Fenghuo Tai is a common sight along the coastal regions, but this particular one is highly valued due to its association with the name ‘Yantai’. The founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang, who secured his realm on horseback, placed great emphasis on national defense. He established a network of defense installations across strategic locations throughout the country, including coastal areas that were fortified with a comprehensive system of guards, outposts, camps, and stockades. It was during the Ming Dynasty that a complete and integrated maritime defense structure was formed in China, with naval patrols at sea, an early warning system along the coast, and heavy military garrisons ready for rapid deployment. Fenghuo Tai was an integral part of this early warning system.
As early as the beginning of the Ming Dynasty, a defense office known as Qishan Shouyu Ganhu Suo was set up south of Yantai Mountain. In the 31st year of the Hongwu era (1398), a ‘Fenghuo Yantai’ was established on what is now Yantai Mountain, using wolf dung as fuel. In the event of enemy sightings, smoke was raised during the day and fires at night to signal neighboring towers. Consequently, the beacon tower came to be known as ‘Langyan Tai’, and the mountain on which it was built was called ‘Yantai Mountain’, from which the city derived its name. Fenghuo Tai is open all year round, accessible 24/7, with specific operating conditions subject to daily opening status.Fenghuo Tai – A Historical Beacon Tower in Weihai, Shandong
Fenghuo Tai is a common sight along the coastal regions, but this particular one is highly valued du[...]
