Nan'ao enjoys a strategically vital geographical position, serving as the key gateway linking Zhangzhou and Chaoshan and the southeastern coastal portal of China. To fend off Japanese pirate raids and suppress coastal bandit plunder, the Ming government specially established the "Min-Yue Nan'ao Garrison" in 1575. A "garrison" referred to a military organizational unit in the Ming and Qing dynasties. The Nan'ao General was a civil and military official of the Second Rank, tasked with military affairs covering sea areas along the border between Fujian and Guangdong provinces.

After Emperor Kangxi reclaimed Taiwan, successive Nan'ao Generals took turns in detachments to garrison Taiwan, Penghu and Tamsui on a three-year rotation system, a practice that lasted for more than 200 years. Throughout the Ming and Qing dynasties, a total of 177 terms of office were served here by 167 Generals and Deputy Generals.

The full official name of the Nan'ao General’s Mansion is the "Min-Yue Nan'ao Supreme Garrison Headquarters". It is the only island-based general’s mansion nationwide, standing at the exact centre of the former Nan'ao City site in Shen'ao Town. Construction was initiated in the 4th year of the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty (1576) by Yan Jifang, the second Deputy General. By the mid-Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty, the mansion complex was fully completed. Its core structures include the main hall, two side wings, front hall, front courtyard, covered corridors on both sides, the commander’s flag stand, bell and drum towers, as well as the eastern and western ceremonial arch gates.

The mansion bears the footprints of numerous heroic figures. Liu Yongfu, a national hero, twice held the post of Nan'ao General. Koxinga (Zheng Chenggong) used this place as his base to recruit and train troops before eventually recovering Taiwan. Relics such as the "Zheng Chenggong Troop Recruitment Tree" and the "Troop Inspection Stone" are still preserved here as memorials.

In July 2012, relying on the General’s Mansion as its carrier, Nan'ao County drew up plans to build an anti-corruption education base. The base showcases exemplary cases of integrity, modesty, diligence and down-to-earth governance embodied by outstanding former Nan'ao Generals in coastal defence, border pacification, establishing schools to help the public, poverty alleviation and disaster relief. Completed at the end of 2013, it delivers integrity education and governance ethics training to Party members, cadres and the general public. To fully leverage the exemplary value of fine traditional incorruptible culture, the base was designated an "Anti-Corruption Education Base of Guangdong Province" by the Guangdong Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection.

In August 2014, with the approval of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, the "Cross-Strait Exchange Base" was inaugurated at the Nan'ao General’s Mansion. It has built a platform to boost cross-strait exchanges and cooperation and strengthen bonds between compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait