Beijing Ming City Wall Ruins Park, Archaeological museum in Dongcheng District, Beijing, China
Beijing Ming City Wall Ruins Park displays surviving stone segments of the former defensive wall spanning about 1.5 kilometers through the area. The Southeast Corner Tower stands as the main preserved structure, a multi-sided watchtower that demonstrates the military engineering used to protect the city.
The wall was constructed in 1419 during the Ming Dynasty as a major fortification system surrounding Beijing. Most of the structure was demolished in the 1960s, yet this park preserves key remnants including the corner tower as testimony to that era.
The ruins serve as a gathering space where local residents connect with the city's past through walking paths among the stone remains. People use this area to experience how Beijing's boundaries once shaped daily life and movement through the urban landscape.
The site is conveniently situated near Chongwenmen subway station, making it easy to reach by public transport. The walking paths among the ruins are open to everyone, though visiting the tower interior involves a small fee, so plan your visit based on which areas interest you most.
The corner tower features numerous small squared openings designed for archers, a detail that shapes its distinctive appearance and reveals how defense worked. These archer ports are still visible in the stonework and show where defenders once stood to protect against attack.
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