If you are interested in old military history and underground tunnels, then Travel to Beijing and visit the Underground City. The underground city which is also known as Dixia Cheng is a bomb shelter comprising of a network of tunnels located just beneath Beijing, China. This underground city has been transformed into a tourist attraction and it has been called the underground Great Wall because it was built for the purpose of military defence. The complex was constructed during the 1970’s in anticipation of a nuclear war with the Soviet Union and it was officially reopened in 2000. During your Beijing Tours to the Underground City, you would feel somewhat eerie when walking around the tunnel as it is very dark and damp inside.
Entrance of the Underground City
Location:
Pathway of the Underground City
The Underground City is a tunnel comprising of Dixia Cheng which run beneath the Beijing’s city centre, covering an area of 85 kilometres (33 sq mi) 8 to 18 metres (26-59ft) under the surface. There were about 90 entrances to the complex at one time and all of which were hidden in shops along the main streets of Qianmen. The well known entrances of the Underground City are the 62 West Damochpooang Street in Qianmen, Beijing Qianmen Carpet Factory at 44 Xingfu Dajie in Chongwen District, and 18 Dazhalan Jie in Qianmen.
Brief History of Underground City:
At the height of the Soviet-Chinese tensions in 1969, Chinese chairman Mao Zedong ordered the construction of Dixia Cheng during the border conflict over Zhenbao Island in the Heilongjiang River. It was one of the bomb shelters constructed in case of a nuclear attack. The Underground City was designed to withstand either a nuclear or conventional attack. The complex would enable Beijing’s population to hide from air raids, and could allow China leaders to flee safety to military bases in the hills. The government claimed that the tunnels could accommodate all of Beijing’s six million inhabitants upon its completion.
Parts of Underground City
The complex was equipped with facilities such as restaurants, clinics, schools, theatres, factories, a roller skating rink, a grain and oil warehouse, and a mushroom cultivation farm for growing food that require little light. There were also more than 70 sites inside the tunnels at which water wells could be dug.
Since the complex was built, the tunnels were used by young lovers and by children daring each other to remain in the darkness longer than their friends. On busy streets, some portions of the complex were used as inexpensive hostels, while others were transformed into shopping and business centres, or even theatres.
Underground City as a Tourist Attraction:
The complex was officially opened in 2000 and visitors were allowed to tour portions of the complex. The Underground City was popular with foreign tourists but remained virtually forgotten by local citizens. Despite having many entrances, foreign visitors entered approved sections accessed via a small shop in front of Qianmen, south of Tiananmen Square, at 62 West Damonchang Street. Tour groups could enter free of charge and without prior permission while individual tourists not part of a group were charged 20 yuan each.
If you find these interesting, then book your Beijing Flights now and go on tour and discover the hidden history of China.
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