Königstein Fortress advertises with cannonballs in China

Königstein Fortress is courting tourists in China and is also sending cannonballs to the Middle Kingdom. Under the title "Königstein: Germany's most secure fortress", an exhibition on the monumental fortress in the heart of Saxon Switzerland is to be opened in the metropolis of Nanjing on Saturday. According to the fortress, it will showcase equipment, weapons, porcelain and historical cannonballs, among other things.

Königstein Fortress wants to promote the whole of Saxony in China

"This special exhibition is one of the greatest challenges in the museum history of Königstein Fortress," explained André Thieme, Managing Director of the fortress. It is a unique and very special opportunity to bring not only Königstein Fortress but the whole of Saxony into the focus of Chinese culture enthusiasts. The exhibition runs until November 9.

A Chinese scholar got the ball rolling for the exhibition. The historian Guoqing Yang saw striking similarities between the defensive wall of Königstein Fortress and the city wall in Nanjing, which was built in the 14th century. Today, it is considered one of the longest surviving city walls in the world, with 25 of its original 33 kilometers still standing.

Selfie station for exhibition visitors

Selfie-loving Chinese people have also been catered for: artists and tailors from Dresden and the surrounding area have created historically inspired costumes for a selfie station. With these costumes, visitors to the exhibition can slip into the role of a musketeer or noble lady and pose for a photo with the fortress as a backdrop.

Königstein Fortress is considered one of the most beautiful mountain fortresses in Europe. It towers almost 250 meters above the Elbe valley. The 9.5-hectare rocky plateau is home to more than 50 buildings dating back almost 800 years. The fortress was never conquered and served not only as a garrison but also as a prison. The list of more than 1,000 prisoners includes the Russian revolutionary Mikhail Bakunin and the social democrat August Bebel. Every year, several hundred thousand visitors from all over the world flock to the fortress.