Nanjing City Wall

The Nanjing city wall was raised under the first emperor of the Ming dynasty in 1366 to 1393, when the city was the capital of the country. Its length exceeded thirty-five kilometres, and this is the longest city fortification ever built. The courses were laid in fired brick on a mortar mixed with rice gruel, and every brick was stamped with the mark of its workshop and of the supervising official. About twenty-five kilometres of the wall survive to our day with several gates, among them the Zhonghuaximen arch in the picture. Footpaths run along the fortifications, and certain stretches can be climbed.

On the map