A Majestic Pass—A Military Epic Built of Stone
The architectural marvel of Chongwu Ancient City lies in its perfect fusion of military defense and stone construction art.
The ancient city wall (T-shaped stonework): The Chongwu City Wall is entirely constructed of locally abundant granite blocks, employing a unique T-shaped structure. It is 2567 meters long, with a base approximately 5 meters wide, and the outer and inner walls together reach a height of about 7 meters, making it exceptionally sturdy. The wall originally had 1304 crenellations, equal to the number of soldiers stationed there, with each soldier guarding one crenellation. Having withstood over 600 years of wind and rain, the city wall still stands majestically, serving as invaluable material for the study of Ming Dynasty military engineering.
Water Gate and Barrier: The ancient city had four gates: east, west, south, and north. Except for the south gate, the east, west, and north gates were all fortified with barriers (barbicans), forming a double defense. A water gate was built at the lowest point on the west side facing the harbor. The water gate between the west and south gates, only 2.1 meters high and 1.3 meters wide, is the smallest of the seven existing ancient city gates in China; even two people passing each other must proceed with extreme caution.
Horse Track and Watchtowers: The city wall featured a wide horse track, large enough for several people to walk side-by-side, facilitating rapid troop movements. Five square watchtowers were built on all four sides, each with holes of varying sizes for mounting muskets. The watchtowers could accommodate dozens of people, forming a dense network of fire.
The Vibrant Life of the Ancient City – A Living Ming and Qing Dynasty Neighborhood
Chongwu Ancient City is not an empty city, but the home of over 3,500 residents for generations.
Four Streets and Eighteen Lanes: The ancient city still retains its Ming Dynasty layout of "one city, three mountains, and half a sea; five gates, four streets, and eighteen lanes." Winding bluestone paths connect 78 ancient mansions and nearly 30 temples and monasteries, including 7 county-level cultural relics protection units. Strolling through it, the red brick mansions, carved wooden doors, and swallowtail ridges are arranged in a harmonious and orderly manner, exuding a vibrant Minnan (Southern Fujian) lifestyle.
The Hu Clan Ancestral Hall and Lin Guangji Ancient House: The restored ancient houses retain the traditional Minnan architectural style. Every brick and piece of wood showcases the craftsmanship, providing an excellent window into Chongwu's clan culture and architectural art.
Wusi Palace and Stele Inscriptions: The Wusi Palace outside the north gate of the ancient city is a place of constant incense offerings. The Qing Dynasty stele in front of the palace, "Preface to the Chongjiang Litan," clearly records the tragic deeds of Qian Chu in resisting Japanese pirates. Embedded in the walls of the Guanyin Temple within the city is a Ming Dynasty stele, "Record of the Recapture of Chongwu City by Military Commissioner Wan Yuwu," recording the history of the fall and recapture of Chongwu City during the Jiajing era.
Hui'an Women's Charm—A Flowing Landscape Between Mountains and Sea
Chongwu Ancient City is the core settlement of Hui'an women's culture. The Hui'an women here wear yellow straw hats, floral headscarves, indigo short shirts, and black wide trousers, with silver waist chains slung diagonally across their hips. Their graceful movements are described as "a flowing landscape between mountains and sea."
Hui'an Women's Seaside Leisure Street: A distinctive street opening on May Day 2025, located at the foot of the ancient city. The facades of 28 shops incorporate patterns and colors from Hui'an women's clothing, and the area boasts a full range of amenities including travel photography studios, cultural and creative spaces, and specialty food trucks. Visitors can change into traditional Hui'an women's clothing and take photos as "Hui'an women" for 30 yuan per set.
Hui'an Women's Cultural Park: A national AA-level scenic spot transformed from an abandoned mine by Zeng Meixia, a post-80s generation entrepreneur, it boasts a Hui'an women's model team of over 100 members and receives 200,000 visitors annually.
Hui'an Women's Clothing Modernized: New generation inheritor Zeng Ruting has modernized traditional clothing with contemporary aesthetics, replacing heavy fabrics with silk and brocade. Her Hui'an women's element-themed graduation gowns are sold as far as Paris, France, turning ancient clothing into trendy items.
Photography Tips:
The best panoramic view is from the south gate of the ancient city wall, offering a panoramic view of the East China Sea and the entire ancient city; the Water Gate is suitable for close-up shots of people, with light and shadow through the low archway creating a story-telling effect; the Lanyue Bridge (a stone bridge within the ancient city) is illuminated at night, its reflections creating a picturesque scene with the ancient houses; the Hui'an Women's Seascape Street is perfect for taking photos of Hui'an women in traditional clothing, with vibrant colors and rich backgrounds.
