Wanping Fortress
Wanping Fortress, also known as Wanping Castle, is a Ming Dynasty fortress or "walled city" in Fengtai District, Beijing. It was erected in 1638–1640, with the purpose of defending Beijing against Li Zicheng and the peasant uprising.
From the beginning, it functioned as a military fortress. From west to east, it measures, and from south to the north, making it a half-square shape.
The fortress has two gates: the east gate, named Ever Prosperous Gate, then renamed as Majestic Gate, and the west gate, named Favorably Govern Gate.
Wanping witnessed the incident in July 1937 that is reckoned to mark the start of the Second Sino-Japanese War, with an exchange of fire over a minor case of a Japanese soldier missing from his post. For reasons unknown, this escalated into full-scale combat. It is known as the Marco Polo [Bridge Incident], and also the Lugou Bridge Incident.
The Museum of [the War of Chinese People's Resistance Against Japanese Aggression], surrounded by a plaza and park with numerous sculptures, occupies a large portion of the space inside the fortress' walls.
To the west of the fortress are the Yongding River and the Lugou Bridge.