 Badaling Fortress was built in 1505, it was 7.5 metres high, 4
metres thick. Badaling was actually a hub of communications in ancient times.
The Badaling
Fortress is about 600 metres above sea level. East of the Fortress is a huge rock seven
metres long and two metres high. It is called Looking-Toward Beijing Rock. The name of the
rock was from the Empress Dowager Ci'xi, who passed here as she fled to the north when the
Eight Allied Forces invaded Beijing in 1990. From this big rock, she looked back and gave
Beijng her last look. Hence the name.
Standing on the
rock, you may see the east side of the Fortress, on which four Chinese characters are
written, the outer town of Juyong. That is to say, this is indeed an important defensive
area on the north side of Juyongguan Pass.
When you entered
the Fortress, you will soon find on the west side of the Fortress another four Chinese
characters: the key to the north gate of Beijing. This simply means that strategically,
this area is very important. |