“Is this real?” I hear you ask. Right here at \u5c94\u9053\u57ce\u5317\u4e00\u9a6c\u9762, we stand before history. Let me tell you a story.
\u5c94\u9053\u57ce began as a humble earth fortress. This was during the early Ming Dynasty. It guarded against Mongol cavalry. Soldiers lit firewood or wolf smoke to signal danger. This early warning system was crucial. Many villages north of the Great Wall have names with “寨”. It means “stockaded village”. These names link back to those early earth forts.
Later the Ming Dynasty grew richer. They connected individual forts. These became stone border walls. The walls stretched over a hundred miles. They followed the mountain’s curves. Border walls, the Great Wall watchtowers and beacons created a defense.
\u5c94\u9053 near Badaling Pass had a fortress. Legend says it dated back to the Han Dynasty. In 1551 the Ming court strengthened border defenses. They rebuilt \u5c94\u9053 fortress. In 1571, they reinforced it again. They encased the walls in brick. This created \u5c94\u9053\u57ce. You can see the different layers. It evolved from an earth fort to a stone structure.
Garrison troops stayed at \u5c94\u9053\u57ce. That is why it was called “兵城” or “soldier city”. A garrison commander oversaw three generals. They commanded 788 soldiers.
\u5c94\u9053\u57ce was once famous. It stood northwest of Beijing. It was known for “\u5c94\u9053 Autumn Wind”. This was one of the Eight Sights of Yanqing. \u5c94\u9053\u57ce was Beijing’s gateway to the desert. It served as a crucial pass and relay station.
Ancient texts state that Badaling was the key to Juyongguan. \u5c94\u9053 was Badaling’s safeguard. The city was a vital military outpost. It protected Juyongguan and Badaling. “Guarding \u5c94\u9053 meant guarding Badaling” people said. “Guarding Badaling meant guarding Juyongguan. Guarding Juyongguan meant guarding Beijing”.
In the late Ming Dynasty Li Zicheng’s rebel army attacked. They failed to capture \u5c94\u9053\u57ce after three days. They bypassed it through Shixiakou Pass. They then seized Juyongguan and Beijing.
Nan Kou Village northwest of Changping was once Nan Kou City. It was a border pass without residents. A narrow gorge stretched from Nan Kou to Badaling Pass. This was called “Guan Gou”. It marked the boundary between mountains. The gorge was perilous. Paths were narrow and impassable for vehicles. It took a day to cross. Nan Kou and \u5c94\u9053\u57ce were vital to strategists. They were hubs for merchants. \u5c94\u9053 was a branch road from the main route. The north end of Guan Gou had three branches. They led to Xuanhua, Yanqing and Yongning.
In 1644 the Qing army entered. The area saw no more war. Soldiers became civilians. They farmed the land. The soldier city became \u5c94\u9053 Village. Today villagers are descendants of soldiers.
\u5c94\u9053\u57ce was a military hub and relay station. It is close to the Great Wall at Badaling. It is built on a mountain slope. It faces southeast. It has an irregular rectangular shape. It measures 449 meters east to west. It measures 185 meters north to south. The city had east and west gates. The north mountain border walls and towers replaced city walls. The south city wall had battlements. The west and east gates bore inscriptions. These read “\u5c94 West Hero Pass” and “\u5c94 East Hero Pass”. Both had inscriptions dating to 1575.
The walls of \u5c94\u9053\u57ce stood 8.5 meters high. They were made of brick stone and mortar. The top had crenellations. Drainage channels faced inward. This prevented enemies from scaling the walls. It also helped with water storage during droughts.
Today the south city wall remains. The embrasures battlements and loopholes are gone. The east and west gates have been rebuilt. Some outer walls, embrasures and loopholes have been restored. The stone paving inside the gate is uneven.
Inside the west gate is a renovated temple. It features a stage. The city once housed inns, relay stations and temples. A mosque also stood here. Some ancient elm trees still stand.
Now you see \u5c94\u9053\u57ce. It guarded Beijing for centuries. Its walls tell tales of soldiers and battles. It is a piece of history. It connects us to the past.