Historic site · HUBEI · UNESCO
Tusi Sites
土司遗址 · Tǔsī Yízhǐ
About
UNESCO-listed trio of tusi chieftain capitals in southwest China — Laosicheng (Hunan), Tangya (Hubei) and Hailongtun (Guizhou) — representing the imperial tusi system of indirect rule over ethnic minority regions.
The Tusi Sites were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2015 as an exceptional collection of chieftain capitals representing the tusi system — China's distinctive political arrangement for governing ethnic minority regions in the southwest between the 13th and early 20th centuries. The name 'tusi' (土司) refers to hereditary local rulers who administered their communities under a framework of delegated imperial authority, maintaining cultural autonomy whilst paying tribute to the central court.
The three inscribed component sites are Laosicheng (老司城) in Yongshun County, Hunan; Tangya Tusi City (唐崖土司城) in Xianfeng County, Hubei; and Hailongtun Fortress (海龙屯) in Zunyi City, Guizhou. Together they represent the range of tusi settlement types across different ethnic and geographic contexts.
Laosicheng, the former capital of the Tujia chieftains of the Penghu district, is the largest and best-preserved of the three. The site spans over 250 ha in a river bend, with surviving palace foundations, ancestral temple ruins, bridges and a complex road network. Excavations have revealed sophisticated urban planning comparable to Song and Ming dynasty Chinese cities, but adapted to the steep terrain of the Wuling Mountains.
Tangya Tusi City was the seat of the She clan chieftains and preserves carved stone gateways, terraced palace foundations and a ceremonial elephant arch that remains standing. Hailongtun is a dramatic mountain fortress — the palace-castle of the Yang clan chieftains — perched on a near-vertical crag. It was besieged and destroyed by Ming imperial troops in 1600 after the Yang chieftain led a major rebellion; the ruins were subsequently left unoccupied and are now among the best-preserved defensive heritage sites in southwest China.
How to get there
Laosicheng: from Jishou or Zhangjiajie by coach, then local transport to Yongshun (total 2–3 hours). Hailongtun: from Zunyi city (Guizhou) by taxi or bus (45 min). Tangya: from Enshi by bus or hired car (about 2.5 hours).
When to visit
March–May and September–November. Hailongtun is most dramatic in clear autumn weather. The Wuling Mountains receive significant rainfall June–August.
UNESCO inscription
“Located in the mountainous areas of south-west China, this property encompasses remains of several tribal domains whose chiefs were appointed by the central government as ‘Tusi’, hereditary rulers from the 13th to the early 20thcentury. The Tusi system arose from the ethnic minorities’ dynastic systems of government dating back to the 3rd century BCE. Its purpose was to unify national administration, while allowing ethnic minorities to retain their customs and way of life. The sites of Laosicheng, Tangya and Hailongtun Fortress that make up the site bear exceptional testimony to this form of governance, which derived from the Chinese civilization of the Yuan and Ming periods.”
Other attractions in Wuhan
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UNESCO-listed pair of Ming-Qing Huizhou merchant villages in southern Anhui, renowned for whitewashed walls, inky horsehead gables and moon-shaped ponds.
- Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City良渚古城遗址
UNESCO-listed archaeological site in Hangzhou preserving the remains of a 5,000-year-old city with a sophisticated water-management system, jade ritual culture and social hierarchy — regarded as one of the earliest state-level societies in East Asia.
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- Capital Cities and Tombs of the Ancient Koguryo Kingdom高句丽王城、王陵及贵族墓葬
UNESCO-listed capital cities and royal tombs of the Koguryo Kingdom in Jian, Jilin — the Chinese portion of a transnational heritage property shared with North Korea, representing one of the most powerful states of ancient East Asia.
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- Drepung Monastery哲蚌寺
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Frequently asked questions
- How much does Tusi Sites cost to visit?
- Adult entry to Tusi Sites is ¥68, ¥null for children. Laosicheng 68 CNY; Tangya 60 CNY; Hailongtun 80 CNY. Each site is separately visited — no combined ticket.
- When is Tusi Sites open?
- Tusi Sites opening hours: Laosicheng: 08:30–17:30. Tangya: 08:00–17:00. Hailongtun: 08:30–17:30.
- How long do you need at Tusi Sites?
- Allow 3–5 hours for Tusi Sites. Add buffer time if you plan to visit at peak season or include nearby sights in the same trip.
- When is the best time to visit Tusi Sites?
- March–May and September–November. Hailongtun is most dramatic in clear autumn weather. The Wuling Mountains receive significant rainfall June–August.
- How do you get to Tusi Sites?
- Laosicheng: from Jishou or Zhangjiajie by coach, then local transport to Yongshun (total 2–3 hours). Hailongtun: from Zunyi city (Guizhou) by taxi or bus (45 min). Tangya: from Enshi by bus or hired car (about 2.5 hours).
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