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釣魚城 | |
 The steep pathway up to the Huguo Gate of Diaoyucheng | |
  Diaoyucheng Location of Diaoyu Fortress Show map of China Diaoyucheng Diaoyucheng (Chongqing) Show map of Chongqing | |
| Location |  China |
|---|---|
| Region | Hechuan District,Chongqing |
| Coordinates | 30°00′18″N106°18′54″E / 30.005°N 106.315°E /30.005; 106.315 |
| History | |
| Founded | 1242 |
TheDiaoyucheng (simplified Chinese:钓鱼城;traditional Chinese:釣魚城;pinyin:Diàoyúchéng), orDiaoyu Fortress, is a fortress located on the Diaoyu Mountain inHechuan District,Chongqing, across theJialing River from the city center of Hechuan. It is known for its resistance to theMongol armies in the latter half of theSong dynasty.
The death of Mongol leaderMöngke Khan during thesiege of Diaoyucheng resulted in the immediate withdrawal of Mongol troops from various parts ofEurasia.
Although the Mongols and theSouthern Song were united in their fight to bring down theJurchen Jin dynasty, their pact broke immediately afterwards, and the Mongols launched an aggressive war against the tenacious Southern Song that lasted for more than a third of the 13th century. In the period from 1243 to 1279, Diaoyu experienced more than two hundred military confrontations in a miracle of "persistent resistance" that endured for thirty-six years.
Though numbering more than ten thousand and led by the Great KhanMöngke himself, the Mongols were unable to take the tiny fortress. Yu Jian won many brilliant victories, culminating in the deaths of Möngke and his vanguard General Wang Tege. Sources differ on how Möngke actually died—Chinese sources largely claim that Möngke was mortally wounded by a crossbow arrow (this claim is corroborated by the writings of theSyriac monkBar Hebraeus) or a stone projectile from acannon or trebuchet, while Persian sources suggest that Möngke died from infectious diseases likedysentery orcholera (Chinese sources confirm the existence of an outbreak during the siege).[1]
The ancient Diaoyu covers an area of 2.94 square kilometres. Situated on a hill surrounded by water on three sides, it is located about five kilometers east ofHechuan, Chongqing, near the confluence of the Qu, Fu andJialing rivers. The terrain is precipitous yet beautiful. About 700 years ago, Yu Jian built a fortress here to resist the Mongols during the Southern Song Dynasty (1127–1279).[citation needed]
As it contains many historical sites—a naval wharf, drilling grounds, watch towers, and a fortification with built-in cannons—Diaoyu has been designated a major national cultural and historic site by China'sState Council[citation needed][when?], and on 28 August 2018 it was placed on the World Cultural Heritage Tentative List.[2]
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