Underground City (Beijing) - History

History

At the height of 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's leaders to flee safely to military bases in the hills. The government claimed that the tunnels could accommodate all of Beijing's six million inhabitants upon its completion.

The complex was equipped with facilities such as restaurants, clinics, schools, theaters, factories, a roller skating rink, a grain and oil warehouse, and a mushroom cultivation farm, for growing foods that require little light. There were also more than 70 sites inside the tunnels at which water wells could be dug. Elaborate ventilation systems were installed, with shafts that could close to protect against water and chemicals, and gas and waterproof hatches were constructed to protect people in the tunnels from chemical attack and radioactive fallout. The complex also had thick concrete doors, which help protect the tunnels from intruders or a flood.

There is no authoritative information on the extent of the complex's tunnels, but one tourist explained that they link Beijing's central railway station with Tiananmen square, the Temple of Heaven, the Forbidden City and the Western Hills, while the China Internet Information Center asserts that "they supposedly link all areas of central Beijing, from Xidan and Xuanwumen to Qianmen and Chongwen district", in addition to the Western Hills. It is also rumoured that every residence once had a secret trapdoor nearby leading to the tunnels. 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.

The tunnels were built by more than 300,000 local citizens, including school children, and were mostly dug by hand. 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.

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 centers, or even theaters.

While the complex has never been used for its intended purpose, it has been maintained by city officials; water conservancy authorities check it every year during rainy seasons, and it is included in anti-vermin sweeps.