In 1535, by the order of Elena Glinskaya, mother of Ivan IV, the construction of the stone Kitaigorod Wall began. Before that, there was a moat with an earthen rampart and wooden fortifications for protection against enemies. The future fortress was consecrated by Metropolitan Daniil, and after a procession, the builders began laying the first stones.

The construction was led by Petrok Maly, who erected four towers with gates: Sretensky, Troitsky, All Saints, and Kosmodemyansky. The wall was built in three years and covered an area of 63 hectares, starting from the Kremlin Beklemishev Tower along the Moskva River to the Arsenal Tower. It was lower than the Kremlin walls but thicker, with platforms for artillery. Its length was 2567 meters, width 4 meters, and height over 6 meters.

The towers of Kitaigorod protruded beyond the wall line, allowing for firing along the fortifications. The towers had three rows of embrasures, and the artillery was arranged in several tiers. On the upper part of the wall, there were platforms for cannons, protected by merlons. Inside the towers, there were cellars for storing ammunition and underground passages. Fortifications modeled after the Kitaigorod Wall were built for the Serpukhov Kremlin, Trinity-Sergius Lavra, and the White City.

The Kitaigorod Wall is listed in the Red Book of "ArkhNadzor" as a cultural heritage site of Moscow that is under threat.

In 1666, repairs to the fortifications began, and in the 1680s, they were updated, adding tented roofs to some towers. During Alexei Mikhailovich's reign, the Voskresensky Gate was built. During the Northern War, Peter I ordered the wall to be strengthened, fearing an attack from Charles XII. In 1708 and 1709, engineer Vasily Korchmin erected earthen bastions that blocked the Neglinnaya River.

In the 18th century, the walls lost their military significance. In 1782, repairs began under the guidance of Francesco Ruzka, but funds were only sufficient for a section up to the Barbarian Gate. In 1796 and 1800, a waterfront was created along the Moskva River, and the wall became partially buried. The territory next to it was sold for a pittance, and various buildings were added to the towers. In 1807, a section of the wall 23 fathoms long collapsed.

In 1806, a decree allowed the construction of shops on the wall and its repair at the owners' expense. In 1813, part of the wall was dismantled for the repair of the Kremlin. Architect William Geste proposed demolishing part of the wall, but Governor-General Fyodor Rostopchin insisted on its preservation.

In 1819 and 1823, the bastions were demolished, and the Ilyinsky Gate was opened for passage. In 1870, the wall was destroyed for six fathoms for the Tretyakov Passage. At the end of the 19th century, the Moscow Archaeological Society created a commission for the protection of the walls.

In 1925, restoration began under the guidance of Nikolai Vinogradov and N. A. Vsevolozhsky. The work continued until 1932, but the demolition of the wall was also discussed for street expansion. In 1932, a decision was made to demolish the wall for the needs of the Metro construction.

Dismantling began from the Tretyakov Passage and was completed in 1934. The rubble was used for metro construction. In 1935, a metro station "Dzerzhinskaya" opened at the site of the wall.

Several fragments of the wall have survived: at Revolution Square, part of the foundation of the Barbarian Tower, and in Kitaigorodsky Passage. In 1968 and 1973, the wall along Kitaigorodsky Passage was restored.

In 1995 and 2000, under public pressure, some elements of the wall were restored. In 2017, archaeologists discovered 16th-century rooms and other artifacts at the foundation of the fortress, which are now stored in the "Zaryadye" museum.