Beijing Ming City Wall Ruins Park

Beijing, originally, had four city walls, respectively surrounding Forbidden City, Royal City, Inside City and Outside City. The city wall of Ming Dynasty, around 40 kilometres long originally, was built in the 17th year under the reign of Yong Le of the Ming Dynasty (1419). However, only two sections remain now. One section is at Xibian Gate. The other section is from Dongbian Gate to Chongwen Gate.

The relic of city wall at Xibian Gate, located at the south end of West second Ring Road in Xuanwu District, was built in the 4th year under the reign of Zheng Tong of the Ming Dynasty (1439). It is one part of west outer city wall. Both inner and outer city walls have been removed. Xibian Gate was one of seven gates of the outer city wall. In the 32nd year under the reign of Jia Jing of the Ming Dynasty |(1553), the outer city wall began to be built. However, only a south section was 4 built up for lack of financial resources with five gates furnished. Thus, a r2j -shaped outer city wall took shape. Later on, a simple gate (wicket) was furnished at both northeast and northwest corners between the outer and inner cities. They are the Dongbian Gate and Xibian Gate. The relic of Xibianmen city wall is a part of the inner city wall at southwest corner. Because of no maintenance in a long time, the city wall collapsed gradually with only an over 100-metre section left. The rehabilitation in 1987 had seven segments preserved, and a watch tower rebuilt. Now, the Xibianmen city wall relic is taken as a relic park open to public.

The relic of city wall from Dongbian Gate to Chongwen Gate, located at the south end of East second Ring Road in Chongwen District, was built during the reign of Jia Jing of the Ming Dynasty, and once repaired during both Ming and Qing dynasties. Existing city wall is approx. 1.5 kilometres long, extending from Chongwen Gate to the Southeast Turret. It is a part of inner city wall, and the only existing section of the Ming Dynasty city wall, and also a mark of Beijing City. The rehabilitation in 2003 had the Beijing Ming Dynasty City Wall Relics Park built on the basis of restored city wall. In the park, the Southeast Turret, at the joint between south and east inner city walls, was built in the 1st year under the reign of Zheng Tong of the Ming Dynasty (1436). with the height of 17 metres itself, and 30 metres together with the wall It has a grey tile paved multi-layer eaves gable and hip roof with green glazed tile decorating each edge. As an important military construction, the turret has 144 windows furnished for the purpose of shooting arrows at enemies. As the largest, oldest and only existing turret in China, it is a national cultural heritage under special protection.