The South Great Wall, built in the 33rd year of Jiajing in the Ming Dynasty (1554 AD), is part of the Great Wall of the Ming Dynasty. It is generally located in Fenghuang County, Hunan Province. It starts from Tingziguan at the junction of Tongren in the south and ends at the Magpie Camp in Jishou in the north, with a total length of about 190 kilometers. The Southern Great Wall was built by the rulers of the Ming Dynasty to isolate the southern ethnic minorities, suppress resistance and seek stability in the Miao area. Along the way, there are multiple outposts, forts, blockhouses, and gates built for garrison and defense purposes.
Most of the walls of the Southern Great Wall have been destroyed today, with ruins scattered on the sparsely populated Xiangxi Ridge. The city walls along the highway are constantly being demolished and built by locals. Today, only intermittent city walls and some well preserved castles can be seen. In 2001, the government funded the restoration of the 1.78 kilometer Great Wall, followed by the construction of the east and west gates and the renovation of the surrounding city wall for 4.5 kilometers. The main tourist attraction in the scenic area is the part repaired by the government.
When visiting the Southern Great Wall, you are recommended not to compare it with the Northern Great Wall. Although it is not as magnificent as the Northern Great Wall and has a much smaller scale, it is still not inferior and has unique southern scenery and ethnic customs in western Hunan.
Travel Tips
Address: Fenghuang County, Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture
Tel: 0743-3502059
Opening Hours: 8:00-17:30
Entrance Fee: CNY 50
