaoyu Mountain, at an elevation ranging from 367 to 386 meters above sea level. This temple complex encompasses an area of approximately 3,500 square meters, and its architectural features are aligned in a north-south orientation. Notably, to the right of the temple lies the ancient relic known as Diaoyu Platform.

Huguo Temple traces its origins back to the Southern Song Dynasty, specifically during the Shaoxing era. Over the centuries, it underwent various renovations and repairs during the Yuan, Ming, and Qing Dynasties. Many of the temple’s existing structures were reconstructed in 1727. Huguo Temple, along with the nearby Diaoyu Platform, bears witness to the rich historical and cultural heritage of Diaoyu Fortress.

Diaoyu Fortress is home to a collection of remarkable Buddha statues, each with its own unique historical and artistic significance.

Tang Dynasty Suspended Reclining Buddha: This exquisite sculpture is known for its unique position as a reclining Buddha carved into the cliffside. The Buddha faces south, with its head to the west and feet to the east. It measures 11 meters in length and has a shoulder width of 2.2 meters.

Thousand-Buddha Cave: The Thousand-Buddha Cave is an awe-inspiring feature of Diaoyu Fortress, housing a grand total of 2,775 Buddha statues. These statues are intricately carved into the rock walls and are organized into rows, with each row containing a varying number of Buddha images. T

Three Saints Cliff: Within a concave niche measuring 4 meters in length and 3 meters in width, the cliff hosts three divine figures. The central figure is Amitabha Buddha, flanked by Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva on the left and Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva on the right.