Hailongtun Military Science Old Castle Scenic Area

Zunyi , China

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Hailongtun Military Science Old Castle Scenic Area in Zunyi, China, is the site of a well-preserved ruined fortress built in 1257 during the Southern Song dynasty. It served as the stronghold of the Bozhou Tusi, a hereditary tribal leader family named the Yangs, who ruled the region until 1600 when the Ming dynasty defeated the Bozhou rebellion and destroyed the castle.

The fortress sits atop Longyan Mountain and covers an area of 1.59 square kilometers, fortified with a nearly six-kilometer-long wall surrounded by cliffs with only one main entrance. Its architecture includes gates flanked by archer’s towers, a deep moat, and multiple passes for defense, reflecting its strategic importance in protecting the southwestern border against Mongol invasions and later regional conflicts.

Today, Hailongtun is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, offering visitors trails, historic ruins, and scenic mountain views while preserving a unique military and cultural legacy of ethnic minority rule in southwestern China.