The oldest existing prison in history

The Su San Prison was established in the second year of Hongwu of the Ming Dynasty (1369 AD), and has a history of more than 600 years. It is the only existing prison in China with the form of the Ming Dynasty, and it is also the oldest existing prison. It is famous for the unjust imprisonment of the famous Beijing prostitute Su San (Yu Tang Chun) and the spread of the drama 'Yu Tang Chun'. The Su San Prison mainly consists of ordinary cells and death row cells: On the top of the corridor of two rows of 12 ordinary cells, the wire mesh is densely covered, and the copper bell is hung high. A slight touch will make the bell ring loudly, making it difficult for the prisoner to fly. Each cell is only 4 square meters, dark and damp, and never sees the sun all day. The cell currently displays the laws of the Ming Dynasty and various physical punishment tools, as well as the physical objects of Su San's misfortune. At the end of the corridor, facing the duty room of the prison guard, there is a place for the prison god on the wall on the right. It is said that the prisoners had to worship the prison god when they entered the prison. At the base of the wall under the prison god, there is a small hole, which is the exit for transporting corpses in the past. The death row cell, commonly known as the 'Tiger Head Cell', is located on the left at the end of the corridor. The cell door is carved with a 'Bian' head, which looks like a 'tiger head', with a green face and fangs, and is terrifying. Bian is in charge of the prison. The death row cell has double doors and double walls, and the aisle is low. The prisoner must bow his head and bow his body when entering and exiting, showing the majesty of the feudal dynasty's criminal law. The cell wall is 1.7 meters thick, filled with flowing sand inside to prevent death row prisoners from digging the wall to escape. There is a pillow kiln in the cell yard, divided into two cells. The structure of the kiln hole is two rafters and two coupons, double-layer window lattices, and the wall is three feet and three inches thick, which can be described as solid as a golden soup. Su San was once detained in the West Cell, where there is a statue of Su San, which is commonly referred to as 'Su San Prison Cell' by later generations. In the center of the yard, there is also a well and a stone trough for washing clothes when Su San was in prison. There are traces of rope grinding on the wellhead, and the wellhead is only more than half a foot wide, which is to prevent death row prisoners from committing suicide by jumping into the well. The east room of the outer courtyard of Su San Prison is a wax figure museum that shows the cause and background of Su San's joys and sorrows. In addition, it also introduces the five punishments of the Ming Dynasty in detail with text and wax figures: whipping, stick punishment, labor punishment, exile, and death penalty. In general, the design of the Ming Dynasty prison is ingenious, and it eliminates the possibility of prisoners escaping from prison in every possible way. I have to admire the wisdom of the ancients! Address: No. 66 Guhuai Road, Dahuaishu Town, Hongtong County, Linfen City, Shanxi Province Transportation: Get off at Hongtong 2 Road Su San Prison Station Time: 8:00-17:30 Per capita: Guandi Temple, Ming Dynasty Prison Joint Ticket 40 yuan