Hailongtun

The Yang family governed the Bozhou territory as tusi, hereditary chieftains appointed by the imperial court, for around seven hundred years, and Hailongtun was their mountain stronghold: a walled site on a ridge with sheer drops on most sides, entered through a series of stone gates set in switchback approaches, the most famous being the Flying Dragon and Iron Pillar gates. In 1600 a Ming army besieged it for months and took it, ending the line. Nothing was rebuilt, so what stands are walls, gates and foundations on the ridge, excavated since 2012 and inscribed by UNESCO in 2015 with the other tusi sites.

What you'll find

• The stone gates - Flying Dragon, Iron Pillar and the switchback approach.
• The ridge walls - the fortress circuit along the cliff edges.
• The palace foundations - excavated platforms on the summit.
• The siege setting - the approach that took a Ming army months.

When to go

March to June and September to November; summers are hot for the climb and winters damp and cold. Mist frequently covers the ridge. Weekdays are very quiet.

Things to know

The site is ruins, not standing buildings, and needs interpretation. The climb from the gate is steep and long. Signage is limited and mostly Chinese. Facilities are minimal.

Nearby

Zunyi lies southeast; Chishui is northwest.

Key facts