Published : 12/11/2026
On Tiantai Mountain in Anshun, Guizhou, a "stone city" is built clinging to a cliff.
Viewed from afar, its thick stone walls blend with the steep mountain terrain, resembling a fortress guarding the summit, but this "fortress" is actually a temple named Wulong Temple.
Why was Wulong Temple built to resemble a fortress? What is its connection to a nearby ancient Ming Dynasty fort with a history of over 600 years?
An ancient stone fortress-temple on a cliff
When Tiantai Mountain is mentioned, people might first think of the renowned Buddhist mountain of the same name in Zhejiang.
However, in Anshun City, Guizhou Province, there is another Tiantai Mountain, on whose summit is hidden an ancient temple that closely resembles a fortress—Wulong Temple.
Wulong Temple was first built in the 18th year of the Wanli reign of the Ming dynasty (1590) and is also known as Qingjing Chan Yuan.
What is special is that it is both a Buddhist and a Taoist temple, and is one of the most well-preserved ancient architectural complexes in Guizhou Province that integrates both faiths.
Wulong Temple is built upon Tiantai Mountain, with only a single small path leading to the summit; the other three sides are sheer cliffs.
Viewed from a distance, the entire structure seems to be suspended in mid-air, detached and independent from the world, forming the most unique landscape of Guizhou's Tiantai Mountain.
However, the most astonishing feature of Wulong Temple is its stone exterior walls. The thick stone walls are built flush against the cliff, appearing as one with the mountain.
The window openings are not only small but are also positioned very high up. Such a design easily brings to mind a fortress that is easy to defend and difficult to attack, does it not?
That's right, Wulong Temple is not only a temple that combines Buddhism and Taoism, but also a fortress equipped with military defence capabilities!
It turns out that over 600 years ago, the area around Tianlong Town, where Tiantai Mountain is located, was a garrison for the Ming army during its southern expeditions.
To facilitate garrisoning, "Tunpu" (屯堡) architecture, which served for both habitation and defence, gradually developed, and this is where the unique architectural style of Wulong Temple comes from.
Does Tianlong Tunpu still preserve Ming Dynasty customs?
After seeing Wulong Temple, one might wonder: if even the temple is built like a fortress, what are the houses in Tianlong Town like?
Let us now take a stroll to the nearby Tianlong Tunpu to see another side of Tunpu culture, from its stone houses and alleys to its clothing and customs.
The story of the "Tunpu" begins with the Ming dynasty army that was garrisoned in Guizhou.
At that time, some soldiers remained to farm the land and guard the frontier, putting down roots and bringing the customs of their hometowns with them.
These traditions merged with the local culture, and after more than 600 years of being passed down, they formed the unique Tunpu culture.
Located about 2 kilometres from Wulong Temple, Tianlong Tunpu gradually formed against this backdrop. It was first built during the Hongwu reign of the Ming dynasty (1368–1398).
As the army stationed troops to cultivate the land, it gradually developed into a village inhabited by the garrison soldiers and their descendants.
Walking into Tianlong Tunpu, you see flagstone paths connecting a series of courtyards. The residences are mostly three-sided and four-sided courtyard houses.
The heavy stone walls may seem rugged, but the gatehouses and window lattices hide intricate carvings, possessing both defensive features and a touch of Jiangnan charm.
This place not only has old buildings, but it also preserves more than 600 years of traditional Tunpu culture. For instance, the "Fengyang Han clothing" (鳳陽漢裝) worn by local women, and Dixi opera (地戲), known as a "living fossil of theatre", are all unique customs of Tunpu culture.
It turns out that after more than 600 years, there are still villages like this, which keep ancient customs in their daily lives, waiting for us to slow down and discover them bit by bit.
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