The Eight Mysterious Stockades of Tonggu

The Danxia landform cluster in Tonggu sits midway between two famous Danxia scenic areas: Longhu Mountain and Guifeng in eastern Jiangxi, and Lang Mountain in Shaoyang, northern Hunan. It boasts unique geological features across the whole of western Jiangxi and eastern Hunan.

The landform stretches along a narrow belt roughly 40 kilometres from northeast Tonggu County seat to Nine-Dragon Lake. The most concentrated scenery lies within the 20-kilometre stretch below Lingyun Mountain northeast of the city. Ancient stockades, Danxia rock formations and boundless bamboo seas blend perfectly with profound history and cultural heritage.

In the second year of the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty (1574), a peasant uprising against imperial tyranny broke out under the leadership of Li Daluan, with Huanggang Mountain as its base. The rebel troops expanded westward to the eastern countryside of Liuyang, and eastward along the Jiuling Mountain Range toward Ningzhou (covering present-day Tonggu and Xiushui), reaching Shimenglou in Wuning and Dahutang in Jing’an. The vanguard even advanced as far as Nanchang Prefecture. The uprising lasted a full decade with a force of 100,000 men, until it was suppressed by Deng Zilong, a renowned Ming general who fought Japanese pirates.

Thanks to its precipitous terrain, the Lingyun Mountain Danxia area became home to the rebels’ eight major stockades. Today these mountain fortresses retain abundant ruins and cliff inscriptions left by historical figures. Such relics are rarely found in other Danxia scenic zones, making Lingyun Mountain distinctive.

A modern expressway now cuts across the Lingyun Mountain Danxia area, putting the red rock landscapes in full view for passing motorists. This little-known unspoiled land is gradually lifting its veil, revealing a wonderland combining ancient stockade ruins and Buddhist meditation retreats.

About one kilometre north of Tonggu County seat stand the ruins of eight military stockades built by Li Daluan’s rebel army in 1574, taking advantage of the rugged Danxia terrain of Lingyun Mountain. Walking among the stockades, you will find mountain passes, hidden bunkers, ancient wells, ramparts, sacrificial altars and stone gateways. Under welcoming pine trees on the cliff tops and amid sunset glow along the rock faces, you can trace a long-buried chapter of history.

One misty early morning, Ming troops who had laid siege to the stockade for days spotted grains falling from the cliff. Looking upward, they saw a goat carrying grain sacks walking along the sheer rock face. Rumour spread among the soldiers that an immortal goat was delivering provisions to the rebels, making the fortress impossible to capture. The imperial army finally retreated, unaware it was merely a trick to lure them away. Hence the name Immortal Goat Stockade.

Located north of Tonggushi Scenic Area, it is the stockade closest to the county town and the top choice for local explorers. The mountain is ringed by sheer cliffs on three sides, with only one gentle slope accessible via a narrow winding stone path. A well-preserved cliff inscription remains on the rock, written by Deng Zilong after he quelled Li Daluan’s uprising and revisited the site: The immortal goat has long gone, no one knows the year; I come again to be the master of this fairyland. I call the immortals to drink while boy sprites sing, Blossoms fill the valleys and fairy birds take wing. My laughter stirs winds all around, Sunset clouds turn into rain over every mound.

At the foot of the cliff lie the Male and Female Yin-Yang Stones, half-hidden among lush greenery. The sight amuses men and brings bashful blushes to women. Embedded on the vertical rock face is the imprint of an immortal’s palm, with clear lines marking every knuckle. Legend says a deity paused here, captivated by the mountain’s beauty, and left this eternal mark.

Outside Yanxia Temple on the main peak of Lingyun Mountain, swirling mist shrouds jagged Danxia peaks, offering a full view of all eight stockades. The fortresses are closely linked yet separated by deep gullies. Less than one kilometre away stands Monkey Bull Stockade, named for its monkey-head-shaped peak surrounded on all sides by precipices. A narrow trail snakes along rock crevices. The ruins of sentry posts line the path amid fragrant orchids, and the wooden fish chime from the temple day and night.

The Yang Family Stockade occupies an extremely dangerous position. The bare vertical cliffs rise dozens of metres high, and attackers could only scale the peak with cloud ladders. The flat narrow fortress was an easily defensible strategic stronghold. It was once garrisoned by Yang Qingshan, deputy general of Li Daluan’s peasant rebel army. Ruined ramparts, ancient wells and broken brick foundations can still be seen clearly today.

Connected to the Yang Family Stockade, they are known collectively as the Mother-and-Son Stockades. Thick ancient vines twist wildly among trees, sprawling across cliff faces and coiling around old trunks until vines and wood become indistinguishable. In April, scarlet Chinese firecracker flowers bloom with five petals. Two fold into wing shapes, while the top two form a pale green circle resembling a bird’s head, looking vivid and graceful. Wandering amid these thousand-year-old vines, watching clusters of blossoms sway gently in valley breezes, visitors feel transported to a fairyland.

Water Pit Stockade sits in a mountain hollow just behind Chinese Honey Locust Stockade. Normally the trail leading to the gate lies submerged beneath a reservoir. Visitors must take a small boat to reach a rocky bank chiselled with shallow steps. The approach is so narrow that a single warrior could hold the pass against thousands.

When the water level drops in dry seasons, cracked mud reveals old field ridges that lie underwater for most of the year. Less than five metres from the stockade gate, a stone cliff bears an inscription: We entered the stockade in the sixth lunar month of the Dingchou year,

and left in the eleventh lunar month.

The population reached 2,500 households. These characters seem to record the bustling crowds that once lived within the fortress.

Less than half a kilometre from Immortal Goat Stockade, a stone path leads up to a mountain pass. Gnarled ancient trees form a natural stone gateway, with ponds and farmhouses just beyond. Many travellers are reminded of Tao Qian’s description of a hidden paradise: A small opening in the mountain, where a faint light could be seen. This is merely the front gate of Chinese Honey Locust Stockade.

From behind the farmhouses, follow the cliff on the right toward the main peak. The path is treeless and extremely narrow. The final stretch is a 20-metre rock ledge less than half a foot wide, with a sheer abyss below and a thousand-metre drop behind, rivalling the peril of Huashan Mountain.

At the summit, when azaleas burst into bloom, clusters of bright red blossoms draw couples to take photos against the open sky, capturing everlasting love amid mountain scenery. The summits of Chinese Honey Locust Stockade and Immortal Goat Stockade stand within earshot, and folk songs float back and forth across the valley on the wind.

Bamboo Basket Stockade stands level with Lingyun Mountain’s main peak, with its stone gate still fairly intact. Less precipitous than the other seven fortresses, it exudes a steady, solid atmosphere. Complete ramparts 2 to 3 metres high stretch for nearly 100 metres along mountain ridges, dotted with watchtowers, hidden sentry posts and artillery emplacements. This was most likely the rebels’ largest and most heavily garrisoned camp.

From the foot of Lingyun Mountain, pass Tianzi Hill and walk below Monkey Bull Stockade and Bamboo Basket Stockade to reach Gambling Table Stockade. Terraced farmlands, mountain ponds, old wells and ruined farmsteads connect all the fortresses. When you reach the shed at the back mountain, you can still spot stone fortifications scattered in the narrow valley. Climb up along water-worn stone paths between two peaks; some rock caves are barely wide enough for one person to squeeze through. Near the summit lies a perfectly preserved hidden bunker. The stone gate frame still stands firm, and most of the ramparts remain intact.

The General’s Stone is an unmissable sight inside the stockade. Standing atop a boulder, you will face a breathtaking view: rolling mountains form a natural basin, while this towering rock rises alone like a giant python, as solid as a divine pillar holding up heaven.

Seen from afar, Screen Stockade looks just like a folding screen, ringed by sheer cliffs. No trace of the original mountain path survives today. An eighty-year-old local woman recounts that there was once a well halfway up the mountain, and flagpole foundations still remain on the peak, long since collapsed. In more than sixty years of marriage here, she has climbed up only once, using a 24-rung long ladder made by mountain villagers.