Zhongshan Gate in Nanjing

Zhongshan Gate in Nanjing

Zhongshan Gate in Nanjing

The wall of Nanjing’s Zhongshan Gate, built during the Ming Dynasty, has withstood centuries of wind and rain. Originally known as Chaoyang Gate, it was located on the eastern side of the imperial city at the beginning of the Ming era and functioned as a barbican, which was not suitable for vehicles. In 1927, during the construction of the Zhongshan Mausoleum Avenue, the gate was demolished, its foundation lowered, and a new three-arch brick gate was erected. A stone plaque inscribed with the characters “Zhongshan Gate” was embedded in the central arch, allowing vehicle access and serving as the main gateway to the Zhongshan Mausoleum.

Zhongshan Gate is one of the thirteen gates of Nanjing’s Ming city wall. Originally named Chaoyang Gate, it derived its name from its location on the eastern side of Nanjing, where it was the first to greet the rising sun. It was built in 1366 when Zhu Yuanzhang expanded the city eastward and northward. At that time, the gate was a single-arch structure with an additional gate outside. Serving as a passage connecting the imperial city within and the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum outside through the barbican, it witnessed intense battles during both the Taiping Rebellion and the Xiang Army campaigns led by Zeng Guofan. During the Xinhai Revolution, the Jiangsu-Zhejiang Allied Forces also launched their attack on Nanjing through this gate. In the Republican era, the gate was chosen as the route for transporting Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s remains to his mausoleum. In July 1928, the Nationalist Government renamed seven city gates and renovated them. Among these, Chaoyang Gate was renamed Zhongshan Gate, a name it retains to this day.

On both sides of Zhongshan Gate, sections of the Ming-era city wall are still preserved, along with a stretch of the moat outside the wall, presenting a grand and imposing sight. It has now been designated as a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.