Ao Jiao Fort is a patriotic education base in Huilai County, which historically undertook the defense and military affairs along the Chaozhou coast, serving as a military base constructed to repel foreign invasions. Originally known as Ao Jiao Fort, it is colloquially referred to as ‘Ying Pan’ by the locals. The fort is situated on the northwestern highland by the sea in Ao Jiao Village, twenty miles south of Huilai County.
It is five miles east of Xi Dong Fort and five miles west of Shen Quan Fort. According to historical records, Ao Jiao Fort was built in 1717 during the Qing Dynasty’s Kangxi era to defend against Japanese pirates. Initially, it was equipped with six cannons, seven barracks, one specialized defense commissioner, and eighteen soldiers, belonging to the Nan Ao Zhen Hai Men Fort. The fort faces east towards the vast ocean. The fortifications are intact with shell lime rammed walls, battlements, cannon ports, and pedestrian passages. The east-west length is 22.5 meters, the wall height is 5.8 meters, the thickness is 2 meters (with the west wall being 4.5 meters thick), and the pedestrian path is 1.3 meters wide, covering a total area of 312.83 square meters. An arched gate opens to the south of the fort, with stairs leading up for soldiers to guard. At the southern end of the fort, there is a cannon hole. In 1938, a Japanese warship fired at Ao Jiao Fort from the waters surrounding Shen Quan, hitting the southern end and leaving two holes, one of which still exists. One hole, close to the original fort entrance, was expanded into an arched gate during repairs. The following year, on the ninth day of the fifth lunar month, Japanese forces bombed coastal residences with airplanes. Ao Jiao Fort stands as evidence of Japanese military aggression in China. As the platform for artillery placement in its time, this strategic stronghold, likened to a pillar in the midst of a torrent, is one of the more intact ancient buildings along the coast of Huilai County. Over the years, the once majestic fort has shown signs of decay, but the spacious front courtyard, with its lush trees and green grass, still displays the fort’s grandeur. In October 2012, it was designated as a provincial cultural heritage site by the People’s Government of Guangdong Province. The fort is open to visitors all year round, with full-day access.Ao Jiao Fort
Ao Jiao Fort is a patriotic education base in Huilai County, which historically undertook the defens[...]
