The ruins of Hailongtun Fortress in Guizhou Province represent three traditional sites for which an application for recognition as World Heritage Sites has been submitted, providing insight into the background of Chinese Tusi culture and Tusi families in Bozhou.
The fortress was built in 1257 and resulted from cooperation between the central government of the Song Dynasty and the Yang family. Relics found at the site include buildings showcasing traditional craftsmanship that exhibit both local ethnic characteristics and the lotus patterns and animal figures typical of that era in central China. The government buildings were designed in accordance with official guidelines for administrative offices of the central government, serving as symbols of status and evidence of ethnic integration.
The Tusi system implemented autonomous governance by minorities during historical periods, supporting ethnic diversity, strengthening national unity, ensuring security in border areas, and promoting peaceful coexistence between the central government and local minority governments.
