Recall a time of emperors and dynasties. Today we are standing before a testament to that era the Wall Park of Ming Dynasty. This park is more than just green space. It holds a preserved section of Beijing’s Ming Dynasty city wall.
The Beijing Ming City Wall Ruins Park marks a significant piece of history. It features the longest and best-preserved part of the Ming Dynasty city wall. This wall once protected Beijing. Construction of Beijing’s inner city wall occurred in 1419 during the Ming Dynasty. For nearly 550 years, these walls stood strong.
Imagine Beijing in the Ming Dynasty. The inner city wall stretched 24 kilometers. Of that, only 1.5 km remains today. This section runs east from Chongwenmen to Dongbianmen. It then extends north near the Beijing Railway Station East Street. This surviving section offers us a rare look into Beijing’s past.
In the early 1960s much of the wall was torn down. This was to make way for the Beijing Subway. However this southeastern section was spared. In the late 1990s the city decided to create this park. Small businesses and homes were relocated. This allowed for the preservation of the wall.
Construction of the Wall Park of Ming Dynasty began in 2001. Ming-era bricks were collected from residents for restoration. About one-fifth of the two million bricks used are from that era. The park opened in September 2003.
The Southeast Corner Tower is a major feature. It was built from 1436 to 1439. Rising 29 meters high, it is the largest corner tower still standing in China. Imagine 200 soldiers stationed here. The tower even had ramps for soldiers and horses.
Inside, there were 144 archery windows. During the Qing Dynasty, bannermen of the Plain Blue Banner were stationed here. During the Boxer Rebellion in 1900 the tower was attacked. Invaders even carved graffiti that’s still preserved today. The Red Gate Gallery operated here for over two decades.
The inner city wall itself stood 11.4 meters high. Battlements added another 1.9 meters. The wall was 19.8 meters thick at the base. Bastions, known as “horse face,” jutted out. These allowed archers to fire from three sides. The restored section has 11 bastions on the southern wall and two on the eastern wall.
Today, the Wall Park of Ming Dynasty offers a blend of history and nature. During restoration 400 trees were planted. Also 6000 bushes and 100000 flowering plants enhance the landscape. In 2009, social organizations “adopted” old trees. They contributed to their care.
Also on the grounds is a restored signal house. It belonged to the Beijing-Fengtian Railway built in 1901.
The Wall Park of Ming Dynasty stands as a reminder. It connects us to the emperors, soldiers, and stories of Beijing’s Ming Dynasty. Take a moment to appreciate this blend of history and nature. Let us carry those stories forward.