[A castle that travels through time: Al Masmak Fortress]

#MayGoodPlaces2025 #SaudiArabia #Riyadh On the first day in Riyadh, I couldn't wait to walk into this historic castle - Al Masmak Fortress. This castle was built in the mid-19th century and is made of mud bricks. The exterior walls are thick and solid, and the color is warm yellow in the desert. Once you step in, it feels like you are walking into a thousand-year-old Arab legend. The most famous historical event of Masmak Fortress is that King Abdulaziz launched a campaign to unify Arabia from here in 1902, successfully captured Riyadh, and opened the prologue of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Although the fortress has been restored today, it still retains the original city gates, arrow towers and traditional weapons on display. The spear inserted into the door at the entrance is a symbol of the battle that year, which makes people awe-inspiring. The museum displays a wealth of photos, models and maps, with English explanations. Whether you are a history fan or not, you can easily understand how Saudi Arabia went from a tribe to a unified kingdom. Standing on the height of the fortress and overlooking the surrounding urban area, while feeling the intersection of ancient and modern times, I can't help but have more respect for this land.