Huīfāchéng

Huifa City occupied a steep hill beside the Huifa River, with the Huangni River helping protect its approaches. It became the royal stronghold of the Huifa, one of the Haixi Jurchen groupings. Wangjinu gathered communities in the river valley and established his seat on Huerqi Hill. The Ming-period fortress had inner, middle and outer walls, using the summit and lower terraces to create successive defensive enclosures. A diverted watercourse supplied a moat outside the eastern wall.

In 1607 Nurhaci attacked and conquered Huifa; its ruler Baindari and his son were killed. The place subsequently witnessed a different kind of political union. In 1614 Hong Taiji met the daughter of the Khorchin leader Manggus at Huerqi Hill and celebrated their marriage, strengthening ties between the ruling families. Qing emperors later visited the ruined stronghold. During his eastern tour of 1754, Qianlong composed poems recalling its walls and the conquest that had ended Huifa independence.