Dijicheng, a city with crucible walls, is another hidden gem.

Before going to the Imperial City Prime Minister's Residence, we followed our annual pass and stopped by Dijicheng. Early in the morning, there weren't many people, and it was so cool to stroll around the small castle with just our family of three ⊙▽⊙ The name Dijicheng is quite interesting, sounding like a mysterious city from a martial arts film. It turns out that "Ji" refers to the Qin River, formerly known as the Ji River, and "Di" refers to the fact that Dijicheng was built on a natural whetstone by the Qin River, surrounded by water on three sides. The name of the city is actually its geographical location. However, there is another saying that it means to resist flooding and protect the people. It's impossible to verify when Dijicheng was founded. However, the outline of its city walls existed at least during the Song Dynasty, and its defense system was perfected by the late Ming Dynasty. Its city walls are very unique. At first glance, they appear honeycomb-shaped. A closer look reveals that these wall bricks are covered with blue bricks on the outside, while the inside is a mixture of iron-smelting crucibles and stone strips, making them quite resistant to attacks. Moreover, the city walls are fully equipped with defensive facilities, such as artillery platforms, watchtowers, and hidden soldier caves, giving the entire wall sufficient confidence to resist foreign enemies. Dijicheng also has land gates and water gates, corresponding to vehicle and boat passages, respectively. It is said that during the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, Li Zicheng's peasant army attacked Dijicheng many times but failed to conquer it. Later, during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the Japanese army also attempted to invade Dijicheng, but they also returned without success. The city walls of Dijicheng were like an impenetrable fortress, protecting the city's residents. Of course, even if they had invaded, they might not have been able to claim victory. This is because the interior of Dijicheng is like a maze. Its streets and alleys are not only narrow but also mostly T-shaped, leading in all directions yet easily disorienting. This layout was not only unfavorable for enemy attacks but also allowed the city's residents to quickly move or counterattack through the aisles and over-street buildings between courtyards. It's not an exaggeration to say that Dijicheng was a marvel of attack and defense in the era of cold weapons. In addition, Dijicheng is not only known for its martial prowess but also for its cultural achievements, having produced many famous figures. The most famous is the Qing Dynasty mathematician Zhang Dunren, and another is Guo Zhang, the main developer of the "Manchu Han Imperial Feast." If you plan to visit the Imperial City Prime Minister's Residence, consider adding Dijicheng to your itinerary. It's a very low-key and unique place.