Shanxi Province Travel Guide

According to a 2009 survey, over 343 kilometers of the Ming-era Great Wall run through Datong. More than 800 related relics still survive—watchtowers, ruins, and old fortresses. Among them, one stood out to me the most: Deshengbu Fortress.

Tucked into the northern edge of Shanxi Province, the Datong Great Wall hides a forgotten chapter of Ming dynasty military history. One of the most significant outposts was Zhenbianbu Fortress (镇边堡)—a name that literally means “Fortress for Defending the Border.”