Zhangfang Ancient Battle Tunnel is an A level tourist attraction, located in Zhangfang Township, Fangshan District, about 75 km away from downtown Beijing. This tunnel was constructed during the Song and Liao Dynasties and has been well preserved.

As early as the Western Jin Dynasty, great generals Liu Kun (刘琨) and Zu Di (祖狄) stationed at this place to prevent the people from the north invading their empire. At that time tents are pitched here and there, in an encampment miles long, and so the locals named this place Zhangfang (Chinese: 帐房: a place where tents are set up). Later, this named was changed to today’s name Zhangfang (Chinese: 张坊) because the two phrases share a similar pronunciation. You cannot tell the difference by looking at the two phrases’ pinyin. The hole of the last floor of the ancient town’s tower building leads to the underground tunnel.

Is it interesting? Yes, I think so. But what interests everyone visiting the tunnel more are the stories about it. It is said that ancient poets visited the building many times and wrote down many poems when they left. In addition, some stories even feature senior officials of ancient China's Ming Dynasty.

Legend says that a senior official surnamed Ren (任) of the Ming Dynasty renovated the ancient battle tunnel and finally chiseled the tunnel to his own family’s tomb yard, aiming to appreciate the ancient town and the beautiful scenery of Juma River (Chinese: 拒马河) and worship his ancestors since this tunnel could lead to his family’s tomb yard.

No one knows how the emperor of that time learned this news, and he became angry with this senior official of his since he thought this old official wanted to have his own army and usurp. Therefore, the emperor condemned Mr. Ren to beheading but later learned the real reason why Mr. Ren rebuilt that battle tunnel. Feeling sorry for what he had done, the emperor ordered to cast a gold head for Mr. Ren and buried it into the tomb yard where Mr. Ren was buried.

This is just a legendary story, but many people thought such a gold head really existed and so dug hundreds of years. Until today they have found nothing but dirt.

Admission: 20 yuan

Opening hours: 8:30 - 17:00

Address: Zhangfang Village, Zhangfang Township, Fangshan District, Beijing 北京市房山区张坊镇张坊村

Getting there: Take Subway Line Fangshan (房山线), get off at Suzhuang (苏庄; Exit A1), and then take Bus No. 917 to Zhangfang Stop (张坊站).