Many expats are vaguely aware that below Beijing’s streets lies an immense network of tunnels dating back to the late 1960s and early 70s, when nuclear attack from either the USSR or the US seemed a real possibility. The tunnels form an underground city that was designed to house much of Beijing’s population in the advent of a nuclear strike. Unfortunately the small section of the network formerly open to the public was closed prior to the Olympics and has never re-opened. Vice magazine, however, recently provided a slightly illicit peek into what lies below our city streets.

The article details a trip by Alex Hoban into the tunnels, guided by a local with an access point into the system from the back of his home, presumably located somewhere within Beijing’s older section within the Second Ring Road.

A series of images give a fascinating insight into the complexity and size of the tunnel system – all the more amazing when you consider the network was largely dug by hand. The adventurers stumbled upon some relics of the late 60s, such as a Chairman Mao poster and revolutionary slogans of the era painted on the walls. They also found evidence that there are people currently living in some of the tunnels.

According to Wikipedia, the section of the tunnels that was open before the Olympics is closed for renovations - here's hoping it re-opens at some point, allowing easy access to this relic of China's recent past. You can read more about the Underground City here.