Great Wall Construction, Repairs and Garrisons under the Ming (1368–1644)

1. Ming dynasty founded; frontier defense emphasized

   Jan 1, 1368Labels: Ming dynasty, Beacon towers, Frontier garrisons

   • Britannica Wall
   • npj Heritage

2. Jiayu Pass fortress built at Hexi Corridor

   Jan 1, 1372Labels: Jiayu Pass, Hexi Corridor, Frontier fortress

   • Britannica Wall
   • Jiayu Pass

3. Shanhai Pass repaired and fortified under Xu Da

   Jan 1, 1381Labels: Shanhai Pass, Xu Da, Bohai coast

   • Shanhai Pass
   • ChinaCulture

4. Liaodong Town wall construction begins (1437–1442)

   Jan 1, 1437Labels: Liaodong Town, Continuous walls, Liaodong

   • npj Heritage
   • Great Wall

5. Tumu Crisis accelerates northern defense rethinking

   Sep 1, 1449Labels: Tumu Crisis, Capital approaches, Northern defense

   • npj Heritage
   • Wall History

6. Hushan (Yalu) border wall recorded in Ming Shilu

   Jan 1, 1479Labels: Hushan, Yalu River, Ming Shilu

   • Hushan Wall

7. Altan Khan breaks through and besieges Beijing suburbs

   Oct 1, 1550Labels: Altan Khan, Beijing suburbs, Mongol incursion

   • Altan Khan
   • Wall History

8. Capital-region wall building begins in Jizhou sector

   Jan 1, 1551Labels: Jizhou sector, Juyong Pass, Capital region

   • Jizhou Garrison
   • Ming Wall

9. Ji–Chang defense commands strengthened under Qi Jiguang

   Jan 1, 1567Labels: Qi Jiguang, Ji Chang, Tan Lun

   • Ming Wall
   • Wall History

10. Large-scale hollow watchtower program built (1569–1571)

    Jan 1, 1569Labels: Hollow watchtowers, Ji Chang, Brick towers

    • Ming Wall
    • Wall History
    • Great Wall

11. Longqing peace opens border trade; raids reduced

    Jan 1, 1571Labels: Longqing peace, Altan Khan, Border trade

    • Ming Wall
    • Britannica Longqing
    • Haijiaoshi

12. Qi Jiguang’s mass exercise formalizes frontier training

    Dec 1, 1572Labels: Qi Jiguang, Mass exercise, Frontier training

    • Qi Jiguang

13. Manchu pressure rises; Shanhai Pass becomes last major barrier

    Jan 1, 1600Labels: Shanhai Pass, Manchu pressure, Liaodong

    • Great Wall
    • Shanhai Pass

14. Major Liaodong Wall repair campaign recorded (1608)

    Jan 1, 1608Labels: Liaodong repair, Repair campaign, Frontier maintenance

    • npj Heritage

15. Wu Sangui opens Shanhai Pass to Qing forces

    May 22, 1644Labels: Wu Sangui, Shanhai Pass, Dorgon

    • Wu Sangui
    • Great Wall

16. Beijing’s fall ends Ming rule; wall system loses state backing

    Jun 1, 1644Labels: Beijing fall, Qing succession, Wall system

    • Great Wall