The sixth batch of national key cultural relics protection units
Border Tunnel Site, located in Langfang City, Hebei ProvinceYongqing CountyWithin the territory, Yongqing County is located to the north of the three passes (Yukou Pass, Yijin Pass, Waqiao Pass) in the Song Dynasty, at the forefront of the Song Liao war, and is one of the ancient battlefields of the Song Liao Dynasty[1]。
Border Tunnel Site covers an area of about 1600 square kilometers[2]。In 1988, experts surveyed and judged that the border tunnel site wasNorthern Song DynastyThe ancient underground battle road used to defend the Liao Kingdom during the period was a permanent defense fortification. It had the same war function as the Great Wall on the ground, and was called the "underground Great Wall"[3]。
On May 25, 2006, the border tunnel site was announced by the State Council of the People's Republic of China as the sixth batch of national key cultural relics protection units[4]；In March 2007, it was listed in the Guinness World Record[5]。
Chinese name
Border Tunnel Site
geographical position
Yongqing County, Langfang City, Hebei Province
climatic conditions
Warm temperate continental monsoon climate
Opening Hours
8：00-18：00
Ticket Price
3 yuan/person
area covered
1600 km²
Protection level
The sixth batch of national key cultural relics protection units
In the 1950s, the border tunnel site was found[3]。
At the end of the 1960s, the Cangbing Cave, the authentic site of the border, was discovered[2]。
In 1988, Yongqing County organized the excavation of the border tunnel sites[2]According to the local historical records and folk legends of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, after trial excavation, it is found that the border tunnel site covers an area of 300 square kilometers in Yongqing. It starts from Nanguan, the county seat, and extends southeast and southwest.
In December 1989, experts and scholars from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the National Cultural Relics Appraisal Committee and other research institutes inspected and demonstrated that it was the way of fighting against Liao invasion in the Song and Liao dynasties[6]。
Around 1990, the People's Government of Yongqing County established the "Ancient Warfare Path Development Office" to strengthen the research on ancient warfare paths[5]。
Border Tunnel Site, located in Yongqing County, Hebei Province, is the site of an underground military defense project built in the early Northern Song Dynasty to defend against the southern invasion of the Liao State. It spans five counties (cities), namely Xiongxian County, Bazhou, Wen'an, Yongqing, and Gu'an. It is about 65 kilometers long from east to west, 25 kilometers wide from south to north, with a total length of about 65000 meters and a distribution area of about 1600 square kilometers. There are more than 300 square kilometers in Yongqing County alone[2]It involves 6 towns and 11 villages and streets, with complex structure, long extension and many types. The cave body is made of black bricks with uniform specifications and quality. The cave is different in height, width and direction. The extension is zigzag, turning at right angles, and the direction is uncertain. There are not only wide Tibetan soldier caves, but also narrow and small military special facilities such as Mystery Cave, Mystery Lane, flap, and eye roll. There are also air holes in the cave,Living facilities such as lampstands, water tanks, earthen beds, and "horse drawing holes" built for troop transportation, "hidden soldier holes" for long-term concealment, and "enemy holes" deep into the front of the enemy's front;It is three-dimensional layout, 1-5m deep underground;Tunnels are surrounded by each other and connected with each other. The small holes that form a whole are also divided into deep, medium and shallow layers[5]。
Five key sites of the border tunnel were excavated, with a total length of 173 meters. The excavated sites are composed of two parts, namely, the Enchanting Cave and the Tibetan Soldier Cave;The design of Ecstasy Cave is complicated. The enemy can't tell the direction after entering it, and will be trapped inside. The entrance is about 4 meters below the ground, and the entrance is only about half a meter high;The main purpose of the Hidden Soldier Cave is to hide troops and store food. The cave can hold 100-200 people. The height of the cave is less than 1.3 meters, and the width is only one person. Adults must bend down to enter. Every few meters, there are shallow arched holes dug on the wall of the cave. You must turn around here, or you can only walk backward[2]；There are candlesticks, water tanks and other items found, as well as military facilities such as sandwich walls, bunkers and gates[2]。
Research value
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The border tunnel sites are mostly used to attack cities, which is a lasting defense fortification. In the hundreds of years of Song Liao war, the Liao army has not found this tunnel. As a secret project of the state, there is no record in the history books. So the discovery and excavation of the border tunnel sites fill the gap in the history books, and it is a major discovery in the military history of China,It also provides new topics and materials for multi-disciplinary research such as ancient architecture[3]。
protective measures
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protective measures
On July 15, 1993, the border tunnel site was announced by the People's Government of Hebei Province as the third batch of key cultural relics protection units in Hebei Province, named as the Song Liao border tunnel[7]。
On May 25, 2006, the border tunnel site was announced by the State Council of the People's Republic of China as the sixth batch of national key cultural relics protection units[4]。
In 2006, the government of Yongqing County invested 200000 yuan in the protection of authentic sites at the border.Yongqing County will focus on the development of the border tunnel sites and make an overall development and construction plan for them[2]。
Historical culture
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Five kilometers north from Yongqing County is the ancient battlefield where the Northern Song Dynasty and the Liao Dynasty confronted each other more than 1000 years ago.In the summer of 1948, when there was a flood in Yongqing, villagers of Wawu Xinzhuang Village were surprised to find a huge hole in the northwest corner of the village. It is said that the place where the hole was found was once the residence of Liu Jian at the Yellow River Daotai. It is said that 18 silver ingots were buried underground[5]。
It is said that in the late Qing Dynasty, in Caijiaying, more than five miles southwest of the county seat, a family found a hole in the field to hide from the war, dug along the hole, found a tunnel, and found a Ming Dynasty porcelain plate in the tunnel.During the Anti Japanese War, people in Yongqing County, in order to avoid Japanese raids, dug up Tibetan cellars one after another, and also found ancient battle routes[2]。
Tourism information
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admission ticket
The entrance ticket for the authentic site at the border is 3 yuan/person.
Opening Hours
The opening time of the border tunnel site is 8:00-18:00.
transport line
There are many shuttle buses from Langfang Long distance Passenger Station to Yongqing, one at 10:35, 11:50, 15:30, 15:40, 16:30 and 17:00 respectively.
