Diaoyu Fortress
钓鱼城
A mountain fortress where Southern Song soldiers and civilians held out against the Mongols for 36 years. Mongke Khan died here, which is why it is called “where God broke the whip.”
Diaoyu Fortress sits on Diaoyu Mountain at the confluence of the Jialing, Qu, and Fu rivers in Hechuan District. In the Southern Song dynasty, the walls were built along the mountain. From 1243 to 1279, soldiers and civilians held out here for 36 years. In 1259, during the siege, the Mongol Great Khan Mongke died, which changed the course of the Mongol campaigns in the West. For this reason, the site is called “where God broke the whip.” The surviving city walls, gates, Huguo Temple, Diaoyu Terrace, the Suspended Reclining Buddha, and cliff carvings are on the World Heritage tentative list. Admission costs tens of yuan (check on site), and a visit takes about 3 hours. It is about 80 km from the city center. You can drive, or take a high-speed train to Hechuan and transfer. It can be combined with Laitan Ancient Town on the same day.
Opening hours
About 08:30–17:30
Nearby sights
- North Hot Spring, Beibei
- Mount Jinyun
- Jingangbei Ancient Village
- Chongqing Natural History Museum
- Laitan Ancient Town
- Anju Ancient Town, Tongliang
- Jindao Gorge
- Pianyan Ancient Town