Hongshi Gorge – A Monumental Forest in the Saihan Desert

From the west of Zhenbeitai, passing through Yima City, you arrive at Yuxi River. Yuxi River originates from Dao Tu Hai Zi, Dao Tu Hai Zi is not a large lake, it is like a brilliant pearl inlaid in the northern frontier.

Yuxi River passes through Guzui Mo, Guzhangcheng, and arrives at Hongshi Gorge. This is where the ancient Jing Wei divided into two, where the nomadic and Han ethnic groups were separated. In the 23rd year of the Ming Chengde reign (1487), the inscriptions of the memorial carvings of 'Building and Repairing the Gongyin Temple Records' recorded: 'Ten miles north of Yulin City, there is a mountain named Hongshi Gorge, its soil is desolate and lies between the northern and enemy territories.' This indicates that this is an ancient border, an ancient battlefield.

During the Northern Song Dynasty, Li Jiqian heard of Xianxian burying his ancestors here. 'Jiao Ku Lu Long Wo' was formed, and later he raised an army against the Song, became the King of Western Xia, and defeated the Song army of twenty thousand at Yongle City (the area between the two banks of the Wude River in present-day Yulin's Shang Yuantan). Another 'Poor Wude River's bones, still a dream in the spring'. The Song Emperor was shocked and cried, forced to negotiate with Western Xia, and eventually made peace. This place once became a stronghold for Western Xia troops.

During the Ming Dynasty, in the tenth year of the Chengde reign (1475), it was only then that 'old borders' such as the Qin and Sui dynasties' old Great Walls were repaired and completed as Ming Great Walls, and the Zhenbeitai was established. It was still a border fortress.