The Southeast Turret in Beijing City, standing at the southeast corner of the inner Beijing city, was a building for defense in the Ming and the Qing Dynasties (1368-1911). In the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), there was another turret at the southwest corner of the inner Beijing city and which disappeared long ago. The layout of the building is rectangular, with the convex corner protruding at the turning point of the city wall. The turret has a double-eave roof covered with grey pantiles and green margins. The main ridges meet at the corner that is decorated with a spire. The turret has two gates leading to the top of the city wall. On the outer walls between the eaves there are 144 shooting holes -- windows for shooting arrows. The Southeast Turret of Beijing provides valuable materials for research into the buildings for defense in ancient China. 

All rights reserved. Reproduction of text for non-commercial purposes is permitted provided that both the source and author are acknowledged and a notifying email is sent to us.