An increasing number of visitors are registering to explore a newly opened underground space in Dongcheng district, Beijing. The site, originally a late 1960s civil air defense project, has been transformed into a museum and was reopened in mid-May.

The underground city was originally constructed in 1969 and opened to the public in the 1980s. The site closed in 2008 to be transformed into a museum commemorating air defense efforts of the era. In the 1970s, it served as a shelter for citizens fearing air force attacks.

The underground complex lies south of Xidamochang Street, approximately 800 meters from Beijing's Central Axis.

Xu Zhichang, a former chief engineer at Tiantan Park (Temple of Heaven Park), said, "Much of the earth excavated from the project beginning in 1969 was piled in Tiantan Park and was removed in 1990."

The early air-raid shelters feature crisscross tunnels of varying widths, representing a typical example among numerous civil air defense facilities across the city.

The museum is divided into four sections, focusing on the site's historical development: the inception of air defense efforts and their mission, nationwide underground shelter construction for emergency preparedness since the founding of New China in 1949, the transition from wartime to peacetime, and the innovative development of the Chinese capital.

"It offers a comprehensive and multidimensional overview of the evolution of Beijing's national defense mobilization and the development of civil air defense infrastructure," said Yao Jian, deputy general manager of Tianjie Group, the state-owned enterprise investing in the museum.

Upon entering the main exhibition hall, visitors can watch exclusive documentaries about the history and examine models of the J-20 fighter jet, Long March rockets, Shenzhou spacecraft re-entry capsules, and lunar rovers.

The venue also offers immersive virtual reality experiences featuring lunar rover exploration and simulated re-entry capsule scenarios. These experiences, empowered by cutting-edge technology, allow visitors to witness the remarkable growth of China's national defense capabilities.

"The venue has received widespread praise and unanimous recognition since its opening in mid-May. What strikes me most is that many local Beijing residents, especially elderly builders who personally participated in the construction of these civil air defense projects decades ago, have made special trips to visit," Yao said.

They come not only to reflect on those challenging years but also to recall their youthful days devoted to the construction work.

The elders who participated in the construction campaigns often recall the collective solidarity and strong sense of mission from those days, Yao said.

"We brought tools from our own homes, using whatever we had on hand," one senior told Beijing News."We dug shelters at work during the day, continued digging at home after work, and even helped our neighbors with their construction."

During their visit, these senior veterans eagerly share vivid stories of hardships and touching moments from the construction period.

"Their firsthand accounts are far more authentic and down-to-earth than written records and photo displays, perfectly restoring the true history of civil air defense development," Yao said.

"They register to reflect on their memories, and moreover, more schools have contacted us to arrange tours to help students enhance their patriotism."

The museum, covering an area of approximately 400 square meters, opened on May 12 and can accommodate up to 600 visitors per day.

yangcheng@chinadaily.com.cn