In ancient times, the central government carried out a system of appointing national minority hereditary in western China named Tu Si. Since the year of 1253, the hereditary headmen Mu Zeng of Naxi people became the Naxi chieftain with the largest influence in the northwestern of Yunnan province. Some foreigners who learn Chinese language in the city of Kunming may know the chieftain was called “the King of Mu family” because of the strong power at that time.
As times went by, the ruling force of the King of Mu family gradually developed into the areas such as Zhongdian, Deqin, Xiangcheng and Batang in Sichuan as well as Yanjing and Mangkang in Tibet. For the purpose of consolidating the ruling, the chieftain constructed many architectures and stockade villages along the way. The small Zhongdian Castle is one of the typical castles for station troops. That is the site of the castle of the chieftain Mu.
The specific site of the castle is in the west of Gongxia Village of small Zhongdian town. The year of building the castle is no longer clear. As one wide plain territory in the field of Diqin, the small Zhongdian was the perfect place for the chieftain Mu for station troops at that time. At the same time, when you learn to speak Chinese, you should know that it is the first station for setting out to the Tibetan areas and has strong strategic advantage because it is easy to hold but hard to attack and convenient to return.
In addition, the chieftain Mu constructed castles in the areas that were dominated by Gaju School of Tibetan Buddhism, which brought much convenience to create opportunities to contact with monks and promote the development of Tibetan Buddhism. At the same time, they could also take advantage of the affection of the local people to Tibetan Buddhism to realize the ruling in the Tibetan areas.
The castle looked deserted and destroyed as early as in the period of the Republic of China. At present, it is hard to imagine the prosperity and magnificence of the original one. However, some foreigners who learn Chinese online free say it gives people a long standing sense as historical site. Only the wall is remained with a height of 2 meters. There is a path covered with tiles and cobbles in the ruins. The whole length of the site is about 1.5 kilometers and 1 kilometer wide.