Xuanwu Gate

Xuanwu Gate

Xuanwu Gate is an entrance gate of the Ming city wall in Nanjing and now serves as the main gate of Xuanwu Lake Park. In 1910, Duanfang, the Viceroy of Liangjiang, organized the Nanyang Industrial Exposition. To add tourist attractions and facilitate visits to Xuanwu Lake, he decided to create a new gate leading to the lake and open Xuanwu Lake as the "Five Continents Park" to the public. The project was later overseen by his successor, Governor Zhang Renjun. Since Zhang Renjun was from Fengrun, Hebei, the gate was named "Fengrun Gate." In July 1928, it was renamed Xuanwu Gate, the name it still bears today. Initially built as a single-arch gate, Xuanwu Gate was reconstructed into a triple-arch gate in 1931.

Xuanwu is one of the Four Symbols in traditional Chinese culture and, according to the Five Elements theory, represents the spiritual animal of the north. Xuanwu Gate was the northern palace gate of the Forbidden City (Nanjing Imperial Palace) in Nanjing, the capital during the early Ming Dynasty. Before the Six Dynasties period, it was called Sangpo; during the Jin Dynasty, it was known as Beihu and served as a training ground for naval forces. Historically, aside from naval training, it was also a recreational site for emperors and ministers. In 1910, Duanfang, the Viceroy of Liangjiang, organized the Nanyang Industrial Exposition. To add tourist attractions and facilitate visits to Xuanwu Lake, he decided to create a new gate leading to the lake and open Xuanwu Lake as the "Five Continents Park" to the public. Nanjing’s Xuanwu Gate is now the main gate of Xuanwu Lake Park and has been open to the public free of charge.

Address: Xuanwu Gate, Gulou District, Nanjing

Transportation

Take Metro Line 1 and get off at Xuanwu Gate Station

Type: Historical Architecture

Recommended Visit Duration: 0.5–1 hour

Opening Hours

6:00–18:00; park closes at 20:00 on weekends. The lakeside path is open 24 hours.

Ticket Information:

No admission fee. Viewing Xuanwu Gate is free; ascending the city wall via the gate costs 30 RMB.