An unusual cluster of ancient castles was discovered recently in the Qinhe River Valley in Jincheng City, East China'sShanxi Province, unveiling various building complexes that harmoniously combine Chinese and Western architectural styles and soldiers' hideout cells joined by rarely seen corridor-like paths.

Reputed as the "First Ancient Castle Cluster in North China", the structures were erected during the turbulent times of the late Ming (1368-1644) and early Qing (1644-1911) periods, the oldest dating back almost 400 years. The castles all have precise defensive systems, usually divided into three defense lines: villages, city gate towers and forts. Four high towers were erected on the four corners of the city wall with small windows in the back wall controlling the four corners. The fort is usually six stories high and one meter thick, with grain-processing equipment like grinders, millstones, wells and barns inside, as well as defensive facilities like stones, embrasures, tunnels andgunpowder.

Heshan Tower - a "double-city" castle with 9 gates and 9 passes

Known as "the double-city ancient castle", it was built in a typical castle style comprising an inner and outer city, constructed in the Ming and Qing dynasties respectively. Fortified by nine gates and nine passes, the castle is an impregnable fortress. Made of black bricks, Heshan Tower is about 100 meters high and can accommodate several hundred people. Inside the tower are wells, stone grinders, millstones and zigzagging secret pathways leading directly to the outside of the castle. With its abundant storage and complete facilities, the castle would not suffer from food shortages, even during times of war.

There are also 125 connected soldiers' hideout cells for concealing weapons - an ingenious structural element for ultimate protection against the enemy.