Nanjing's Ming Dynasty City Wall Showcases Unique Defensive Architecture

Nanjing, capital of the historic Six Dynasties, is naturally fortified by surrounding mountains, the wide Yangtze River to the north and the Qinhuai River to the south. In 1366, before becoming emperor, Zhu Yuanzhang ordered the construction of an unprecedented brick‑and‑stone wall for the new Ming Dynasty. The project lasted 28 years (1366‑1393), employed about 280,000 workers and used roughly 350 million bricks, creating a defensive perimeter of more than 35 km, of which about 25 km remain today – the longest surviving urban brick wall in the world.

The wall is organized into four concentric rings: the Palace City (imperial residence), the Imperial City (central government), the Capital City (main urban core) and the Outer City (peripheral defenses). Unlike many square‑plan cities, the wall follows Nanjing’s natural terrain, winding around hills and waterways. Many bricks still bear the names of the craftsmen, supervisors and their places of origin, offering a rare glimpse into the individual labor behind the massive construction. Visitors can presently walk the surviving sections of the Capital City wall.