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Underground City (Beijing)

April 12, 2024

The Underground City (Chinese: 地下城; pinyin: Dìxià Chéng; Wade–Giles: Ti4-hsia4 Chʻêng2) is a Cold War era bomb shelter consisting of a network of tunnels located beneath Beijing, China. It has also been referred to as the Underground Great Wall since it was built for the purpose of military defense. The complex was constructed from 1969 to 1979 in anticipation of a nuclear war with the Soviet Union, as Sino-Soviet relations worsened[1][2] and was officially reopened in 2000.[3] Visitors were allowed to tour portions of the complex,[3] which has been described as "dark, damp, and genuinely eerie".[4] Underground City has been closed for renovation since at least February 2008.[1]

Entrance of the Underground City at Xidamochang Jie

Location edit

The tunnels of the Underground City run beneath Beijing's city center, covering an area of 85 square kilometres (33 sq mi) 8 to 18 metres (26–59 ft) under the surface.[1][2] At one time there were about 90 entrances to the complex, all of which were hidden in shops along the main streets of Qianmen.[5] Many of the entrances have since been demolished or blocked off for reconstruction. Known remaining entrances include 62 West Damochang Street in Qianmen, Beijing Qianmen Carpet Factory at 44 Xingfu Dajie in Chongwen District, and 18 Dashilan Jie in Qianmen.[1]

History edit

At the height of Soviet–Chinese tensions in 1969, Chinese Communist Party chairman Mao Zedong ordered the construction of the Underground City during the border conflict over Zhenbao Island in the Heilongjiang River. [2] The Underground City was designed to withstand nuclear, biochemical and conventional attacks.[1] The complex would protect Beijing's population, and allow government officials to evacuate in the event of an attack on the city.[6] The government claimed that the tunnels could accommodate all of Beijing's six million inhabitants upon its completion.[4]

The complex was equipped with facilities such as restaurants, clinics, schools, theaters, factories, a roller skating rink, grain and oil warehouses, and a mushroom cultivation farm. There were also almost 70 potential sites where water wells could easily be dug if needed.[2] Elaborate ventilation systems were installed, with 2,300 shafts that can be sealed off to protect the tunnels' inhabitants from poison gases,[7] Gas- and water-proof hatches, as well as thick concrete main gates, were constructed to protect the tunnels from biochemical or gas attacks and nuclear fallouts.[2][7]

There is no official disclosure about the actual extent of the complex,[2] but it is speculated that the tunnels may link together Beijing's various landmarks, as well as important governmental buildings such as the Zhongnanhai, the Great Hall of the People, and even military bases in the outskirts of the city. [6] The China Internet Information Center asserts that "they supposedly link all areas of central Beijing, from Xidan and Xuanwumen to Qianmen and [the] Chongwen district", in addition to the Western Hills.[2] It is also rumoured that every residence once had a secret trapdoor nearby leading to the tunnels.[2] In the event of a nuclear attack, the plan was to move half of Beijing's population underground and the other half to the Western Hills.[1]

The tunnels were built by more than 300,000 local citizens, including school students, on volunteer duties. Some portions were even dug without the help of any heavy machinery.[2] Centuries-old city walls, towers and gates, including the old city gates of Xizhimen, Fuchengmen, and Chongwenmen were destroyed to supply construction materials for the complex.[2]

 
Notice by the side of the Underground City entrance at Xidamochang Jie explaining that the complex is closed for renovations following a safety inspection

Since the complex's completion, it has been utilized by locals in various ways as the tunnels remain cool in summer and warm in winter. [2] On busy streets, some portions of the complex were refurbished as cheap hotels, while others were transformed into shopping and business centers, or even theaters.[2]

While the complex has never been used for its intended purpose, it has never been fully abandoned either. Local authorities still perform water leakage checks and pest control in the tunnels on a regular basis.[2]

As a tourist attraction edit

The complex was officially opened in 2000, but has been closed for renovation since at least February 2008.[1] While it was open, visitors were allowed to tour portions of the complex; the Underground City was popular with foreign tourists but remained virtually forgotten by local citizens. Though there are many other entrances, foreign visitors entered approved sections accessed via a small shop front in Qianmen, south of Tiananmen Square, at 62 West Damochang Street. Tour groups could enter free of charge and without prior permission while individual tourists not part of a group were charged 20 yuan (US$2.40) each.[2]

The official tour took visitors only on a small circular stretch of the Underground City.[6] Inside the complex, visitors could see signposts to major landmarks accessible by the tunnels, such as Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City, and could see chambers labeled with their original functions, such as cinemas, hospitals, or arsenals.[5] A portrait of Mao Zedong could be seen amidst murals of locals volunteering to dig the tunnels and fading slogans such as "Accumulate Grain", and "For the People: Prepare for War, Prepare for Famine".[4] Rooms with bunk beds and decayed cardboard boxes of water purifiers could be seen in areas not open to tourists.[1] Visitors on the official tour would also pass by a functioning silk factory in one of the underground staff meeting rooms of the complex, and be given a demonstration of the process of obtaining silk from silkworm cocoons. They had a chance to buy souvenirs at a tourists' shop operated by the state-owned Qianmen Arts and Crafts Center and the China Kai Tian Silk Company.[6]

See also edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Jiang, Steven. "Beijing Journal: An underground 'parallel universe' 2020-12-04 at the Wayback Machine". Cable News Network (2008-02-01). Retrieved on 2008-07-14.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Wang, Zhiyong. "Beijing's Underground City 2020-12-04 at the Wayback Machine". China Internet Information Center (2005-04-15). Retrieved on 2008-07-14.
  3. ^ a b "Underground City 2008-04-09 at the Wayback Machine". Beijing China Tourist Information and Travel Guide. Retrieved on 2008-07-14.
  4. ^ a b c "Dixia Cheng 2023-02-06 at the Wayback Machine". The New York Times. Retrieved on 2008-07-14.The Chinese government also considered it as a possible refuge in case of a war with the west, including America over the Taiwanese question.
  5. ^ a b "Beijing Underground City 2008-06-12 at the Wayback Machine". Lonely Planet Publications. Retrieved on 2008-07-16.
  6. ^ a b c d Hultengren, Irving A. "Beijing Underground City 2020-12-04 at the Wayback Machine". Irving A. Hultegren Home Page 2008 (2008-05-02). Retrieved on 2008-07-17.
  7. ^ a b "Going underground 2020-12-04 at the Wayback Machine". ChinaDaily (2005-12-30). Retrieved on 2008-07-17.

Further reading edit

  • "Chairman Mao's Underground City". Vice. June 16, 2012. Retrieved September 22, 2017.

39°54′00″N 116°24′22″E / 39.899885°N 116.406122°E / 39.899885; 116.406122

April 12, 2024
underground, city, beijing, this, article, needs, updated, reason, given, information, added, since, 2008, please, help, update, this, article, reflect, recent, events, newly, available, information, july, 2022, underground, city, chinese, 地下城, pinyin, dìxià, . This article needs to be updated The reason given is No information added since 2008 Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information July 2022 The Underground City Chinese 地下城 pinyin Dixia Cheng Wade Giles Ti4 hsia4 Chʻeng2 is a Cold War era bomb shelter consisting of a network of tunnels located beneath Beijing China It has also been referred to as the Underground Great Wall since it was built for the purpose of military defense The complex was constructed from 1969 to 1979 in anticipation of a nuclear war with the Soviet Union as Sino Soviet relations worsened 1 2 and was officially reopened in 2000 3 Visitors were allowed to tour portions of the complex 3 which has been described as dark damp and genuinely eerie 4 Underground City has been closed for renovation since at least February 2008 1 Entrance of the Underground City at Xidamochang Jie Contents 1 Location 2 History 3 As a tourist attraction 4 See also 5 Notes 6 Further readingLocation editThe tunnels of the Underground City run beneath Beijing s city center covering an area of 85 square kilometres 33 sq mi 8 to 18 metres 26 59 ft under the surface 1 2 At one time there were about 90 entrances to the complex all of which were hidden in shops along the main streets of Qianmen 5 Many of the entrances have since been demolished or blocked off for reconstruction Known remaining entrances include 62 West Damochang Street in Qianmen Beijing Qianmen Carpet Factory at 44 Xingfu Dajie in Chongwen District and 18 Dashilan Jie in Qianmen 1 History editAt the height of Soviet Chinese tensions in 1969 Chinese Communist Party chairman Mao Zedong ordered the construction of the Underground City during the border conflict over Zhenbao Island in the Heilongjiang River 2 The Underground City was designed to withstand nuclear biochemical and conventional attacks 1 The complex would protect Beijing s population and allow government officials to evacuate in the event of an attack on the city 6 The government claimed that the tunnels could accommodate all of Beijing s six million inhabitants upon its completion 4 The complex was equipped with facilities such as restaurants clinics schools theaters factories a roller skating rink grain and oil warehouses and a mushroom cultivation farm There were also almost 70 potential sites where water wells could easily be dug if needed 2 Elaborate ventilation systems were installed with 2 300 shafts that can be sealed off to protect the tunnels inhabitants from poison gases 7 Gas and water proof hatches as well as thick concrete main gates were constructed to protect the tunnels from biochemical or gas attacks and nuclear fallouts 2 7 There is no official disclosure about the actual extent of the complex 2 but it is speculated that the tunnels may link together Beijing s various landmarks as well as important governmental buildings such as the Zhongnanhai the Great Hall of the People and even military bases in the outskirts of the city 6 The China Internet Information Center asserts that they supposedly link all areas of central Beijing from Xidan and Xuanwumen to Qianmen and the Chongwen district in addition to the Western Hills 2 It is also rumoured that every residence once had a secret trapdoor nearby leading to the tunnels 2 In the event of a nuclear attack the plan was to move half of Beijing s population underground and the other half to the Western Hills 1 The tunnels were built by more than 300 000 local citizens including school students on volunteer duties Some portions were even dug without the help of any heavy machinery 2 Centuries old city walls towers and gates including the old city gates of Xizhimen Fuchengmen and Chongwenmen were destroyed to supply construction materials for the complex 2 nbsp Notice by the side of the Underground City entrance at Xidamochang Jie explaining that the complex is closed for renovations following a safety inspectionSince the complex s completion it has been utilized by locals in various ways as the tunnels remain cool in summer and warm in winter 2 On busy streets some portions of the complex were refurbished as cheap hotels while others were transformed into shopping and business centers or even theaters 2 While the complex has never been used for its intended purpose it has never been fully abandoned either Local authorities still perform water leakage checks and pest control in the tunnels on a regular basis 2 As a tourist attraction editThe complex was officially opened in 2000 but has been closed for renovation since at least February 2008 1 While it was open visitors were allowed to tour portions of the complex the Underground City was popular with foreign tourists but remained virtually forgotten by local citizens Though there are many other entrances foreign visitors entered approved sections accessed via a small shop front in Qianmen south of Tiananmen Square at 62 West Damochang Street Tour groups could enter free of charge and without prior permission while individual tourists not part of a group were charged 20 yuan US 2 40 each 2 The official tour took visitors only on a small circular stretch of the Underground City 6 Inside the complex visitors could see signposts to major landmarks accessible by the tunnels such as Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City and could see chambers labeled with their original functions such as cinemas hospitals or arsenals 5 A portrait of Mao Zedong could be seen amidst murals of locals volunteering to dig the tunnels and fading slogans such as Accumulate Grain and For the People Prepare for War Prepare for Famine 4 Rooms with bunk beds and decayed cardboard boxes of water purifiers could be seen in areas not open to tourists 1 Visitors on the official tour would also pass by a functioning silk factory in one of the underground staff meeting rooms of the complex and be given a demonstration of the process of obtaining silk from silkworm cocoons They had a chance to buy souvenirs at a tourists shop operated by the state owned Qianmen Arts and Crafts Center and the China Kai Tian Silk Company 6 See also editUnderground Project 131 tunnels intended for the PLA headquarters in Hubei Kobanya cellar system Metro 2 Underground city Rat tribe Third Front the PRC s general home defense strategy Tourist attractions of BeijingNotes edit a b c d e f g h Jiang Steven Beijing Journal An underground parallel universe Archived 2020 12 04 at the Wayback Machine Cable News Network 2008 02 01 Retrieved on 2008 07 14 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Wang Zhiyong Beijing s Underground City Archived 2020 12 04 at the Wayback Machine China Internet Information Center 2005 04 15 Retrieved on 2008 07 14 a b Underground City Archived 2008 04 09 at the Wayback Machine Beijing China Tourist Information and Travel Guide Retrieved on 2008 07 14 a b c Dixia Cheng Archived 2023 02 06 at the Wayback Machine The New York Times Retrieved on 2008 07 14 The Chinese government also considered it as a possible refuge in case of a war with the west including America over the Taiwanese question a b Beijing Underground City Archived 2008 06 12 at the Wayback Machine Lonely Planet Publications Retrieved on 2008 07 16 a b c d Hultengren Irving A Beijing Underground City Archived 2020 12 04 at the Wayback Machine Irving A Hultegren Home Page 2008 2008 05 02 Retrieved on 2008 07 17 a b Going underground Archived 2020 12 04 at the Wayback Machine ChinaDaily 2005 12 30 Retrieved on 2008 07 17 Further reading edit Chairman Mao s Underground City Vice June 16 2012 Retrieved September 22 2017 39 54 00 N 116 24 22 E 39 899885 N 116 406122 E 39 899885 116 406122 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Underground City Beijing amp oldid 1175225454, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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