The South Great Wall (南方长城), also known as the Miaojiang Border Wall or the Xiangxi Border Wall, is a significant military defense system built during the Ming and Qing Dynasties in southern China. It was constructed to maintain control over the Miao ethnic regions and primarily spans across the Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture in Hunan Province. The wall stretches through counties and cities such as Fenghuang, Jishou, Luxi, Huayuan, Guzhang, and Baojing, with extensions reaching into neighboring areas like Mayang, Songtao, and Tongren.
Today, 88 sections of the South Great Wall remain, covering a total length of 12,944 meters (some sources report 10,043 meters). The structure includes 60 garrison sites, 26 military camps, 20 passes, 335 watchtowers, 19 ancient roads, 9 fortresses, 2 ancient cities, 2 castles, 5 stone tablets, 1 set of inscriptions, 3 dragon kilns, and various other historical relics – amounting to 578 sites in total.
The South Great Wall stands as one of China’s grandest ancient architectural works. It serves as a vivid historical record of the efforts by the Ming and Qing Dynasties to control the Miao ethnic groups in the region. This monumental construction provides valuable insight into the political, economic, military, and cultural dynamics of the time, highlighting the strategies used to conquer and govern minority regions in southern China.
Basic Information
| Estimated Length of Tour | 0.5 – 1 hour |
| Ticket Price | 45 RMB |
| Opening Hours | 9.00 – 17.00 |
| Telephone Number | 0086-0743-3502059 |
Location and Transportation
The South Great Wall is located in Yongxingping Village, Liaojiqiao Town, Fenghuang County, Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Hunan Province.
To get there, you can take a minibus from Tuaqiaolong Bus Station in Fenghuang County, heading towards Ala Town. The journey takes around 20 minutes, and the fare is approximately 10 yuan.
History of South China Wall
The South Great Wall has a rich history rooted in China’s efforts to secure its southwestern borders, particularly the regions inhabited by the Miao ethnic group. The origins of the wall can be traced back to the Ming Dynasty, during a period when the Chinese government sought to exert control over the southwest, alongside the establishment of Yunnan as a province. This effort was part of a larger strategy to maintain order and secure safe passage along the “Road to Yunnan,” which connected the capital to the southwest regions. Stabilizing the Miao territories in this area was crucial to ensuring the road’s safety and functionality, leading to the development of a military defense system.
In 1405, during the third year of Emperor Yongle’s reign in the Ming Dynasty, a military leader named Xie Feng initiated the construction of fortified settlements called “tunbao” in Huguang Province. In 1430, General Xiao Shou built 24 fortresses at Wanxi (present-day Jishou). Later, under the leadership of Zhang Yue in 1541, a more extensive defense system was established around Mount La’er, consisting of 13 military posts. This defense line stretched from west to east and northward, including significant sites such as Qianzhou, Qiantu, Dongkou, and Tongxin. Zhang Yue also constructed a 70-li (approximately 35 kilometers) border wall.
The expansion of the wall continued into the late Ming Dynasty. In 1608, Yuan Yingwen, a military official in the region, added additional defense posts, including major ones like Shenghua and Huanghe. The wall reached its peak during the tenure of Wu Guoshi in 1615, when an additional 110-li (55 kilometers) of border wall, 17 watchtowers, and 33 artillery towers were constructed, supported by over 900 soldiers. His efforts culminated in the compilation of the “Chu Border Defense Map,” which provides a comprehensive view of the defense system and Miao ethnic settlements. The “Zhensuan Camp Map” from this compilation offers the first clear depiction of the border wall extending from Fenghuang in Hunan to Tongren in Guizhou.
In 1616, the defense system was further fortified under Cai Fuyi, who oversaw the integration of earlier fortifications into a more cohesive structure, spanning over 300 li (150 kilometers) from Tingzi Pass to Zhenxi. These fortifications were crucial in containing conflicts between the Han Chinese and the Miao ethnic group during the late Ming Dynasty. However, many of the original earth-built walls were destroyed during widespread unrest at the end of the Ming Dynasty.
Though the early Qing Dynasty saw several attempts to restore the border walls, none were successful until the reign of Emperor Qianlong. In 1795, after the Qianjia Miao uprising, a massive reconstruction project was initiated to resolve land disputes and consolidate Han-Miao relations. By 1801, the border walls were fully restored, many of which still stand today, showcasing the skill of local craftsmen who used limestone slabs and lime mortar to build durable structures.
