This afternoon, I was walking along Beijing’s old moat, starting from Guangqumen Bridge and heading west toward Dongbianmen.
Near the Southeast Corner Watchtower of the Ming City Wall, I noticed a small group of people gathered on the east bank of the moat. At first, I wasn’t sure what they were doing. Then I saw the slingshots in their hands.
They were standing in one row and shooting small steel balls at targets set more than ten metres away. A few bottles, cans and other small objects were hanging nearby as extra targets.
Slingshot enthusiasts gather beside Beijing’s old moat near Dongbianmen
The targets had been placed high on the slope beside the moat, well away from the walking path. Everyone was shooting upward toward the same area, so people passing along the riverside were kept out of the line of fire.
Meeting Lao Zhang
I stopped to watch for a while and eventually started talking with one of the men, a bald gentleman surnamed Zhang. I’ll call him Lao Zhang.
He told me that slingshot shooting is still quite popular among some Beijing residents. For most of them, it isn’t really about competition. They come here for fun, for a little exercise, and perhaps most importantly, to spend time together.
Lao Zhang takes aim at the target.
It is also a hobby that doesn’t cost very much.
Lao Zhang showed me the kind of slingshot they use today. Many are made from titanium alloy or similar materials and look much more refined than the simple slingshots I remembered from childhood.
Lao Zhang showed me his slingshot and shooting gear
According to him, a decent slingshot costs around RMB 200. The steel balls cost about RMB 35 for half a kilogram.
Not the Slingshots I Remember
Watching them brought back a small memory from my own childhood.
When I was young, we also played with slingshots, but ours were very simple. We looked for a suitable Y-shaped tree branch and tied ordinary rubber strips to it. There was no titanium alloy, no carefully made grip and certainly no special equipment.
We just made them ourselves and went out to play.
Standing beside the moat today, I watched one man pull back the elastic, hold still for a second and release. A tiny steel ball disappeared toward the target.
Then another man stepped forward.
Someone made a comment. The others laughed.
It felt less like serious practice and more like an afternoon gathering between old friends.
A Small Part of Everyday Beijing
Lao Zhang told me that many of these slingshot enthusiasts come here almost every day. On weekends, there are usually more people.
The box target catches the steel balls.
They shoot for a while, chat, joke with one another and compare their skills. Some are naturally better shots than others.
There are organized slingshot competitions in China and elsewhere, but the group I met beside the moat seemed far removed from that world. Nobody looked particularly concerned about winning anything.
They were simply enjoying their afternoon.
A few men, some slingshots, a bag of steel balls, and a relaxed afternoon by the moat.
This is one reason I like walking through Beijing rather than only moving between famous sights. The Southeast Corner Watchtower is a historic landmark, and many visitors come here to see the old city wall. But just a short distance away, along the moat, ordinary Beijing life continues in its own way.
A few men, some slingshots, a bag of steel balls, bottles hanging on a distant slope, and plenty of conversation between shots.
If you happen to walk along the east side of the moat near the Ming City Wall Southeast Corner Watchtower, you may see them too.
It is a small scene, easy to walk past.
More Beijing Street Photo Stories and Walks
Beijing Ming City Wall Relics Park Morning Walk — From the Southeast Corner Tower to Chongwenmen
Beijing Second Ring Road Moat Greenway Walk — From Guangqumen Bridge to Zuo’anmen Bridge
Fishing at Sunrise Along Beijing’s Old City Moat
Zhushikou Church on Beijing’s Central Axis | Beijing Street Photography by Ruqin
