Datong Great Wall at Deshengbu Fortress (Tips, Photos & Map)

Deshengbu Fortress (得胜堡) was one of the 52 fortresses built along the Datong Great Wall in Ming Dynasty ( 1368-1644). Deshengbu, literally “Victory Fort”,  was built 1 km south of the pass connecting Datong and Inner Mongolia, an strategically important garrison town in Ming Dynasty.  Today the major highways linking Datong and Hohhot still run through the pass.

Deshengbu Fort originally was built 1538 during the reign of Jiajing Emperor in Ming Dynasty.  In 1574 the fortress was blanketed with bricks and stones. 18 guide-towers were constructed atop the  surrounding wall with 4 turrets on the four corners of the wall.  In 1607, Deshengbu Fortress was renovated, which was recorded on the stone plaque that can be still seen on the wall inside the south gate.

Like other fortresses, Deshengbu Fortress was one of the military bases along the Wall, where the frontier soldiers stationed defending the Wall against the Mongol nomads. In Ming Dynasty the Mongol warlords often came across the borderland, looting and slaughtering, often forcing the Ming Dynasty Government to open the border market.

So, in addition to the defence garrison town, Deshengbu Fortress also served as a bridge connecting the  cultural  and commercial exchange between Ming and Mongols.  In 1571, a grand ceremony was held in Deshengbu Fortress,   granting Altan Khan the title of Shunyi Wang. Altan Khan was  the ruler of the Tümed Mongols.

Altan Khan led raids into China in 1529, 1530 and 1542 returning with plunder and livestock.  The Chinese emperor was forced to grant special trading rights to Mongols, after signing a peace treaty with him in 1571, allowing it to trade horses for silks. Deshengbu Fortress became an important Horse Market in the later Ming Dynasty.

Virtual Tour of Deshengbu Fortress

Now follow me to have a virtual tour of Deshengbu Fortress.

Deshengbu Fort Location Map

Seeing a signboard pointing to the road  leading to Deshengbu village which is located inside Deshengbu Fortress.

Seeing a signboard pointing to the road leading to Deshengbu villag
Seeing a signboard pointing to the road leading to Deshengbu villag

Soon we come up to the south gate of the fortress.  Almost all the bricks and stones on the wall have been taken away for building houses and you will  see  many stone houses inside the castle.

The massive south gate is a recent restoration with the two broken walls standing south of the gate.  The two broken ramparts are remnants of the inner city of the castle.

The massive south gate is a recent restoratio
The massive south gate is a recent restoratio

The south wall stands firmly though the tamed brick wall looks a bit dilapidated, extending on the two sides and circling the fortress.

The south wall stands firmly.
The south wall stands firmly.

We walk through the archway of the south gate, seeing  the trodden pavement the south-north axis street in the village.

We walk through the archway of the south gate
We walk through the archway of the south gate

On the wall inside the gate, we find a stone plaque carved with the words recording the reconstruction in 1604 during the reign of Wanli Emperor in Ming Dynasty. Ironically  on the stone plaque brushed with the words quoted from Mao Zedong.

Ironically on the stone plaque brushed with the words quoted from Mao Zedong.
Ironically on the stone plaque brushed with the words quoted from Mao Zedong.

For a better view of the whole fortress and the village,we ascend the south gate, having a nice panorama of the whole area. We can see clearly the outline of the dilapidated wall surrounding the castle – Today’s Deshengbu Village. Rows of stone houses perched inside the castle, scrubby and a bit rundown.

On the top of the south gate,  I’m briefed by Mr. Tao on the history of the fortress.

I'm briefed by Mr. Tao on the history of the fortress
I’m briefed by Mr. Tao on the history of the fortress

Standing on the top of South Gate and looking down in the east direction.

Standing on the top of South Gate and looking in the east direction.
Standing on the top of South Gate and looking in the east direction.

On the top of the south gate and looking down at the north along the south-north axis.

n the top of the south gate and looking at the north along the south-north axis
On the top of the south gate and looking at the north along the south-north axis

On the top of the south gate, I’m looking down at the castle in the west direction.

 I'm looking down at the castle in the west direction
I’m looking down at the castle in the west direction

Looking in the south direction,  I see two large remnants of the ramparts that are part of the wall circling the former inner city of the fortress.

two large remnants of the ramparts
two large remnants of the ramparts

We come down from the south gate and walk along the south-north axis street inside the village. We see many walls and houses that are made of stones and bricks that may have been taken from those in the walls surrounding the castle.

Stone walls and houses
Stone walls and houses

At the northern end of the street, we see an unrestored Ming-era gate which used to have  a pavilion enshrining Emperor Jade on its top.

 an unrestored Ming-era gate
an unrestored Ming-era gate

North of the Ming-era gate is the north wall of the castle.

North of the Ming-era gate is the north wall of the castle.
North of the Ming-era gate is the north wall of the castle.

Tip:  Hassle-free Datong Guided Tours

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Further Readings

Datong Great Wall (Tips, Photos & Map)
Datong Great Wall at Deshengbu Fortress
Datong Great Wall at Zhenchuankou
Datong Great Wall at Zhenbianbu Fortress
Datong Great Wall at Shoukoubu Fortress

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