Beijing Attractions
Underground City Beijing © vipeldo
The Underground City
For more than 20 years, Beijing's Underground City, a bomb
shelter just beneath the ancient capital's downtown area built in
case of nuclear attack, has been virtually forgotten by Beijing
locals, despite being infamous amongst foreigners since its
official opening in 2000. A sign near the entrance announces this
rarely visited attraction a 'human fairyland and underground
paradise'. Aside from some rather odd recent additions, the
Underground City features factories, stores, guesthouses,
restaurants, hospitals, schools, theatres, reading-rooms, a
roller-skating rink and many other curious features. Built from
1969 to 1979 by more than 300,000 local citizens including school
children, The tunnels were initially built to accommodate all of
Beijing's six million inhabitants upon completion. Winding for over
18 miles (30 km) and covering an area of 85 square kilometers from
eight to eighteen meters under the surface, the underground City
includes more than 1,000 anti-air raid structures.
Address: Xi Damochang Jie 64;
Telephone: (0)10 6702 2657;
Transport: Metro: Chongwen Men (209, exit D);
Opening time: Open daily from 8.30am to 5pm;
Admission: ¥20
