On May 12, the "Beijing Underground City" in the Qianmen East area of Dongcheng District reopened. This early civil air defense project, originally constructed in 1969, was closed in 2008. Following a comprehensive renovation, it has now been transformed into the Beijing Civil Air Defense History and Culture Museum. The initiative was jointly promoted by the Beijing National Defense Mobilization Office and the Dongcheng District government. According to the operating entity, the reopened area is the core section of the original civil air defense project. The site has entered a trial operation phase starting from that day, with public access available through advance reservation.
The core exhibition area of the "Beijing Underground City" today.
Revitalization: From Civil Defense Project to History and Culture Museum A reopening ceremony was held on the morning of May 12, attended by officials including Ye Dahua, Director of the Beijing National Defense Mobilization Office; Su Hao, Deputy District Mayor of Dongcheng District; Wang Zhibo, Director of the Dongcheng District National Defense Mobilization Office; Wei Bo, Secretary of the Qianmen Sub-district Party Working Committee; and Li Jun, Party Secretary and Chairman of Tianjie Group. The ceremony commenced at 10 a.m., featuring the unveiling of plaques for the "Beijing Civil Air Defense History and Culture Museum" and the "Beijing National Defense Mobilization Education Base." This marks a new chapter for the early civil defense facility built in 1969.
The reopened "Beijing Underground City" encompasses the core area of the original project, located in the northern section. It preserves a complete 400-square-meter underground assembly hall from that era. The site is now a comprehensive national defense mobilization propaganda base and a new benchmark for cultural and tourism integration, combining historical heritage, national defense education, patriotic education, and technological experience. In the future, it is poised to become a key municipal venue for national defense education and patriotic study tours, contributing to the renewal of the Qianmen historical and cultural district. The project aims to be a safe, engaging, and sustainable high-quality initiative, enriching the cultural and tourism industry of Dongcheng District and enhancing residents' lives.
Looking Back: The Underground City Dug by Hand Many longtime Beijing residents hold a special connection to the "Beijing Underground City." The story dates back to October 1969, when local residents, young and old, mobilized to construct the civil defense project without the aid of machinery. At that time, digging air-raid shelters was a crucial part of wartime civil air defense, serving as an effective measure to preserve wartime potential and enhance the city's comprehensive defense and disaster resilience capabilities. This mobilization marked a shift in civil defense construction from semi-public to fully public engagement, relying on mass participation.
Over the following decade, through the collective effort of Beijing's citizens contributing labor and tools, the early air-raid shelter system in the Qianmen East area took shape. This network later became known as the "Beijing Underground City." According to public records, this underground space is located south of Xidamochang, approximately 800 meters from the city's central axis. The early shelters featured a complex, interwoven network of tunnels of varying widths. Its large scale and extensive coverage made it a representative example among Beijing's many civil defense structures.
Elderly residents who participated in the mobilization often recall the spirit of unity and sense of responsibility with pride: "We brought tools from our own homes, whatever we had. We dug at our workplaces during the day and at home in the evenings, sometimes even helping our neighbors." An interesting legacy of the project remains visible today: the massive amount of excavated soil was transported to suburban areas to fill depressions and even form artificial hills in urban parks. The soil mounds in parks like Dongdan Park, Taoranting Park, and Qingnianhu Park originated from this project. What endures in collective memory is not only that remarkable period but also the spirit of unity it fostered.
While the "Beijing Underground City" no longer serves its original wartime defensive purpose, the spirit of collective effort and preparedness it embodies continues to resonate.
Transformation: From "Digging Deep" to "Preparedness in Peace" Entering the "Beijing Underground City" from the north entrance of Xixinglong Street reveals a completely renewed "world below." The Civil Air Defense History and Culture Museum guides visitors through this transformation with an exhibition structured around four thematic chapters following a historical timeline. It comprehensively and multi-dimensionally presents the development of Beijing's national defense mobilization and the history of civil air defense preparedness, evoking a sense of national sentiment across time.
An unexpected air-raid siren sound effect can transport visitors' thoughts to the past. Stepping into the 400-square-meter core space offers a different experience: visitors can board a simulated "space capsule," operate a "lunar rover," and enjoy immersive interactive experiences through VR technology.
Beijing Tianjie Group Co., Ltd. is the current operator of the underground city project. Yao Jian, Deputy General Manager of the company, stated that the function of this underground city has evolved with the times but has always remained closely connected to national security and urban development. It is one of the few well-preserved early tunnel-style civil air defense projects. During the trial operation, public access will be free but require advance reservation. Opening hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday, with closure on Mondays for maintenance.
"During the current trial period, citizens can visit for free by registering on-site. In the future, online reservations will also be available through a dedicated mini-program," Yao Jian added. According to the Beijing National Defense Mobilization Office, as a precious urban historical site, the "Beijing Underground City" will regularly host various propaganda and educational activities, including patriotic education tours and study practices, to enhance the national defense awareness and literacy of Beijing's residents.
The lunar rover VR experience equipment in the core exhibition area of the "Beijing Underground City."
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