Nanjing Great Bell Pavilion Park

Nanjing Great Bell Pavilion Park

Great Bell Pavilion Park is located northeast of Gulou Square at No. 1 Dazhongting Road, covering a total area of 5,500 square meters, with a fountain water surface of 60 square meters and a green space ratio of 65.45%. The park is named after the Great Bell Pavilion. It is a municipal cultural garden.

The 1395 "Map of the Capital under the Hongwu Reign" indicates that the Bell Tower was situated to the west of the Drum Tower. The Republican-era "Capital Chronicles" recorded: "Next to the Stele Tower (Drum Tower) is the Inverted Bell Foundry, where two Ming Dynasty bells are housed — relics from the original Bell Tower." The "Brief Chronicles of Nanjing" stated: "The Great Bell Pavilion, located on the east side of the Drum Tower, is commonly known as the Inverted Bell Foundry." The "Records of the Nanjing Provincial Surveillance Commission" noted: "The Bell Tower was originally located at Zuozipu and built in 1382 during the Hongwu reign of the Ming Dynasty. A ringing bell was hung inside the tower. On April 20, 1391, during the Hongwu reign, a standing bell was cast and placed in front of the tower. On December 14, 1392, a horizontal bell was manufactured behind the Fuijun Guard Post. By the Kangxi era of the Qing Dynasty, the Bell Tower had collapsed, and both the ringing bell and the standing bell were destroyed, leaving only the horizontal bell, which remained half-buried in the ground, hence the local name 'Inverted Bell Foundry' (though the casting date of the existing bell does not match the inscription). In 1889, during the Guangxu reign, Jiangning Provincial Administration Commissioner Xu Zhenwei built a pavilion here to hang the bell, naming it the Iron Pillar Pavilion (Great Bell Pavilion). The plaque at the entrance inscribed with 'The Primeval Sound Rises Again' no longer exists. From the above, it can be seen that during the Republican period, the Great Bell Pavilion was commonly known as the Inverted Bell Foundry and was not the original site of the Bell Tower (Zuozipu)."

After the liberation of Nanjing, in 1957, it was placed under the management of the Xuanwu District Construction Department. In 1958, during the expansion of Beijing East Road, the east wing rooms and three main halls were renovated, and the courtyard was landscaped, covering an area of 1,700 square meters. In 1959, a chrysanthemum exhibition was held here. After the establishment of the Municipal Floriculture Company, the Great Bell Pavilion was placed under its jurisdiction. In 1993, the expansion project was completed, featuring four park gates. The main gate, originally facing west toward Central Road, was changed to face south toward Dazhongting Road, with an archway and screen wall erected.

Scenic Area Address: No. 1 Dazhongting, Xuanwu District, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province

Transportation: In Nanjing, take bus routes 1, Inner Ring 3, 25, 28, 33, 35, 801, 802, Tourist 1, etc., and get off at Gulou North Station; take bus routes 26, 30, 46, 47, 52, 67, Night 811, etc., and get off at Baotai Street Station.