Photo Archive: Cobbled main street of ancient Tujia citadel

This is the main street of the ancient Tujia citadel laosicheng or tusicheng, home to the Peng clan who dominated the area for over 800 years (see the story of Hero Tian). In 1728 the Qing court abolished the system of hereditary chieftainship and established direct control over the area. Shortly after this present-day Yongshun town was established some miles to the west as the new county seat, and the citadel became an unimportant village, hidden deep in the hills. See also the next photo.