Huáiyuǎn

Huaiyuan stands above the Lu River in the frontier hills southwest of Yulin. The Ming built Huaiyuan Fort in 1458 as part of the Yulin Garrison's central line, joining other posts that guarded the boundary between the settled valleys and the northern steppe. Its walls occupied a hilltop above the surrounding ground. In 1731 the Qing combined Huaiyuan with four neighbouring forts to create Huaiyuan County, preserving the old military name as the centre of a civil district.