延庆县 273 号敌台

Shivering in the January chill of 1973, imagine huddled figures near Yanqing District’s 273rd enemy tower. The biting -27.3°C temperature, a record low for Yanqing at the time, must have made their breath plume like dragon’s smoke. Yanqing District, formerly Yanqing County, holds this silent sentinel of the Great Wall’s Liujiang section. This earthen tower, a rarity amongst the stone and brick fortifications of Beijing’s Great Wall, stands as a testament to a bygone era of imperial defense. Today, we stand before the 273rd enemy tower, feeling the echo of that bitter cold, imagining the watchmen stamping their feet, peering across the vast expanse towards potential invaders. The tower is part of the larger Liujiang section, a portion of the Great Wall listed as a national key cultural relic protection unit. Recent archaeological work here has unearthed a stele, a testament to the meticulous record-keeping of the Ming dynasty. This stele, found during the restoration of enemy towers 208-210, lists the officials responsible for the construction and management of this section of the wall in Wanli 2 (1574). It’s a remarkable window into the past, a “lifetime responsibility” etched in stone, reminding us of the dedication required to build and maintain such a monumental defense. The earth beneath our feet holds secrets. The excavations revealed the original construction of the tower. Stone and brick encased the earthen core, a structure more substantial than what remains today. Yanqing’s 273rd enemy tower stands in silent testament to the ingenuity and resilience of the Ming dynasty. It stands as a unique example of earthen construction along Beijing’s Great Wall, whispering stories of frigid winters and vigilant defenders.