Can you hear the echoes of cannons? Here at the Chebei Battery, whispers of history linger in the air. The Chebei Battery, originally known as the Da Huangchong Battery, stands on Chebei Island in the Pearl River. Constructed in 1817 during the Qing Dynasty, it served as a crucial defense point for Guangzhou. Its strategic location guarded the entrance to the city from the south, controlling the vital waterway.
The Chebei Battery wasn’t just a simple fort. It was a complex structure, built with thick, sturdy walls of rammed earth. The battery boasted 22 cannon emplacements, each facing southeast, ready to repel any invaders. The base of the battery is approximately 3 meters thick. The walls of the connecting passage are an impressive 2.1 meters thick. The embrasures stand about 1.2 meters high and are 0.9 meters thick. Even the powder magazine, known as the “Yaoju,” was a fortress in itself. Hidden behind a rock on the north side of the island, it measured 5 meters high, 8 meters in diameter, with walls 1.5 meters thick.
The Chebei Battery played a significant role in both the First and Second Opium Wars, bravely resisting British incursions. During the First Opium War, the British seized the battery. It was later rebuilt in 1841. The surrounding defenses were also strengthened. Two additional batteries, Nan Shitou and Dong Wei, were added on the east and west banks. Later, in 1850, the Shayao Battery was constructed near the Chebei Battery.
The Second Opium Wars saw the British once again occupy the Chebei Battery, highlighting its strategic importance. Over the years, the battery underwent several reconstructions and repairs. By 1889, it housed ten modern cannons. Years later, in 1922, the Chebei Battery was involved in a key moment during Sun Yat-sen’s campaign against Chen Jiongming. Sun’s forces, arriving from Whampoa aboard the Yongfeng ship, engaged in a fierce battle with Chen’s troops stationed at the battery. Sun’s forces ultimately prevailed, securing the strategically important position.
Time took its toll. The other batteries in the area fell into disrepair and disappeared. The Chebei Battery itself suffered significant damage, especially to its cannon emplacements. Even the iconic watchtower, known as the Chebei Pagoda or Fengtai Pagoda, was destroyed. Yet, remarkably, much of the Chebei Battery survives. The 40-meter-long protective walls, the cannon platforms, the gun emplacements, and even the base of the powder magazine still stand.
In 1993, recognizing its historical significance, the Guangzhou Municipal Government designated the Chebei Battery as a protected cultural relic. While the island remains closed to the public due to its sensitive location, the Chebei Battery stands as a silent testament to Guangzhou’s resilient history. It awaits a future where it can be fully restored and share its stories with the world. Perhaps one day, it will become a powerful center for patriotic education, ensuring that the echoes of its past continue to resonate.