Zhonghua Gate

Why it's worth it

The biggest castle-style city gate in China, finished 1386 — 20,000 workers, bricks stamped with the names of their makers (a quality-control death clause), and 13 soldier-hiding vaults inside the rampart's belly.

Don't miss

• The brick inscriptions — find a maker's name and a prefecture stamped 600 years ago
• The arched cunbing caves (soldier stores), empty now and enormous
• Walking the wall-top towards the old quarter with the Qinhuai below

Getting there

Metro Line 1 to Zhonghuamen, Exit 2; the gate complex is directly north of the station.

Tips

• An hour does it; pair with a wall-walk extension if the weather holds
• The legend of the buried treasure bowl (Shen Wanshan's 'treasure basin') is on the boards inside — read it there
• Afternoons are quiet; the gate faces west so evening light hits the brickwork