The Ruins of the Eastern Water Gate in Rugao

The Ruins of the Eastern Water Gate in Rugao

The ruins of the Eastern Water Gate in Rugao are a protected cultural heritage site of Jiangsu Province.

The ruins of the Eastern Water Gate are remnants of the city wall built in the 33rd year of the Jiajing reign during the Ming Dynasty. Currently standing 8 meters high, 21.9 meters long, and 17.1 meters wide, they feature a brick-constructed culvert that connects the inner and outer city moats. The culvert runs east-west, with a pointed arch ceiling and a lotus-petal-shaped cross-section. It is 6.65 meters high, 3.8 meters wide, and 7.1 meters deep. The bottom of the culvert is covered with a layer of cedar pile planks topped with city bricks, and the sides are lined with long bluestone slabs. The eastern entrance is fitted with a wooden gate slot and bears a blue stone plaque inscribed with “Eastern Water Gate.” The wall originally contained a stele titled “Chronicles of the Pacification of the Wokou,” which is now housed in the city museum. To the north of the gate, about 40 meters of the remaining city wall are connected. Some of the wall bricks have been collected and preserved. In 2006, it was designated as a protected cultural heritage site of Jiangsu Province.

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of Protected Cultural Heritage Sites of Jiangsu Province