CHONGQING (CQNEWS) -- Beacon smoke of history would pass through time and space to greet any visitors entering the Diaoyucheng.

Experts say that Diaoyucheng carries the beauty of mountains and rivers during peace time, and carries the power of protection by such magnificent landscapes in war time. Journalists from 100 Integrated Media Reporters across the country arrived in Hechuan on May 24, 2023, climbed onto the Diaoyucheng, and discovered the new vitality generated here.

36 years guarding the city changes world progress

There is a fortress in Chongqing that has changed the world’s progress, and that is Hechuan Diaoyucheng (Diaoyu Fortress).

With Invitational Tournament of Diaoyucheng Mountaineering, Intangible Cultural Heritage Products Collection, and Undergraduate Drama Festival, the whole Hechuan is now immersed in the lively atmosphere of Diaoyucheng Tourism Culture Festival.

On the way touring Diaoyucheng, the reporter saw many tourists who came from far away showed great interest in the legend of guarding the city.

Diaoyucheng is built near the mountain, with towering ancient trees providing massive shade. Although city walls are struggling with scars, the city gate still stands majestically. The most famous gate is the Country Guardian Gate, the largest and most important gate in this Diaoyucheng. It has never been compromised in hundreds of fierce battles.

The Diaoyucheng served as one of the key pillars of the defense system of the Song Dynasty’s Sichuan-Chongqing mountain city in the Song-Yuan (Mongol) War of the 13th century, creating a miracle of defeating Mongolian iron cavalry with mountain city fortifications.

The Battle of Diaoyucheng lasted for 36 years from 1243 AD to 1279 AD, which was a rare example in the history of wars fought by China against the outside enemies where the weak defeated the strong. It was famous worldwide for the historical fact that the Mongol Khanate had to withdraw from the Eurasian battlefield after the death of the Mongol Khan at Diaoyucheng. As a result, Diaoyucheng was praised by Europeans as “Eastern Makka” and “Place Where God Has Whip Broken”.

Ten thousand relics witness wisdom of China

How can the Diaoyucheng, a place in the southwest corner, block Mongolian cavalry for 36 years with its own strength? Various interpretations emerge one after another.

Chongqing Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology has been conducting large-scale archaeological excavations of Diaoyucheng Site since 2004. As the only national archaeological site park in Chongqing, a total of nearly 10,000 cultural relics have been unearthed over the past 20 years of excavation, including Tushan kiln porcelain, cutting tools, coins, grind stones, iron mines, etc., which are diverse and well preserved, and have extremely high historical and cultural value.

Fan’s Weir, the only fully exposed and most completely preserved site of the Song Dynasty government office in China, was recently excavated during the archaeological excavation of Diaoyucheng. As the political and military center of the Diaoyucheng, excavation of Southern Song government office site in Fan’s Weir has extremely high value for studying the history of wars in the world and has been rated as one of the top ten archaeological discoveries in China.

The mouth, bottom, body, and casting traces of the iron mine unearthed from the site are complete and clear. It was cast using the upper and lower standard method, and it was white cast iron with gunpowder inside after preliminary testing, which is a precious symbol of the pioneering stage of firearms and cold weapons combination in the world’s medieval history.

Relevant person in charge of Hechuan District Cultural and Tourism Commission said that, total archaeological excavation area of the Diaoyucheng has reached nearly 40,000 square meters. The spatial pattern and “Jigsaw” of defense system of the Diaoyucheng during the Song and Yuan dynasties are gradually becoming clear. The multiple constructions and interconnected defense facilities of the Diaoyucheng reflect the outstanding military wisdom of ancient China. The defense strategy of relying on mountains and guarding against danger has established its military strategic position in influencing the process of world history.

New opportunities in the application for Intangible Cultural Heritage

The application for Intangible Cultural Heritage in Diaoyucheng has also been paid much attention.

Hechuan initiated the related application for Intangible Cultural Heritage as early as 2008. Diaoyucheng Site was included in the “China World Cultural Heritage Reserve List” in 2012. Nowadays, the application of Diaoyucheng for Intangible Cultural Heritage has encountered a new opportunity.

The National Cultural Heritage Administration officially launched the update of the reserve list on March 31 this year, which is the first comprehensive update since 2012.

Hechuan has recently had in-depth communication with the Chinese Cultural Heritage Research Institute’s application text preparation team, comprehensively sorting out and improving heritage elements, protection status, heritage management, and other aspects, and promoting the inclusion of the Diaoyucheng site in the new reserve list from multiple perspectives.

Diaoyucheng Site has become the second batch of national archaeological site parks, and the application for Intangible Cultural Heritage has been included in the national “14th Five Year Plan” Cultural Relics Protection and Technological Innovation application and cultivation preparation project. Especially this year, the Diaoyucheng National Site Protection and Exhibition Project has successfully entered the top ten key projects of the construction of the Yangtze River National Cultural Park (Chongqing Section), which will greatly promote the application for Intangible Cultural Heritage.

In addition, Hechuan has also accelerated the establishment of a national 5A level scenic spot, invested 180 million yuan in implementation of land acquisition and 5A upgrading project in core area of Diaoyucheng, completed reconstruction of smart scenic spot, tourist center and parking lot, scenic leisure facilities, 3D cinema, hiking trail reconstruction, scenic greening renovation, scenic identification system, tourist toilets and other service function improvement projects of Diaoyucheng, and further improved the tourism quality of the scenic spot.

The Diaoyucheng affecting the world progress should not be forgotten by people. The beauty and mysteries of the Diaoyucheng may only be felt by personally paying a visit. (Translated by Gao Jiao, Fathom Language Limited)