Wanping Fortress

The East Gate of the Wanping Fortress

Wanping Fortress, also known as Wanping Castle (Chinese: 宛平城; pinyin: Wǎnpíng Chéng) is a Ming Dynasty fortress, or "walled city" in Beijing. It was erected in 1638-1640, with the purpose of defending Beijing against Li Zicheng and the peasant uprising. It lies adjacent to the Lugou Bridge.

The Wanping Fortress has two gates, the east gate named Ever Prosperous Gate (永昌门), then renamed as Majestic Gate (威严门), and the west gate named as Favorably Govern Gate (顺治门).

In Chinese, the fortress is sometimes called Wanping City, and from the beginning, it functioned as a military fortress. From west to east, it measures 640 meters, and from south to the north 320 meters, make it a half-square shaped.

To the west of the fortress, there is the Yongding River, and the Lugou Bridge (Marco Polo Bridge, 卢沟桥).

Gallery

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  The West Gate of the Wanping Fortress seen from a distance

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  The fortress walls were damaged by Japanese shells during the Marco Polo Bridge Incident

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  The Wanping Fortress as seen from the Lugou Bridge

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  The walls of the fortress

References

• Wanping Fortress and Lugou Bridge (Marco Polo Bridge). TouchBeijing.com